Assembling Your Purchasing Team

The REALTOR is going to be the "tour guide" in the purchase of your home.  The REALTOR plays an important role in helping you assemble your purchasing "team" to complete the transaction.  In addition, your REALTOR can help you find the home that you are looking for, set up a home search, draft up a purchase offer, attend your home inspection, recommend professionals for your team, give competent advice during the transaction, and so much more!  A qualified REALTOR will likely be there from the beginning of the transaction to the end in order to assure your success!

Unless you've come upon a large inheritance and/or have a large sum of money in the bank, chances are you may need to obtain a mortgage to purchase your next home.  Not to fear - as there are many mortgage companies that offer many different loan products - especially for homebuyers looking to make a home their own!  Contacting a loan officer and obtaining a pre-qualification/pre-approval (pre-approval being better) letter before going shopping for your next home is going to be important so that you know your purchasing power.  A competent/qualified loan officer will be able to describe the loan products their company offers along with qualifying you for the best loan product possible.  

Buying your next home will likely be one of the most important decisions that you will make in your lifetime - so you'll want to have it "checked out" by a licensed home inspector!  A licensed home inspector works on your behalf and can discuss all aspects of your home - from the foundation, the roof, siding, interior, exterior, appliances, heating/cooling systems, and so much more!  

Having your home insured properly and for the right coverages is SO important.  That is why it is important to work with a local/experienced insurance agent.  A local insurance agent can help you choose the proper coverages along with the proper amounts to insure.  In addition, there may be discounts available for insurances that involve both your home and auto insurance.  Have a great insurance agent on your team!

Whenever you buy a home, you should get a survey.  A survey is important to know exactly where your property boundaries are.  It's surprising what items can be discovered on a survey - from fences being on a neighboring property, driveways being on the wrong property, etc.  Know what you are buying with a land survey!

In the Commonwealth of Virginia - there are two types of settlement agents - title companies and settlement attorneys.  A settlement attorney generally will cost more than a title company in the transaction; however, a settlement attorney can give you legal advice whenever issues in the transaction arise.  It's something to consider when choosing between either option.