Buying or selling a home in Millersburg?

Purchasing a home is a stressful event for a lot of people. However, with a bit of planning ahead of time, it isn't that hard. So they understand exactly what they can expect, I'll furnish buyers with an overview of the entire deal. Below are my nine steps to purchasing a home. If you have any questions regarding this information or if you're prepared to get started, just contact me here or e-mail me at .

Step 1 – Prepare to purchase a home
There are a lot of things you need to contemplate prior to commencing your home search. You'll most likely want to assemble an outline of features you want, get a feeling for what neighborhoods you want to live in, and begin working on your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment less than or close to 1/3 of your monthly income is a good guideline to adhere to.

Step 2 – Connect with a real estate agent
This is where JCT Realty, Inc. can help. I'd be happy to schedule a time to meet with you and communicate with you about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your future plans. We'll talk about neighborhoods, school districts in the Millersburg area, the mortgage industry, and any other economic factors that could potentially affect your purchase today or in the future.

In addition, I'll help you get started on your loan. I work with some of Millersburg's best mortgage professionals, so you're in great hands. They can assist you in figuring out which type of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Start your home search
After we meet for the first time, I'll start finding homes on the market that are a good fit for you. I'll preview most of the homes and exclude the duds, and then we'll set up appointments to tour the homes whenever it's convenient for you.

As we view the homes, I'll call attention to good features and negative ones. And I'll ask you to talk about things you like and dislike. It's widely common for buyers to amend their must-have list as we tour houses and some features become more essential than others. If that happens, I'll go back through all the listings once more and narrow it down to the home you've been wishing for.

Step 4 – Know the housing market
My knowledge of the Millersburg market is an imperative component in your house search. I'm conscious of all the school districts and neighborhoods, and I will let you know which districts are "hot" and warrant prompt action and others that are "cool" and allow for more consideration.

As we view houses, I'll let you know when the seller's list price has room for negotiation and also when I know the home is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be on guard and be sure to ask lots of questions. Any REALTOR in Millersburg will convince you they know the market. If things don't add up, just call me at (717) 692-2206 or e-mail me at , and I'd be glad to answer any questions you might have. My knowledge of the market will keep you a step above the rest through the entire process.

Step 5 – Find your dream home
We'll find the home of your dreams in the Millersburg area, and when we do, I'll thoroughly create your purchase offer. The offer will be tailored to suit your needs and the home, including many contingencies. A few examples are obtaining financing, carrying out the inspection, and a clean title.

Upon sending in your purchase offer, you'll want to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to the home seller to secure an offer to buy the property and is often applied to the closing costs. If the seller accepts your offer, we should close within 30 to 60 days after. This allows necessary time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Unfortunately most contracts aren't closed on the initial offer, and it's pretty common to receive a counter offer. Don't let this intimidate you. We'll consider whether or not to consent to the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or refuse 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 budget. And when it's all said and done, we'll formulate a contract that's best for you.

Step 7 – Secure your loan
Once the contract is finalized, you'll start working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. It won't take much time at all if you're pre-approved, but you'll want to stay in close contact with your lender. And I'll sort out all the property information your mortgage lender needs to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
Your mortgage lender will send you a Loan Estimate (LE) detailing your closing costs within three days of receiving your application. You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) of your closing costs from your lender within three days of getting your application. The estimate depends on the loan amount. RESPA requirements dictate that it has to include all closing costs and fall within a strict range of accuracy, and I'll review the estimate and let you know if everything looks all right.

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

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything or have any questions, simply contact me at (717) 692-2206 or e-mail me at .