Buying or Selling a Home in DFW Metroplex? Martha Dever at RE/MAX Trinity can help.

For most people, buying a home is a stressful event. However, with some planning ahead of time, it's not very complex.So you know exactly what to expect, I like to give my buyers a road map of the whole deal.These are my nine steps to buying a home.

Step 1 – Prepare to Purchase
Prior to starting your home search, there are several things you need to take into account. When you begin your search, you'll want to put together an index of must-have features, get a feeling for what school districts and neighborhoods you'd like to live in, and start planning your budget.Ensuring your mortgage payment is around a third of your net monthly income is a good rule to go by.

Step 2 – Communicate with a Real Estate Agent in the DFW Metroplex
This is where I can help.I'll set up a time to get together so we can talk about your real estate needs and get an idea of your future plans.We'll discuss everything from neighborhoods, schools, the mortgage and housing industries, to any other economic factors that may potentially affect your purchase today or in the future.

I'll also assist you in getting started on your loan.There are some excellent mortgage professionals that I work closely with, so you'll be in great hands.They can assist you in deciding which kind of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Start Your Search
After our first meeting, I'll begin searching for houses on the market that are good for you.I'll research most of the homes and then we'll schedule appointments to tour the houses whenever it's convenient for you.

As we view houses, I'll identify good features, as well as bad ones. I'll also ask you to point out what things you like and don't like. It's common for buyers to revise their must-have list as we view houses and some items become far more essential than others.If such is the case, I'll look through the listings again and narrow it down to the home of your dreams.

Step 4 – Get a Feel for the Market
My awareness of the Southlake, Haslet, Keller home market is an imperative factor in your house search. And I can assure you I'm familiar with the neighborhoods and school districts, and I'll communicate what areas are "hot" and warrant immediate action and the ones that are "cool" and allow for careful analysis.

When we tour houses, I'll let you know if the seller's list price has room for negotiation or if I believe the house is "priced to sell."Every real estate agent will claim to truly understand the home market, but be on guard, and be sure to ask your agent a lot of questions.If things don't add up, just call me at (817) 714-1171 or e-mail me at martha@marthadever.com and I'd be glad to answer any questions you may have. My understanding of the market will help you stay a step above the rest through the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the House You've Been Waiting For
I'm confident we'll find the house of your dreams in Southlake, Haslet, Keller or DFW Metroplex. When we do, I'll meticulously create your home purchase offer. The offer will be tailored exactly to your needs, including a lot of contingencies. A few examples are acquiring financing, finishing the home inspection, and a clear title.

When turning in your purchase offer, you'll need to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to the home seller to secure an offer to purchase the property, and it's often put towards the closing costs. If the offer is accepted by the seller, we should close on the property about 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows sufficient time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate the Deal
Most deals aren't closed on the first offer – it's extremely common to receive a counter offer. Don't let it discourage you. We'll figure out whether or not to accept the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and go on.

How aggressively we negotiate the deal depends on market circumstances.In addition, we'll work within your financing budget. And at the end of the day, we'll assemble a deal that is best for you.

Step 7 – Get Your Loan
After the deal is complete, you'll begin working with your lender to close the loan.If you're pre-approved, it shouldn't take long at all, but you'll want to stay in close contact with your lender.And I'll deal with all the property information your lender will need to close the loan.>

Step 8 – Close the Deal
Your mortgage lender will furnish you with a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) outlining closing costs within three days of accepting your application.This estimate depends on the loan amount. RESPA requirements order that it has to involve all closing costs and be within a tight range of accuracy, and I'll analyze the estimate and let you know if everything looks good.

Then it's time to close on your house. This will most likely occur at a title company or escrow office and will likely be a smooth and hassle-free occasion.

Step 9 – Move In
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, make sure you contact me at (817) 714-1171 or send me an e-mail.