9 Steps to Owning a Home

Purchasing a new home first time?

Purchasing a home can be stressful for many people, but with a bit of planning ahead of time, it isn't very complicated. So you'll understand exactly what to expect, we like to furnish our buyers with an outline of the whole deal. These are our nine steps to buying a home.

When you're ready to get started, you can contact us here or send us e-mail. We're glad to address any questions you have about this information.

Step 1 – Get ready to purchase a home

Prior to beginning your home search, there are a lot of things you need to contemplate. You'll most likely want to form an index of must-haves, plan for what neighborhoods you want to live in, and begin planning your budget. A good rule of thumb to follow is that your mortgage payment should be 30 percent of your net monthly income.

Step 2 – Communicate with a real estate agent

That's where we can help. We can plan a time to get together so we can talk about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your plans for the future. We'll discuss neighborhoods, school districts in the local area, the mortgage and housing industries, and any additional economic factors that might affect your buying decision today or in the future.

We'll also help you start the loan process. Dash Realty works with some of the best mortgage professionals in Texas, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They will help you determine which kind of loan is best for you, as well as help you get approved.

Step 3 – Begin looking for a home

After we meet, we'll begin looking for homes on the market that are great for you. We'll research most of the homes and eliminate the duds, and then we'll set up appointments to tour the houses at a time that's convenient for you.

As we tour homes, we'll point out positive features, as well as negative ones. And we'll ask you to tell us about things you like and don't like. Most often, buyers update their must-have list as we view houses and some items become far more crucial than others. If that's the case, we'll look through all the listings again and trim it down to the house you've been dreaming about.

Step 4 – Get a feel for the market

Your agent's awareness of the local housing market is a fundamental factor in your house search. And we assure you we're well acquainted with all the neighborhoods and schools, and we will communicate which districts are "hot" and call for immediate action and the rest that are "cool" and allow for more analysis.

As we view homes, we'll be sure to tell you when the seller's asking price has room for bargaining and when we believe the home is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be mindful and make sure you ask a lot of questions, as every REALTOR® will tell you they truly understand the home market. If things don't add up, just call us at (512) 670-1900 or e-mail us at Info@dashrealty.com, and we'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have. Our understanding of the market will help you stay a step above the rest throughout the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the house of your dreams

We're sure we'll find the home of your dreams in the area your dream to live, and when that happens, we'll precisely develop your purchase offer. The offer will be written with your needs in mind. Whenever necessary, We never forget to make contracts contingent upon items like obtaining financing and the results of the home inspection.

Upon sending in your offer, most likely you'll need to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit given to a seller to secure the offer to buy the property, and it's often put towards the cost of closing. If your offer is accepted, we should close about 30 to 60 days after. This allows enough time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate

Most deals don't close on the first offer – it's really common to receive a counter offer. Don't let it alarm you. We'll talk over whether or not to agree to the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or reject the seller's offer and move on.

How aggressively we negotiate the deal depends on the state of the market. We'll also work within your budget. And when it's all said and done, we'll formulate a contract that is best for you.

Step 7 – Get your loan

After the deal is finalized, you'll start working with your lender to close the loan. If you're pre-qualified, it shouldn't be a long process at all, but you'll need to stay in close contact with your lender. And we'll care for all the property information your lender will need to close the loan.>

Step 8 – Close the deal

You'll get a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of your closing costs from your mortgage lender within three days of getting your application. The estimate depends on the loan amount. RESPA requirements order that it has to involve all closing costs and be within a close range of accuracy, and we'll examine the estimate and let you know if it all looks all right.

Then it's time to close on your home. This should happen at a title company or escrow office and is often a smooth and comfortable occasion.

Step 9 – Move in

You made it! Now you can move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything or have any questions, make sure you call us at (512) 670-1900 or send us an e-mail.