| Buying a home is a complicated undertaking and you | | | | a certain home suits your lifestyle and if there are |
| need a seasoned agent to help you figure out what | | | | potential problems such as a roof leak or outdated |
| to do as well as look out for your homebuying | | | | plumbing. |
| interests in areas such as dealing with the seller, | | | | 5) Drafts The Offer And Hammers Out The Deal - |
| finding the best loan deal, completing any documents, | | | | Your Realtor will help you in writing an offer that |
| and making sure the property inspection brings up no | | | | contains your offer price and conditions. He or she will |
| major problems. | | | | also review all legally mandated disclosures about |
| A sharp real estate agent functions as your team | | | | your future home. |
| captain, he or she looks out for your best interests | | | | 6) Holds Your Hand Thoughout The Whole |
| while simultaneously organizing other participants and | | | | Transaction - When you've narrowed down which |
| projects. Your agent should: | | | | Realtor to use, he or she should follow through by |
| 1) Check Out and Suggest The Best Neighborhoods - | | | | detailing out the procedures needed to locate your |
| Your Realtor should be knowledgeable and familiar | | | | dream property, including drafting the offer, fulfilling |
| enough with the area to suggest possible locations | | | | loan requirements, opening up escrow with an |
| that best suit your lifestyle. Ideally he or she should | | | | established business, insuring title, buying insurance, |
| reside in or around the communities you're interested | | | | removing any contingencies, and nailing down the |
| in and be able to educate you on the pros and cons | | | | deal. |
| of each community. | | | | 7) Coordinates The Entire Process - Once the seller |
| 2) Assist You in Estimating A Home's Market Value - | | | | says yes to your offer, your agent will walk you |
| A competent real estate agent will assemble | | | | through the steps needed to complete the |
| together a competitive market analysis (CMA) to | | | | transaction. He or she will book property inspections, |
| approximate the value of the house you want to | | | | work on financing and obtain the required insurance |
| buy. The CMA contains data from comparable homes | | | | policies. Most of these jobs will be addressed by your |
| that sold in the most recent six month period. | | | | real estate agent or assigned to the suitable |
| 3) Searches and Finds a Home To Suit Your Needs - | | | | professional person. A professional real estate agent |
| A hard working agent will find houses that match | | | | will take time to be there for significant steps such |
| your homebuying criteria and tour them to you as | | | | as the appraisal, inspections, the last walk-through, |
| soon as they hit the market. Any respectable Realtor | | | | and the closing of escrow. He or she will also |
| knows this process can take as long as twelve | | | | represent your homebuying interests in areas like |
| months and won't force you into buying a house | | | | hammering out a deal with the seller, assisting in |
| that's inappropriate. | | | | finding the most reasonable loan deal, filling out |
| 4) Tours Homes With You - Your agent should | | | | required paperwork, and making sure the home |
| personally accompany you to view homes. Their | | | | inspection reveals no significant flaws. |
| detailed eyes could potentially assist you in deciding if | | | | |