Guide to Home Buying

The following is a thorough overview of the home-buying process. Please let me know if you have any more specific questions.

• Using a William E Wood and Associates Agent to Help You Find a Home
• Beginning the Process
• How Much home Can I Afford
• Purchase and Sale Agreement
• Closing Costs, Points & Title Insurance
• Home Inspection
• Settlement
• Moving Tips
• Definitions

 

Using a William E Wood and Associates agent to help you find a home

Whatever your reasons for buying, know that finding the right home, in the perfect neighborhood and at a cost that is within your budget, is no small task. That's why many buyers enlist the help of a William E Wood and Associates agent.

William E Wood and Associates sales associates are licensed professionals with specialized skills. There are many benefits you receive from working with our professionals.

As your William E Wood and Associates agent

• I know the local market and can quickly narrow down a few areas where you are likely to find your home at the price you want.
• I can save you time by doing a lot of the legwork. By knowing your needs, I can eliminate homes that do not meet your criteria.
• I will make appointments, preview homes with you and help you determine the pros and cons of each home.
• I have access to the multiple listing service (MLS), a service that provides access to thousands of homes for sale.
• I can provide information and make appointments to see almost any property listed for sale. A home does not have to be listed by a William E Wood and Associates agent in order to get detailed information or an appointment to view.
• Once you find the home you want to buy, I will guide you through the negotiation, legalities and details of purchasing a home.

Beginning the process

Organization is the key to finding the home you want while spending the least amount of time and energy.

Find out how much house you can afford. Do this before you go house-hunting. I can refer you to a loan officer who can help you determine how much of a down payment you can afford, along with a monthly payment you qualify for.

Make a list of everything you want in a home. Is a master suite important? How many bathrooms? What about closet space? Do you need a yard for the kids and pets to play in? How about a fireplace or a bay window? Do you prefer a rambler or multiple-story house? Are schools or access to transportation important?

Separate the essentials from the items you could do without and put them on the "A" list. Prioritize the rest of the items into a second and third list in order of importance. We'll then go over the list so that I'm very clear on what you want and need in your home.

Keep good notes as we look at homes. After a while, it becomes difficult to remember which features belong to what home. I can provide you with a form and rating system to help you compare homes. Some buyers make audio tapes as they go along.

When selecting a home, look beyond cosmetics. Make sure the home is in good physical condition and that you understand the cost of repairs. For more information on how to assess the home's condition, refer to the Home Inspection information on this website.

Look at additional homes, even if you love the first one you see. Many times, it takes looking at several homes before you find the one that is really right for you.

As your William E Wood and Associates agent, I'll check with you regularly, even if you haven't found a house that suits your needs. Keeping in contact with you allows us to establish a good rapport, and helps me to learn how to help you effectively. I'll continue to be on the lookout for homes that suit your needs.

How much home can I afford?

Before you start looking at homes, it's a good idea to find a target price range that you can afford. A mortgage lender will want to make sure you can qualify for the down payment, plus a monthly mortgage payment made up of principal, interest, taxes and insurance (PITI).

Interest rates and your personal finances will influence the amount of house you can afford. For a quick estimate of a monthly mortgage payment for which you may qualify use the following worksheet. Remember, it's always good to talk to a lender before you start shopping for a home. I can refer you to lenders suited to your specific financial needs.

In addition to the mortgage you borrow from a lender, normally you will be required to make a cash down payment - a percentage of the purchase price that you pay for the home. Conventional loan down payments range anywhere from 5 to 20 percent, depending on the requirements of your lender. There are also specialized loan programs that allow for as little as 3 percent down for those who qualify. A higher down payment often allows the lender to be more flexible with a loan package, including interest rates and closing costs. In addition to the down payment, you will need to have enough cash available to pay closing costs.

Purchase and sale agreement

Once you've found the home you want to buy, together we'll complete a purchase and sale agreement. This is the contract in which you and the buyer outline the details of your property transfer. The purchase and sale agreement usually consists of the following pages:

• Earnest money receipt.
• Financing addendum.
• Inspection addendum.
• Conditions/disclosure addendum.
• Contingency addendum-when appropriate.
• Addendum outlining special conditions.
• Lead-based paint notification-when appropriate.
  

In selected areas, the following forms will also be a part of your agreement:

• Agency disclosure.
• Property disclosure form completed by the property seller.
  

What are closing costs?

Closing costs are charges paid to various entities during the real estate transaction. They can include escrow fees, document preparation fees, cost of an inspection and lender fees.

What is a point?

A point is equal to one percent of the loan principal. Some lenders charge points, in addition to interest and fees, at closing.

What is title insurance?

Title insurance protects against loss from any defects in the legal title, liens against the property or other adverse claims. The lender usually requires title insurance.

