While every client's requirements are unique, the home-buying process remains the same. As a licensed Realtor in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia, I have the opportunity to combine my local knowledge of DMV neighborhoods with the specific needs of my clients to help them find their ideal home. We will discuss the six key steps outlined below during the free consultation.
Choose me as your real estate agent
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Work with a local lender
Big bank vs. local lender: it’s easy to fooled by the lure of a mortgage brought to you by your very own trusted bank, but beware this short sighted misconception.
Most every bank is working within banking hours and company regulations which can make your experience both slow and underperforming. Without a direct line to
Your loan officer you risk being last in line when you are ready to bid on a home. Confident home buyers know they can put in offers because they have confirmed with their lender before submitting an offer. Clients using their bank wind up losing out on deals because you cannot get pre-approval letters customized to the house you fell in love with on a Saturday afternoon.
Another way to leverage your local lender are closing dates. Motivated sellers are more likely to accept an offer promising a 14 day close than a typical 30-45 day close which most National lenders are obligated to promise. Don’t put yourself in that position.
Pre-qualification vs. pre-approval:
Pre-qualification is more of a discussion while pre approval is moving into action: Going through the rigors of a mortgage approval before you begin your search saves you time in the long run. This is the hard part. You will submit documents which will verify the information on your application. That hard work will truly pay off because Knowing what your budget is before you begin the search can guarantee you won’t be stressed out when it comes time to make the real decisions on your actual offer.
Identify and compare homes meeting your criteria
20 years ago, the home buying process was all about boots on the ground. 20 showings were all part of the experience which left many buyers exhausted and fried by week three.
Flash forward to today where you don’t have to waste the gas to get eyes on a property because you can browse through properties virtually on demand.
Creating a buyer profile and doing a reality check will jump the line of the previously arduous task of home shopping , and get you to your perfect home in less than 5 showings.
Make a competitive offer
Data-driven approach to understanding the market during your reality check makes you understand how competitive the market is before you put your heart into an offer.
If you know what the options for sales contingencies are before you hit the road, you can collaboratively craft a strong competitive offer the moment you find “THE ONE.” That kind of confidence in this market is priceless!
Make hard decisions fast with the help of education and understanding before you are faced with the dilemma of competing against 10 other buyers.
Ratify the contract
Sign on the dotted line, and rest assured that your due diligence has paid off and there are NO surprises. The lender you have been introduced to has a track record of seeing deals through to the end, so you don’t have to worry about anything other than the new curtains and area rug!
Take the next step
Are you ready to schedule your free consultation? Head over to the Contact page to call or write Rob Alcorn and setup a time to get started.
