Fifteen Simple Steps to Buying a Home in North Carolina, Part Three

Everyone thinks purchasing a new home is complicated and the truth is...they are right.

In addition to managing your own work, family, and social responsibilities, you have to navigate a myriad of steps and tasks required to purchase a home.

That's why so many people rank buying and/or selling a home as among the most stressful times in their lives.

The following list is not exhaustive. For some buyers, there may be many more steps involved. For others, i.e., a cash buyer, the process can be much simpler.

This is a high-level overview, but should give you a good idea about what's involved in purchasing a new home.

And remember...you, too, can buy a home in just fifteen simple steps!

Just don't forget your Realtor®!

Fifteen Simple Steps To Buying a Home in North Carolina, Part Three

Closing The Deal

11.  After the due diligence period and negotiations have concluded, schedule utilities to transfer to your name on the day of closing. You should also hire and schedule movers if you are going to use them.
12. Conduct a final walk-through of the property prior to closing to confirm repairs are completed and that no new or unexpected repairs are necessary. Negotiate further if new repairs are required or if the sellers didn't hold up their end of the deal.
13. Transfer moneys required for the transaction to the closing attorney who will then divert funds to the proper lenders, lien holders, and the sellers. 14. Attend closing at the attorney's office and sign the litany of documents required to purchase your new home. This may also be the first time you get to meet the sellers face-to-face. In my experience, both parties attend closing about 3/4 of the time.
15. Your attorney records the deed, you get your keys and move into your new house!

This concludes the three-part series, "Fifteen Simple Steps to Buying a Home in North Carolina."

Please contact me directly if you or someone you know would like to know more about buying and selling real estate in the Carolinas.

About the Author:
Jimmy Grappone is a Realtor® living in the Charlotte area for nearly a decade. His hobbies include fishing, playing golf, watching football, and writing articles about things that interest him. Jimmy is a licensed Realtor® with Allen Tate Company in North Carolina and South Carolina. He is passionate about helping his clients find shelter and having a good time along the way!

Contact the Author:
Social Media: @jimmygrappone
Online: www.jimmygrappone.com & www.itsjimmyon.blogspot.com
Email:  Jimmy.Grappone@AllenTate.com
Phone:  980-298-9385

Fifteen Steps to Buying a Home in North Carolina, Part Two

Everyone thinks purchasing a new home is complicated and the truth is...they are right.

In addition to managing your own work, family, and social responsibilities, you have to navigate a myriad of steps and tasks required to purchase a home.

This is why so many people rank buying and/or selling a home as among the most stressful times in their lives.

The following list is not exhaustive. For some buyers, there may be many more steps involved. For others, i.e., a cash buyer, the process can be much simpler.

This is a high-level overview, but should give you a good idea about what's involved in purchasing a new home.

And remember...you, too, can buy a home in just fifteen simple steps!

Just don't forget your Realtor®!

Fifteen Simple Steps To Buying a Home in North Carolina, Part Two

Contracting to Purchase

6.  Choose a target home from among the properties you have toured, review the property owner disclosures, and confirm HOA dues and responsibilities.

7. Have your agent prepare a price valuation / comparative market analysis (CMA) on the property and offer their opinion on price and terms. 

Decide upon an offer price and terms which will give you the best opportunity to acquire the home with conditions which are reasonable, acceptable, and fair to both parties.

8. Make an offer to purchase the home with price and terms including the following: 

Offer to purchase price, earnest money deposit amount, due diligence fee amount (in some states, i.e., North Carolina), due diligence and/or repairs date, settlement date, seller contributions, personal property to convey in a separate bill of sale, home warranty requests, etc. Your agent will submit the offer.

9. Negotiate Step 8 until both parties agree. Your agent and the seller's agent will serve as intermediaries on behalf of the buyer and seller.

10. Property Due Diligence Process. The due diligence period is when you will apply for a loan, schedule inspections (general, termite, radon, mold, roof, septic, etc.), hire a closing attorney, obtain title insurance, survey, and appraisal, negotiate and agree to repairs or seller concessions if any following inspection, etc.

