As your REALTOR® the Dwell360 Team can manage every aspect of your quest to find the perfect home from the beginning of your search to the closing.  A buyer will be faced with a maze of forms, financing, inspections, marketing, pricing, and negotiating. It only makes sense to work with a professional who knows the Massachusetts communities and the process of acquiring a home.

 

1. Preliminary Consultation
The first time we talk we will review your overall objectives in searching for a new home. We will spend sometime getting to know how the process will work and review each step of the process. This will be a great time for you to go over any questions you have.

 

2. Obtain a Loan Pre-approval
A "Pre-approval" means you have met with a loan officer, your credit files have been reviewed and the loan officer believes you can readily qualify for a given loan amount with one or more specific mortgage programs. Based on this information, the lender will provide a pre-approval letter, which shows your borrowing power. You can visit as many lenders as you like and get several pre-approvals, but keep in mind that each one carries with it a new credit check, which will show up on future credit reports.


3. Establish Your Search Criteria
A home is more than just a collection of bedrooms and bathrooms. Several properties -- each with four bedrooms, three baths, and the same price -- may well represent radically different designs, commuting distances, lot sizes, tax costs, interior dimensions, and exterior finishes. Together, we will consider your priorities and establish a criterion that works for your search. How do you stay updated? Once you establish the criteria for your search an online account will be set up to keep you informed on your current properties. Each day you will be emailed with updates on properties fitting your criteria. You will have the ability to look at pictures, property details, and other important information.
  
4. Look at Homes
Once you have established the search criteria we will begin visiting the listings that fit your criteria. We can visit any property that fits your criteria. Online listings and other properties that I find will be considered for our tours. Once we identify the properties of interest, I will make all the arrangements necessary for us to tour the homes. When can we look? Anytime. We can set-up days and times in advance and work around your commitments. When ready to look at homes we can set-up a tour of one home or many. In most cases 24 hours or more is needed to establish a visit. If the circumstance arises requiring an immediate visit we will make every attempt possible to arrange a visit.

5. Choose a Home
As a buyer, here's what actually happens. A home has been placed on the market for which the seller has established an asking price as well as other terms. In effect, this is an offer. At this point, you have three choices: accept the seller's offer and create a contract; reject it and not make an offer; or suggest different terms and make a counter-offer. If you choose this last option, the seller may accept, reject or make a counter-offer. No aspect of the home buying process is more complex or personal than bargaining between buyers and sellers. This is the point where the value of an experienced REALTOR(R) is clearly evident because he or she knows the community, has seen numerous homes for sale, knows local values and has spent time negotiating realty transactions.

6. Make an offer

7. Get an accepted Offer
a. Inspection - conducted within 5-10 days
b. Buyer and agents present
c. Radon test can be conducted at this time also
d. Buyer pays inspection company directly
e. Response to Inspection - within 24 hours of inspection report
f. Provide notice of any issues needed to be addressed

g. Insure your comfort level with property
h. Obtain any additional documents/information

i. Condominium documents & budgets
j. Special contingencies
k. Mortgage Application
l. Within a few days of accepted offer you should contact your mortgage broker and begin the full application process
m. Choose an attorney to handle your transaction

 

8. Purchase and Sale - "P&S"

• Normally within 2 weeks of accepted offer
• Deposit due at this time, traditionally 5% of purchase price
• All parties must sign by deadline
 

9.  Finalize all mortgage and legal paperwork
 

10.  Obtain homeowners insurance
 

11.  Deed and Closing Paperwork reviewed
 

12. Close and Move
 

Typically within 2-3 months of offer. At that time the final down payment is due. The deed delivered in your name to the registry of deeds. Then it is time to move in! During the entire process as your buyer's agent I will be your guide. At each step I will communicate what you will need to address and what needs to be resolved. Throughout this process I will remain proactive to keep your transaction on track.