How to Make Home Buying Easy
Follow this step-by-step general guidance to purchase a home.

[edit] StepsGet Pre-Approved. This will determine what type of loan you will obtain. Type of loan is needed for sales contract. Your lender will give you a “good faith estimate" indicating how much money is needed for purchase. Once pre-approved, it makes your offer stronger when seller is reviewing – especially if there are multiple offers being presented.
Decide what you must have in your new home (i.e. 4 bedrooms, fireplace, brick). Can you wait on what you want? (i.e. put a fence up later, add a swimming pool). Determine if you want a fixer-upper, like new home, or one that has never been occupied (are you willing to change paint, carpet or other things on your time schedule and at your own expense?).
Search for your new home. Choose one agent to work for you. (Working with many agents can lead to duplicate homes being given to you, confusion on what you have seen with whom & both buyer/agent want trust & loyalty.) Some agents have great rapport with For-Sale-By-Owners (FSBOs) and can handle all of the details for you, just as a home found through the Multiple Listing Service. Once you have received a list of homes, drive by them before you make an appointment. (Does the curb appeal meet your expectations? Is the location acceptable? How is the distance to work, school, church, etc.?)
Make an offer. Be prepared. (Have a copy of pre-approval letter to submit with your offer. Have an offer price in mind. Have an alternative offer or home in mind – in case this particular home cannot be negotiated or another buyer outbids you.) Keep the offer clean. (Are you making a really low offer, asking for an overabundance of seller concessions and an unreasonable possession date? Decide what is most important for an initial offer and then adjust while waiting to hear an answer, just in case the seller decides to reject your offer or counter it.) Earnest money. (Earnest money is collected at the time an offer is submitted and deposited with the selected title company once all parties have agreed upon and signed the contract. The earnest money is credited back to you at the time of closing.)
Get ready to close with these steps:
Wood Destroying Insect (WDI) report. (Most lenders require this report to obtain loan approval & you choose the company).
Home Inspection. (It is not mandatory; however, a good idea to have a home inspection by the inspector of your choice. (You will be told what is working, in need of repair and items that are now grandfathered).
Survey. (Most lenders will allow an existing survey for loan approval if it is less than 10 years old and there have been no changes to the property lines. Be sure to ask your lender.)
Transfer utilities. (About 7-10 days prior to closing, call and transfer water, gas, electric, cable, etc.)
You’ve got mail! Or do you? Be sure to change your address!
Be prepared for the day of closing. Bring your driver's license, social security card, and cashier's check made payable to the title company.



[edit] WarningsNever hesitate to ask questions. This is a general home buying guide and your agent should be able to answer questions and handle the details for you.