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5 Steps to Buying a Home in North Houston TX by Kevin Baker of Keller Williams The Woodlands & Magnolia

5 Steps to Buying a Home in North Houston TX by Kevin Baker of Keller Williams The Woodlands & Magnolia, blog article courtesy of The Woodlands Monocle, https://www.woodlandsmonocle.com/buying-a-home-in-the-woodlands/

North Houston TX and The Woodlands offers many great options for living and remains one of the strongest real estate markets in the country. The continued growth in The Woodlands is the result of corporations relocating which has created a business-friendly environment, and prime spot for those looking to live in a great community with plenty of amenities.

1) MORTGAGE PRE-APPROVAL:

Obtain a pre-approval early. The pre-approval will let the buyer know how much home they can afford. In some cases the lender may give good advice on how to improve your credit if it is not ideal. The pre-approval process is easy, free, and the buyer is not obligated to obtain the loan or purchase a home. The pre-approval is a great way to get information that will let the buyer know how to plan appropriately. Also, not all lenders are equal. The recommendation is to find a local lender, who can be easily reached and can meet in person. It is recommended to have a trusted local lender with great communication skills rather than a large bank who may not know the area and market conditions. There are specific lenders who have loan programs that match the clients background, such as VA loan for Veterans (may be able to come to close with no down payment), down payment and closing cost assistance for heroes (teachers, nurses, firefighters, law enforcement, EMS, school counselors, and more.) A pre-approval is easy to obtain and only takes a few minutes. Ask your Realtor for a list of lenders they recommend.

2) BUYING A HOME IN THE WOODLANDS STARTS WITH A PLAN:

Plan the timing of the purchase to fit your schedule. The timing should fit the end of a lease term or sale of current home. It may take two weeks to two months to find a home, with exceptions based on market conditions and needs. A strong Real Estate agent will be able to assess the buyers needs and find only the best properties that match their needs. Once a home has been found and an offer is made, it will take approximately 45 days from the time the offer is accepted to the closing date. Another component of timing the purchase is ensuring adequate cash on hand to cover the down payment, inspection and other related costs. With proper planning it is easy to save funds. In many cases the same Realtor will both sell your current home and find a great new home for you to buy (for those looking to up-size or downsize, or just want a change).

3) HOUSE HUNTING:

A professional Realtor will meet with the buyers to listen and go over their needs carefully during a consultation. The buyers should come up with 5 ‘must-have’ key features and qualities they are looking for in a new home. Popular features include: location, size, number of rooms, age, flooring, lot and yard size, single vs two-story, home with a pool, and updates. The amount the buyers wish to spend, and are able to spend, is based on the mortgage pre-approval which is also utilized. The agent will use the information to start a listing search on the MLS (multiple listing service) and update the buyers as new listings hit the market.

It is recommended to not see more than 6 in one day since it becomes overwhelming and less efficient.

4) FIND THE HOUSE TO PLACE AN OFFER ON:

The Realtor will schedule to show 4-6 houses during the day or weekend with the buyers. It is recommended to not see more than 6 in one day since it becomes overwhelming and less efficient. Days prior to the showings the Realtor will schedule all of the showings and communicate with the listing agent to see if any offers were made and learn any information that may be useful to the buyers. The day of showings is always a fun time. Buyers should come prepared on showings with a notebook and pen to take notes on each property, write down their likes/dislikes and any follow-up questions. Once THE home is found, then it is time to make an offer! The Realtor will perform additional analysis with a CMA (comparable market analysis) on the home to see if the list price is in line with the market. The Realtor will consult with buyers on several negotiable components of the offer , such as price, terms (closing date, title company to be used, seller concession in some cases). The offer once agreed and accepted by the buyers is communicated to the listing agent for the sellers to review. The seller will approve, counter or decline the offer. In many cases, multiple offers from several buyers are presented to the sellers. In a multiple offer situation, the seller could ask for highest and best offer. Once the seller accepts the buyers offer, the contract is considered ‘Executed’.

5) IT’S CLOSING TIME!:
After an offer is accepted, there is a period of 7-10 days following which is called the Option Period. The Option Period gives the buyer the option to back out free and clear. During the option period and preferably early in the option period, the buyers will have an inspection performed on the property. The buyer’s Realtor should provide a list of trusted inspectors and let them decide which to choose. The inspector is highly trained to evaluate many components of the home including: foundation, plumbing, electrical, AC/heating, water heater, appliances, windows, roof and other important components. After the inspection, the bank will perform an appraisal to ensure the value of the home meets the loan guidelines. Finally it is time to close! At closing, all you have to do is sign the paperwork, obtain the keys, and then…Welcome Home! Congratulations!

A home purchase will likely be the one of the most significant investments in your life. Buying a home can be both fun and easy with the right support from an experienced and knowledgeable Real Estate Professional.

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Kevin Baker, of Kevin Baker Homes, Keller Williams The Woodlands, has lived in The Woodlands Texas for over a decade and has extensive experience in real estate. Kevin Baker Homes helps buyers, sellers, investors in the Woodlands, Magnolia, Conroe, Spring, and surrounding Houston areas–and is consistently a top-rated Real Estate Agent.

Being a Realtor is Kevins’ full-time career–it is his life, and his passion. He loves finding homes that suits his clients wants and needs.

DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYONE LESS–KEVIN BAKER CAN FIND YOU THE PERFECT HOME TODAY! www.kevinbakerhomes.com

Kevin Baker Homes,

Keller Williams The Woodlands and Magnolia 1401 Woodlands Pkwy The Woodlands, TX 77380

Copyright © 2018 Houston Realtor Information Service, Inc. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use, that it may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.

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