Buying Your Home in Massachusetts

Buying your home can be a daunting task. My job is to make the process seamless so that you're able to make the best decisions for you in order to find the right home. I work with first-time homebuyers, clients relocating within or from outside of the USA, those trading up within our area, and more!

Sign up or contact me directly to receive more information about buying a home including a complimentary home buyer's packet.

Steps to Purchasing a Home

1. Financial Checks - Credit Score and Pre-approval

Most home buyers need a mortgage loan to purchase a house and lenders use credit scores to determine whether to approve a loan. Obtain a copy of your current credit score to ensure there are no errors or problems. You can access your credit score through one of the three credit reporting companies - Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. 

You should also meet with a loan officer who will review your credit files and provide you with a pre-approval letter that lets sellers know that banks have determined that you're qualified for a mortgage.

2. Decide What You Want In Your Home

Before you can find a house that is perfect for you and your family, you need to determine what your goals are and what you are looking for in a house. Make a list of benefits and requirements for your new home - make sure to keep pricing, location, size, and condition in mind. This will be helpful as we work together to find your home.

3. Assemble Your Local Team and Find a Home

One of the most important steps to buying a home is to find a trustworthy buying agent to help you find a home and navigate the purchasing process. Working with a local broker is key to a successful journey. I know which streets are busier, which areas are closest to key points in town and most importantly the market values of homes. I enjoy connecting buyers with other clients who can offer a clear prospective on a certain neighborhood.

4. Submit an Offer to Purchase

Once I've helped you find a home and you are ready to make an offer, we perform a comparative market analysis (CMA) so you know the market value of the house you want to purchase. We then submit a written offer to the listing agent who represents the seller with a first deposit check (usually $1,000). Any contingencies such as inspection and mortgage are included in this offer.

5. Home Inspection

Once the initial offer has been accepted, we will find a qualified home inspector to complete a home inspection, which is generally done within 7-10 days of the accepted offer. The inspector determines if there are any physical, mechanical, or safety concerns with the house.

6. Real Estate Attorney and Purchase and Sale Agreemen

When you are satisfied with the home inspection, your real estate attorney will write up the Purchase and Sale Agreement (P&S). Your attorney will make sure there are provisions to protect your interests. The document is usually signed 2 weeks after an accepted offer and contains the closing date and the loan commitment deadline, which is the last day a buyer can withdraw from buying a home without putting the deposits at risk. At this time, a 5% deposit usually accompanies the signing of the P&S.

7. Mortgage Commitment

With a mortgage contingency a buyer typically has between 4-6 weeks to obtain a mortgage commitment. A mortgage commitment letter from a bank usually alerts all parties that the buyer is cleared to close on the home.

8. Closing

The closing is the actual date you take ownership of your new home. This typically occurs 60 days from the accepted offer and involves signing legal documents to ensure that both parties agree to the various payment requirements. Before the closing date you should complete a walkthrough of the house to make sure any repairs that needed to be made were successfully completed and that nothing unexpected has happened to the property. 

You deserve the best!

When searching for a home you can consider me a member of your team. I work closely with all of my clients and walk them through the home buying process step by step in great detail. To get started with the home buying process please sign up or contact me today!