Buying & Selling on Our Emerald Coast February 17, 2023

Understanding the Home-Buying Process on our Emerald Coast: A Step-by-Step Guide

Buying a home is one of the most significant financial decisions you’ll ever make. It’s an exciting journey that comes with a range of emotions and challenges. As a first-time home buyer, it’s essential to understand the home-buying process before you begin your search. This guide will provide you with a step-by-step overview of the home-buying process to help you make informed decisions and avoid potential pitfalls.

1.    Determine Your Budget

Before you start looking for a home, it’s important to determine how much you can afford.

  • The first step is to assess your current financial situation and determine what you can realistically afford. Consider your income, debt, expenses, and savings.
  • Use online mortgage calculators to estimate your monthly mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, and other costs. If this seems daunting, you can skip directly to Step 2 and ask your mortgage lender to help you determine how much you can afford.
  • The key is to avoid becoming “house-poor” (spending a disproportionate amount of your income on housing expenses, making it hard for you to meet your other financial obligations).

2.    Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is essential for several reasons. It gives you a clear idea of how much you can borrow and helps you narrow down your home search. Pre-approval also makes you a more attractive buyer to sellers and can speed up the closing process.

  • To get pre-approved, you’ll need to provide the lender with documentation about your income, employment, and credit history. I can introduce you to a local lender who knows and understands our market and who will guide you quickly & painlessly through the entire process.

3.    Find a Realtor

A knowledgeable, honest Realtor (note that a Realtor is different from a “real estate agent.” A Realtor is a member of the National Association of Realtors and abides by the Code of Ethics) is one of the most valuable assets in your home-buying process. I can help you find homes that match your criteria, negotiate for your best interests with sellers, and guide you through the entire process, right to the closing table. I have over 17 successful years of experience as a Realtor, have sold over $100 million in volume, and thoroughly know & understand our unique Emerald Coast market.

4.    Begin Your Home Search

With your budget, pre-approval, and me as your Realtor in place, you can start looking for homes that meet your criteria. You’ll want to attend open houses, schedule private home tours with me, and review online listings that I send to you (or that you may find through other online real estate marketplaces like Zillow and/or Realtor.com). Make a list of features that are important to you, such as the number of bedrooms, square footage, and location.

  • Finding the right location for you is as key as finding an affordable home with the attributes you want; all of our Emerald Coast communities (Navarre, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, and Santa Rosa Beach all have very unique characteristics).   

5.  Make an Offer

When you find a home that you like, you’ll need to make an offer to the seller. As your Realtor, I can help you with this process by drafting a purchase offer that outlines the price you’re willing to pay, contingencies, and other details that are important to you. The seller will either accept, reject, or counter your offer.

6.    Perform Inspections and Due Diligence

Once your offer is accepted, you’ll need to perform inspections and due diligence on the property. This includes a home inspection, pest inspection, and possibly other specialized inspections. You’ll also need to review the seller’s disclosures and other documentation related to the property. I can recommend honest, thorough, licensed & bonded home inspectors for you to choose from.

  • Inspection results will inform you of the condition of the home. Depending on the type of contract and terms offered by the seller, you and I will work together to either ask the seller to make “warranted repairs” to bring deficient items to working order, or decide to rescind your offer if the list of deficiencies is overwhelming or too expensive.

7.    Close the Sale

If everything checks out, you’ll be ready to close the sale. This involves signing closing paperwork at the title company and paying your closing costs, which typically include title fees, appraisal fees, and other costs associated with your mortgage. Your lender will provide you with a loan estimate and closing disclosure that outlines these costs. Once you’ve signed all the paperwork, the home is officially yours!

The home-buying process can be complex and challenging, but with the right guidance and knowledge, you can make informed decisions and avoid potential pitfalls. By following these seven steps, you’ll be well on your way to finding your dream home and achieving your homeownership goals. Remember, a good Realtor, lender, and inspectors are invaluable resources throughout the process, so don’t hesitate to reach out to me for all the professional guidance you’ll need!