Realty Complete Buying a Home |
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When Will
Things Happen? As part
of your initial meeting, your real
estate agent should do something to make sure you are financially capable of
buying a house and what price range you should be looking in. This may include qualifying you on his or
her own, having you request a preliminary credit report or getting pre-approved,
having you meet with a loan officer or any combination of these. This is an important step. Just about everybody is wrong to a certain
degree in what they think their home purchasing capabilities are. You will only be wasting your time (and
everybody else’s) by looking at homes that are not in your price range. Also, if it turns out you are not yet
ready to purchase a home, you will be setting yourself up for a major
disappointment. You will also probably have some paperwork to fill out. READ EVERYTHING CAREFULLY. Some documents are required by law, so if
the agent tells you something needs to be signed, they’re probably
right. Not everything is a contract. However, some of the documents placed in
front of you will be contracts, and it’s in your best interest to know what
you are agreeing to before you sign it.
This is another reason to meet an agent at their office, instead of a
house, the first time you meet them. The agent will find houses that meet your needs and price
range, plus you might also have run across some houses that you want to
see. Then you’ll start looking. Look through houses somewhat thoroughly if
you think the house is a possibility.
If you want to completely scrutinize houses when you have your
selection narrowed down, you can always schedule a second appointment. Don’t go out looking without your agent! Depending on how or if you are being
represented, there can be anywhere from a few to numerous reasons why this is
a bad idea. If you have a contract to
be represented, this can get you involved in a lawsuit, and even cost you
thousands of dollars in extra commission how of your pocket. This can be true even if your agent tells
you it’s OK to look around. There
are, unfortunately, agents out there that will let you do all the work, and
then show up when their commission is getting close. If they agreed to represent you, let them
do it. continued |