Home Inspections

When you're ready to complete a purchase and sale agreement on a home, your offer will generally be contingent on a professional inspection of the entire property, including improvements. The home inspector looks beyond the cosmetics to make sure that the home's general systems operate properly. The inspector will also look for large repairs that are needed and report on the condition of the home.

The standard home inspector's report will review the conditions of the home's heating and cooling system, interior plumbing and electrical systems; the roof, attic and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; foundation, basement and visible structure. The inspector will also look for cracks in cement walls, water stains that indicate leakage and any indication of wood rot.

A home inspection also points out the positive aspects of a home, as well as the maintenance that will be necessary to keep it in good shape.

As your William E Wood and Associates agent, I'm familiar with home inspection services and can provide you with a list of names from which to choose. Another good source for finding a home inspector is to ask a friend, or perhaps a business acquaintance, who has had a home inspection and can recommend a home inspector they were satisfied with.

Remember, no home is perfect. If problems are found, I will help you negotiate through the process.

Settlement - who pays what

During the negotiation stage of the transaction, a mutually agreed-upon date for closing is determined. "Closing" is when you and the seller sign all the paperwork and pay your share of the settlement fees, and the documents are recorded. Settlement obligations vary widely due to specific contract language, local laws and customs. Prior to closing, the closing agent (usually an escrow or title company or attorney) will complete a detailed settlement statement for both buyer and seller. As your William E Wood and Associates agent, I can help you understand which of the following typical settlement fees apply to you.

The buyer will receive:

• Earnest money deposit

The buyer pays:

• One-half of escrow or legal fees paid to the attorney or escrow company for preparing the closing
• Document preparation fees
• Recording and notary fees
• Title search and title insurance
• Local transfer taxes, if any
• Repairs or inspections the buyer has agreed to pay for
• Loan fees
• Appraisal fees
• Credit report fees

Moving tips:

Six to eight weeks before:

• Use up things that may be difficult to move, such as frozen food.
• Get estimates from professional movers or truck rental companies if you are moving yourself
• Once you've selected a mover, discuss insurance, packing, loading and delivery and the claims procedure.
• Sort through your possessions. Decide what you want to keep, what you want to sell and what you wish to donate to charity.
• Record serial numbers on electronic equipment and take photos of or videotape all your belongings.
• Obtain a change of address packet from the post office and send to creditors, magazine subscriptions and catalog vendors.
• Discuss tax-deductible moving expenses with your accountant and begin keeping accurate records.
• If you're moving to a new community, contact the Chamber of Commerce and school district and request information about services.
• Make reservations with airlines, hotels and car rental agencies, if needed.

Two to four weeks before:

• If you are moving yourself, use your inventory list to determine how many boxes you will need.
• Begin packing non-essential items.
• Arrange for storage, if needed.
• If you have items you don't want to pack and move, hold a yard sale.
• Get car license, registration and insurance in order.
• Transfer your bank accounts to new branch locations. Cancel any direct deposit or automatic payments from your accounts.
• Make special arrangements to move pets and consult your veterinarian about ways to make travel comfortable for them.
• Have your car checked and serviced for the trip.
• Collect items from safe-deposit box.

One week before:

• Talk to your pharmacist about transferring important medical prescriptions.
• Arrange for a baby sitter on moving day.
• Return library books and videotapes.

Two to three days prior:

• Defrost your refrigerator and freezer.
• Have movers pack your belongings.
• Arrange to have payment ready for moving company.
• Set aside legal documents and valuables that you do not want packed.
• Pack clothing and toiletries, along with extra clothes in case the moving company is delayed.
• Give your travel itinerary to a close friend or relative so they can reach you as needed.

Moving day:

Old home

• Pick up the truck as early as possible if you are moving yourself.
• Make a list of every item and box loaded on the truck.
• Label each box with the contents and the room where you want it to be delivered.
• Let the mover know how to reach you.
• Double-check closets, cupboards, attic, basement and garage for any left-behind items.

New home

• Be on hand at the new home to answer questions and give instructions to the mover.
• Check off boxes and items as they come off the truck.
• Install new locks.
• If you've used William E Wood and Associates' Northwest Home Connections program, your utilities should be turned on and ready for use.
• Unpack your "first day" box.
• Unpack children's toys and find a safe place for them to play.
• Examine your goods for damage.

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Packing tips:

Essential packing materials:

• furniture pads
• handtruck
• dolly
• packing tape
• bubble wrap
• crumpled newspapers or packing paper
• scissors
• utility knife
• labels
• felt-tip markers
• Styrofoam "peanuts"
• plenty of boxes

Pack a "first day" box with items you will need right away. Handy items include:

• scissors
• utility knife
• local telephone book
• coffee cups
• tea kettle
• instant coffee or tea, soft drinks
• pencil and paper
• soap
• bath towels
• trash bags
• shelf liner
• paper plates
• snacks
• toilet paper
• children's toys and books

Definitions