Buying a home in Bakersfield

Buying a home is stressful for a lot of people, but with a bit of up-front planning, it isn't very confusing. So they'll understand exactly what to expect, I will supply buyers with an overview of the whole deal. These are my nine steps to purchasing a home. When you're ready to get started, just contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm glad to answer any questions you have about this information.

Step 1 – Prepare to purchase a home
There are many things you should consider before you look for a home. When you begin your search, you'll want to assemble an outline of items you need, get a plan of what school districts you want to live in, and start working on your budget. A good principle to go by is that your mortgage payment should be less than or close to 30 percent of your net monthly income.

Step 2 – Speak with a real estate agent
That's where I come in. I'd be happy to schedule a time to get together with you and communicate with you about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your plans for the future. We'll talk about the mortgage industry, other economic factors that might affect your buying decision today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and school districts in the Bakersfield area.

I'll also help you facilitate the loan process. I partner with some of the finest mortgage professionals in Bakersfield, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They'll assist you with figuring out which kind of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Start house-hunting
After we meet, I'll begin finding houses on the market that are a great fit for you. I'll preview many of the houses and ignore the duds, and then we'll schedule appointments to view the houses whenever it's convenient for you.

When we tour houses, I'll call attention to good features and bad ones. I'll also ask you about things you like and don't like. It's widely common for buyers to revise their list of must-haves as we tour houses and some items become far more important than others. If such is the case, I'll go back through all the listings again and narrow it down to the home you've been wishing for.

Step 4 – Understand the housing market
An agent's understanding of the Bakersfield market is a fundamental agent in your house search. And I can assure you I'm mindful of all the school districts and neighborhoods, and I will communicate which districts are "hot" and warrant immediate action and the ones that are "cold" and allow for careful analysis.

When we view houses, I'll let you know when the seller's asking price has room for negotiation and also when I think the home is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be on guard and be sure to ask lots of questions. Any real estate agent will claim to know the housing market. If it appears they don't know everything, call me at 661-205-5475 or e-mail me at , and I'll be more than happy to answer any questions you have. My market expertise will help you stay a step ahead through the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the house you've been waiting for
We'll find the house of your dreams in the Bakersfield area, and when that happens, I'll thoroughly create your purchase offer. The offer will be made to fit your needs and the home. We'll include some contingencies, such as acquiring financing, finishing the inspection, and a clean title.

When we present your purchase offer, you'll likely want to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to a home seller to secure the offer to purchase the property and is often applied to the cost of closing. If your offer is accepted by the seller, we should close on the property within 30 to 60 days after. This allows plenty of time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Unfortunately most contracts don't close on the beginning offer – it's extremely common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it intimidate you. We'll consider whether or not to consent to 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 the state of the market. We'll also work within your financing constraints. And at the end of the day, we'll compose a deal that works well for you.

Step 7 – Obtain a loan
After the deal is complete, you'll begin working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. If you're pre-approved, this won't take very long at all, but you need to keep in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll sort out all the property information your mortgage lender will need to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) outlining closing costs from your lender within three days of accepting 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 narrow range of accuracy, and I'll examine the estimate and let you know if everything looks okay.

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

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! Now you can move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, be sure to call me at 661-205-5475 or e-mail me at .