Are you purchasing a home in Cleveland?

Step 1 – Prepare to purchase

There are a lot of things you need to do prior to starting your home search. When you begin your search, you'll want to form an outline of features you want to have, get a plan of what school districts you want to live in, and begin working on your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment less than or close to 30 percent of your monthly income is a good principle to adhere to. 

Step 2 – Contact a real estate agent in Cleveland

This is where I come in. I'd love to book a time to meet with you and talk about your real estate needs and get an idea of your plans for the future. We'll discuss the mortgage industry, other economic factors that may affect your buying decision today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and school districts in the Cleveland area.

I can also assist you with getting started on your loan. I work with some of Cleveland's best mortgage professionals, so you're in great hands. They can help you decide which kind of loan is best for you, as well as help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Start house hunting

Following our initial meeting, I'll start finding houses on the market that best suit you. I'll get a sneak peek of most of the houses and reject the duds, and then we'll schedule appointments to tour the houses when it's most convenient for you.

As we view the houses, I'll call attention to good features, as well as bad ones. I'll even ask you about things you like and dislike. Most often, buyers change their list of must-haves as we view houses and some features become far more important than others. If that happens, I'll look through the listings another time and narrow it down to the home you've been wishing for.

Step 4 – Understand the market

Your agent's understanding of the Cleveland housing market is an imperative component in your home search. And I assure you I'm conscious of all the neighborhoods and school districts, and I will let you know what neighborhoods are "hot" and warrant immediate action and others that are "cool" and allow for more consideration.

As we view houses, I'll be sure to tell you when the seller's asking price has room for negotiation and also when I know the home is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be careful and be sure to ask lots of questions, as any REALTOR will convince you they understand the market. If it seems like they don't know everything, call me at (662) 843-8850 or e-mail me at , and I'll be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. My market expertise will keep you a step ahead through the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the house you've been waiting for

We'll find the house of your dreams in Cleveland, and when that happens, I'll thoroughly create your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be made to fit your needs and the home. We'll include many contingencies, such as obtaining financing, completing the home inspection, and a clean title.

When turning in your purchase offer, you'll probably need to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit made to the home seller to secure the offer to buy the property, and it's typically put towards the closing costs. If the seller accepts the offer, we should close about 30 to 60 days after. This allows ample time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate the deal

Most contracts don't close on the initial offer – it's very common to receive a counter offer. But don't let this intimidate you. We'll consider whether or not to accept the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and move on.

The state of the market determines how aggressively we negotiate the deal. We'll also work within your budget. And at the end of the day, we'll formulate a contract that is best for you. 

Step 7 – Get a loan

Once the contract is complete, you'll start working with your lender to close the loan. If you've been pre-qualified, this shouldn't be a long process at all. However, you need to keep in close contact with your lender. And I'll handle all the property information your mortgage lender needs to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal

Your lender will give you a Loan Estimate (LE) of your closing costs within three days of taking your loan application. You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) of closing costs from your lender within three days of accepting your application. This estimate is based on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements require that it has to contain all closing costs and fall within a strict range of accuracy. I'll review the estimate and let you know if everything looks good.

Then it's time to close on your home. This will probably take place at a title company or escrow office and will most often be a smooth and peaceful event.

Step 9 – Move in

Congratulations! Now you can move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, be sure to contact me at (662) 843-8850 or e-mail me at partnershipprop@gmail.com.