Buying or selling a home?

	When you're ready to get started, you can contact me here or send e-mail to ringswald@aol.com. I'm glad to answer any questions you have about this information.

Step 1 – Prepare to purchase
Prior to beginning your home search, there are several things you should do. When you start your search, you'll probably want to form an outline of items you want to have, get a feel for what neighborhoods you want to live in, and begin working on your budget. Ensuring your mortgage payment is no more than a third of your net monthly income is a good rule to follow.

Step 2 – Contact a real estate agent
This is where I come in. We can set up a time to meet so we can talk about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your plans for the future. We'll talk about the mortgage and housing industries, other economic factors that might affect your purchase today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and school districts in the Fort Wayne area.

I can also assist you with getting started on your loan. There are some very good mortgage professionals in Fort Wayne, and I partner with a lot of them, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They'll help you determine which type of loan is best for you, as well as help you get approved.

Step 3 – Start looking
Following our initial meeting, I'll begin finding available homes on the market that meet your needs. I'll get a sneak peek of many of the homes and ignore the bad ones, and then we'll set up appointments to tour the homes when it's convenient for you.

As we tour homes, I'll call attention to good features, as well as bad ones. And I'll ask you what things you like and don't like. Usually, buyers change their wish list as we tour houses and some features become more necessary than others. If such is the case, I'll go back through the listings one more time and trim it down to the house you've been dreaming about.

Step 4 – Understand the housing market
My awareness of the Fort Wayne home market is a crucial resource in your home search. I'm conscious of all the neighborhoods and schools, and I'll let you know some areas are "hot" and call for immediate action and some that are "cold" and allow for careful consideration.

When we view homes, I'll make sure to communicate when the seller's list price has room for negotiation and when I believe the home is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be careful and make sure you ask lots of questions. Any REALTOR^® will tell you they comprehend the home market. If things don't add up, just call me at 260-466-4999 or e-mail me at ringswald@aol.com, and I'll be happy to answer any questions you have. My knowledge of the market will keep you a step ahead through the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the home you've been looking for
I'm positive we'll find your dream home in the Fort Wayne area. When that happens, I'll meticulously create your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored with your needs in mind, including many contingencies. A few examples are obtaining financing, finishing the home inspection, and a clean title.

When we present your purchase offer, you'll need to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit given to a seller to secure an offer to purchase the property, and it's often applied to the cost of closing. If the seller accepts your offer, we should close on the home about 30 to 60 days after. This allows plenty of time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
A lot of contracts aren't closed on the beginning offer, and it's really common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it alarm you. We'll talk about whether or not to accept the counter offer, present our own counter offer, or reject the seller's offer and move on.

How aggressively we negotiate the contract depends on market conditions. In addition, we'll work within your financing limits. And at the end of the day, we'll create a deal that's best for you.

Step 7 – Get your loan
After the contract is signed, you'll start working with your lender to close the loan. This shouldn't be a long process at all if you're pre-qualified, but you'll need to stay in close contact with your lender. And I'll deal with all the property information your mortgage lender needs to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) detailing your closing costs from your mortgage lender within three days of taking your loan application. This estimate depends on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements require that it has to contain all closing costs and fall within a close range of accuracy. I'll analyze the estimate and let you know if it all looks permissible.

Then we'll close on your house. This will likely occur at a title company or escrow office and will most likely be a smooth and calm affair.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! Now you can move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything or have any questions, make sure you call me at 260-466-4999 or send me an e-mail.