The due diligence period is your opportunity to evaluate the details of your purchase and to use your "get out of jail" card if you decide to back out of the sale. This is often the most trying period as both parties must agree to any proposed changes to the original agreement.

This concludes "Fifteen Simple Steps To Buying a Home in North Carolina, Part Two"!

Stay tuned for Steps 11 - 15 in Part Three!

Please contact me directly if you or someone you know would like to know more about buying and selling real estate in the Carolinas.

About the Author:
Jimmy Grappone is a Realtor® living in the Charlotte area for nearly a decade. His hobbies include fishing, playing golf, watching football, and writing articles about things that interest him. Jimmy is a licensed Realtor® with Allen Tate Company in North Carolina and South Carolina. He is passionate about helping his clients find shelter and having a good time along the way!

Contact the Author:
Social Media: @jimmygrappone
Online: www.jimmygrappone.com & www.itsjimmyon.blogspot.com
Email:  Jimmy.Grappone@AllenTate.com
Phone:  980-298-9385

Fifteen Simple Steps To Buying a Home in North Carolina, Part One

Everyone thinks purchasing a new home is complicated and the truth is...they are right.

In addition to managing your own work, family, and social responsibilities, you have to navigate a myriad of steps and tasks required to purchase a home.

That's why so many people rank buying and/or selling a home as among the most stressful times in their lives.

The following list is not exhaustive. For some buyers, there may be many more steps involved. For others, i.e., a cash buyer, the process can be much simpler.

This is a high-level overview, but should give you a good idea about what's involved in purchasing a new home.

And remember...you, too, can buy a home in just fifteen simple steps!

Just don't forget your Realtor®!

Fifteen Simple Steps To Buying a Home in North Carolina Getting Started & Finding Your Home

1. Get pre-qualified or, even better, pre-approved for a home mortgage loan by a mortgage loan professional.
2. Determine your monthly budget. A mortgage professional can help you figure out exactly what your highest and most comfortable monthly payments will be and how that translates into purchase price.
3. Hire a Realtor®. You will need to review and sign a few papers up front, but they are mostly for your protection. Examples of the forms you'll review and sign in North Carolina are: Working with Agents, RESPA, and Exclusive Buyer Agency. You will also be asked to confirm receipt of a sample Offer to Purchase & Contract, a Q&A on Home Inspections, and a sample Professional Services Disclosure. Come to think of it, you might just want to talk to a Realtor® first. In the majority of transactions, the seller will pay 100% of your agent's commission, so hiring a Realtor® shouldn't cost the buyer any money.
4. Determine where you want to live. What general area and which specific neighborhoods do you like? Do you want or need to be in a specific school district? If you are relocating, you may not know much about the area, but your Realtor® can help you with this. You will also need to decide what size and style of home you want to buy, which specific features you can not live without, where to look if restricted by loan type (i.e. USDA), whether or not you want to live in a neighborhood with a Home Owner's Association (HOA), etc.
5. Review homes and neighborhoods online with your agent. Narrow down your list of prospective homes and schedule a tour with your Realtor®.

This concludes Part I of Fifteen Simple Steps To Buying a Home in North Carolina!

Stay tuned for Steps 6 - 10 in Fifteen Steps, Part Two!

Please contact me directly if you or someone you know would like to know more about buying and selling real estate in the Carolinas.

About the Author:
Jimmy Grappone is a Realtor® living in the Charlotte area for nearly a decade. His hobbies include fishing, playing golf, watching football, and writing articles about things that interest him. Jimmy is a licensed Realtor® with Allen Tate Company in North Carolina and South Carolina. He is passionate about helping his clients find shelter and having a good time along the way!

Contact the Author:
Social Media: @jimmygrappone
Online: www.jimmygrappone.com & www.itsjimmyon.blogspot.com
Email:  Jimmy.Grappone@AllenTate.com
Phone:  980-298-9385