Buying or selling a home?

	When you're ready to get started, just contact me here or send e-mail to pauljhaynes@gmail.com. I'm glad to answer any questions you have regarding this information.

Step 1 – Prepare to purchase
Before you begin looking for a home, there are several things you should contemplate. When you start your search, you'll probably want to make an outline of items you want to have, get a feel for what school districts you want to live in, and start planning your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment around 1/3 of your monthly income is a good principle to follow.

Step 2 – Get with a real estate agent in Cary
This is where Triangle Realty Associates can help. We'll schedule a time to meet so we can talk about your real estate needs and get an idea of your plans for the future. We'll discuss the mortgage industry, other economic factors that may affect your buying decision today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and schools in the Cary area.

I can also assist you in getting started on your loan. There are some very good mortgage professionals in Cary, and I partner with a lot of them, so you're in great hands. They can assist you with choosing which type of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Start house-hunting
After we meet, I'll start searching for available homes on the market that best suit you. I'll preview many of the houses and ignore the duds, and then we'll set up appointments to tour the homes when it's convenient for you.

When we view houses, I'll point out good features and negative ones. And I'll ask you to talk about things you like and dislike. Generally, buyers change their list of must-haves as we view homes and some things become far more necessary than others. If such is the case, I'll look through the listings once again and narrow it down to the house of your dreams.

Step 4 – Understand the market
My knowledge of the Cary home market is a fundamental advantage in your search. I'm conscious of all the school districts and neighborhoods, and I'll let you know which neighborhoods are "hot" and call for immediate action and others that are "cool" and allow for more analysis.

When we tour houses, I'll be sure to tell you when the seller's list price has room for bargaining and when I know the home is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be mindful and make sure you ask lots of questions, as every real estate agent in Cary will convince you they truly understand the housing market. If it appears they don't know everything, call me at 919-749-1208 or e-mail me at pauljhaynes@gmail.com, and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. My understanding of the market will keep you a step above the rest throughout the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the home you've been waiting for
I'm certain we'll find the home of your dreams in the Cary area. When we do, I'll precisely develop your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored to suit your needs, including a lot of contingencies. A few examples are getting financing, completing the inspection, and a clean title.

When submitting your purchase offer, you'll likely need to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit given to a home seller to secure an offer to purchase the property and is typically applied to the cost of closing. If your offer is accepted, we should close about 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows ample time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
A lot of deals don't close on the first offer, and it's pretty common to receive a counter offer. Don't let this alarm you. We'll figure out whether or not to consent to the counter offer, present our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and go on.

The state of the market determines how aggressively we negotiate the deal. We'll also work within your financing constraints. And when it's all said and done, we'll put together a deal that's best for you.

Step 7 – Get financing
After the contract is complete, you'll begin working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. If you've been pre-approved, it shouldn't take much time at all. But you should to keep in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll deal with all the property information your lender needs to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) detailing closing costs from your mortgage lender within three days of taking your loan application. This estimate depends on the loan amount. RESPA requirements require that it has to include all closing costs and fall within a tight range of accuracy, and I'll go over the estimate and let you know if it all looks permissible.

Then it's time to close on your house. This will most likely happen at a title company or escrow office and will most likely be a smooth and peaceful occurrence.

Step 9 – Move in
Success! It's time to move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you need anything or have any questions, make sure you contact me at 919-749-1208 or send me an e-mail.