It is important to trust your agent, as you will be spending a lot of time together and your agent will help you with one of the biggest financial commitments you will make.

Get pre-approved for a loan before you find the home you want to buy. Benefits include:

• You know your price range, closing costs, and monthly payments up front
• You only look at homes within your price range
• Your negotiating position with the seller is stronger
• Closing on your new home can happen more quickly

After a thorough understanding of your new home needs, you receive a list of homes that meet most or all of your requirements, and schedule time to visit them. I will also help you find homes through:

• Online via real estate search sites – we will make appointments to visit them.
• For Sale or For Sale by Owner (FSBO) signs as you drive through neighborhoods – we will make appointments to visit them.
• Open Houses - accompanied by your Realtor.
• New home developments – accompanied by your Realtor.

Once you have found the property you want, we will write a purchase agreement. While much of the agreement is standard, there are a few areas that we can negotiate:

• The Price (What you offer on a property depends on a number of factors including its condition, length of time on the market, buyer activity, and the urgency of the seller. While some buyers want to make a low offer just to see if the seller accepts, this often isn’t a smart choice, because the seller may be insulted and decide not to negotiate at all.)
• The Move-in Date (If you can be flexible on the possession date, the seller may be more apt to choose your offer over others.)-
• Additional Property (Often, the seller plans on leaving major appliances in the home; however, which items stay or go is often a matter of negotiation.)

Hire a licensed inspector with the state to inspect the property.Lender will order appraisal for the market analysis of the home you are purchasing.

Closing day marks the end of your home-buying process and the beginning of your new life! Transfer of title moves ownership of the property from the seller to you. The two events thatmake this happen are:

• Delivery of the buyer’s funds This is the check or wire funds provided by your lender in the amount of the loan.
• Delivery of the deed
• A deed is the document that transfers ownership of real estate. The deed names the seller and buyer, gives a legal description of the property, and contains the notarized signatures of the seller and witnesses.
• At the end of closing, the deed will be taken and recorded at the Parish clerk’s office. It will be sent to you after processing.