BUYER RESOURCES

Buying a home can be an overwhelming process. From financing to negotiating to closing, there are a lot of moving pieces that only a real estate professional can help guide you through. By working with a professional agent who knows the ins and outs of the real estate industry, you’ll not only end up with a great home, but you’ll also walk away with a great experience. Here are some of the key areas that an agent is invaluable:

1. Act as an expert guide. Buying a home typically requires a variety of forms, reports, disclosures, and other legal and financial documents. A knowledgeable real estate agent will know what's required in your market, helping you avoid delays and costly
mistakes. 

2. Getting pre-approved by a lender. By providing your real estate agent with some basic information about your income, savings, and debt, he or she can assist you in getting pre-approved by a reputable lender. The lender will then go over your financing options, what monthly payment amount you can afford, and what you can expect for down payment requirements and closing costs.

3. Offer objective information and opinions. A great real estate agent will guide you through the home search with an unbiased eye, helping you meet your buying objectives while staying within your budget. Agents are also a great source when you have questions about local
amenities, utilities, zoning rules, contractors, and more.

4. Give you expanded search power. You want access to the full range of opportunities. Using a cooperative system called the multiple listing service (MLS), your agent can help you evaluate all active listings that meet your criteria, alert you to listings coming soon, and provide data on recent sales.  

5. Choosing a home. For most buyers, choosing a home is an emotional process. An agent can assist you in this process by offering objective information about each property you look at. From local community information like schools and zoning to home-specific details like condition and amenities, an agent can help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

6. Making an offer. Once you’ve found the home of your dreams, an agent will research recent comparable sales of similar homes in the area to help determine a fair selling price. Based on those comparable sales, as well as other factors like inspections and repairs, an agent will then help you structure an offer and negotiate to get the very best deal possible.

7. Stand in your corner during negotiations. There are many factors up for discussion in any real estate transaction—from price to repairs to possession date. A real estate professional who’s representing you will look at the transaction from your perspective, helping
you negotiate a purchase agreement that meets your needs and allows you to do due diligence before you’re bound to the purchase.

8. Ensure an up-to-date experience. Most people buy only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years between purchases. Even if you’ve bought a home before, laws and regulations change and the market continues to evolve. 

9. Be your rock during emotional moments. A home is so much more than four walls and a roof. And for most buyers, a home
is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. An experienced real estate professional will guide your focus to the issues most important to you and to ensure a smooth transaction.

10. Closing. Closing, or settlement, can be a complicated process. In some areas, the escrow or title company handles the closing process, while in other areas an attorney handles it. Regardless of where you’re buying, a real estate agent can help ensure that everything goes smoothly.