Let Duros Realty Co. assist you with buying your home in Columbus Metro

Buying a home is a stressful event for a lot of people, but with some up-front planning, it's not that confusing. We like to provide buyers with a road map of the entire deal so they'll know exactly what they can expect. These are our nine steps to buying a home.

Step 1 – Prepare to buy a home
There are several things you'll want to contemplate before you look for a home. When you begin your search, you'll probably want to put together a checklist of items you want, get a feeling for what neighborhoods and school districts you'd like to live in, and begin planning your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment less than 1/3 of your monthly income is a good principle to go by.

Step 2 – Get in touch with a real estate agent
This is where Duros Realty Co. can help. We'd be more than happy to schedule a time to get together with you and communicate with you regarding why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your plans for the future. We'll talk about everything from neighborhoods, school districts in the Columbus Metro area, the mortgage industry, to any other economic factors that might affect your buying decision today or in the future.

In addition, we'll help you facilitate the loan process. We work with some of the finest mortgage professionals in Columbus Metro, so you'll be in great hands. They will help you decide which kind of loan is best for you, as well as help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Start your home search
After we meet for the first time, we'll begin looking for available houses on the market that are good for you. We'll preview many of the houses and remove the duds, and then we'll set up appointments to tour the homes at a time that's convenient for you.

As we view the homes, we'll identify positive features and bad ones. And we'll ask you to tell us about things you like and don't like. Oftentimes, buyers change their must-have list as we tour homes and some items become more crucial than others. If that's the case, we'll look through all the listings another time and narrow it down to the home you've been dreaming about.

Step 4 – Get a feel for the housing market
An agent's awareness of the Columbus Metro home market is a necessary element in your home search. And we can assure you we're well acquainted with all the schools and neighborhoods, and we will communicate some neighborhoods are "hot" and warrant immediate action and the rest that are "cool" and allow for more analysis.

As we tour homes, we'll be sure to tell you if the seller's list price has room for bargaining or if we believe the home is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, trust your instincts and be sure to ask lots of questions. Every real estate agent will claim to comprehend the market. If things don't add up, call us at (614) 519-3357 or e-mail us at gduros@durosrealty.com, and we'll be glad to answer your questions. Our market expertise will keep you a step above the rest throughout the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the home of your dreams
We're confident we'll find your dream home in the Columbus Metro area. When that happens, we'll precisely create your home purchase offer. The offer will be tailored to suit your needs, including some contingencies, such as obtaining financing, completing the home inspection, and a clear title.

When we send in your purchase offer, you'll want to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit given to a home seller to secure an offer to purchase the property. The amount is most often put towards the cost of closing. If the offer is accepted, we should close on the home within 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows enough time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Unfortunately most deals aren't closed on the first offer. It's really common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it alarm you. We'll discuss whether or not to agree to the counter offer, present 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 financing constraints. And when it's all said and done, we'll compose a deal that's best for you.

Step 7 – Obtain a loan
After the contract is finalized, you'll begin working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. If you've been pre-approved, it won't take much time at all. However, you'll need to stay in close contact with your lender. And we'll handle all the property information your mortgage lender will need to close the loan.>

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of closing costs from your lender within three days of receiving your application. This estimate is formed from the loan amount, and RESPA requirements mandate that it has to include all closing costs and be within a close range of accuracy. we'll review the estimate and let you know if everything looks good.

Then it's time to close on your home. This will likely occur at a title company or escrow office and is often a smooth and easygoing occasion.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! Now you can move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything or have any questions, just call us at (614) 519-3357 or send us an e-mail.