BUYING TIPS

1. Find Out How Much Home You Can Afford: There are dozens of home loans available that can be tailored to fit your individual needs. Your loan officer will use a standard set of guidelines to calculate how much you can qualify for a loan.

2. Conduct a Preliminary Search On-line: The easiest way to preview current homes on the market is via the Web. At http://exitkeywest.com. We have all the tools and resources you will need for your search. We offer thousands of listings not just those of Exit Realty Key West.
You can explore detailed information about every home on the market, including features, taxes, , school , and more. With Exit Key West, you can view multiple photos and take virtual tours without leaving the comfort of your home. You can even book an appointment on-line to see a home. This means that you will have narrowed your search considerably; reducing unnecessary time spent looking at inappropriate properties.

3. Find an Agent: Although searching on-line is the most efficient way for you to get educated about the market and find homes that meet your criteria, a real estate professional is the most efficient way to see individual homes personally. They will contact the listing agents to preview properties and schedule showings. An Exit Realty Key West Agent will make sure your interests are protected, handle negotiations, arrange for inspections and represent you at closing. When you arrive at the offer amount, your agent will write a purchase agreement. Your purchase agreement includes any conditions that need to be satisfied including inspections and loan qualifications. At this time, you will be asked for a check for "earnest" money, which will go to toward your down payment at closing. This amount, set by the seller, may be nonrefundable if the contract falls through.

4. Pre-qualify for a Loan: When purchasing a home, you have a much better negotiating position if you have been pre-qualified for a loan. The seller is much more likely to negotiate with you when he has been assured that that you can obtain the mortgage.

Fill out our mortgage calculator tool to get a good idea of the loan amount for which you can qualify. Choose a mortgage company that you feel comfortable working with. Your lender will need some personal and financial information to finalize your loan pre-qualification. After they have processed your information, your lender will provide a letter of pre-qualification, which will be presented with your offer, putting you in a better negotiating position.

5. See Homes: You've previewed homes and neighborhoods on-line, you've pre-qualified for a loan and now you're ready to see some homes. Once you've reached this step, your Exit Realty Key West agent will research potential homes and schedule showings at your convenience. They will also be able to preview homes that meet your criteria before they actually go on the market. This is especially valuable to you in a sellers market, where the type of home you want may be in high demand. While your looking, it's a good idea to use checklists to make notes on each of the homes you see.

6. Make an Offer: When you find the right home, the next step is to make an offer. Your EXIT Realty Key West agent plays a critical role in this process and will advise you if the asking price of the home is acceptable, given current market conditions. Their knowledge of the market and expertise is invaluable during the negotiations. They will do a competitive market analysis, to not only make sure the home price is right, but that it will retain its resale value.

When you arrive at the offer amount, your agent will write a purchase agreement. Your purchase agreement includes any conditions that need to be satisfied including inspections and loan qualifications. At this time, you will be asked for a check for "earnest" money, which will go to toward your down payment at closing. This amount, set by the seller, may be nonrefundable if the contract falls through.

7. Order an Inspection: When an offer is accepted, your agent will order an inspection. Any conditions that have been placed on the agreement must be satisfied and removed. An inspection may reveal repair items that may be another condition of the offer.


8. Notify Loan Officer to Begin Appraisal, Lock-In Interest Rate & Send Good Faith Estimate:
After the offer has bee n accepted, your loan officer must begin the processing of your loan. They will take y our application and verify your sources of funds and other information and prepares a good faith estimate that indicates how much money you will need to bring to closing. Your escrow account is also opened. This is also when you can lock-in your interest rate.

9. Notify Your Phone, Utilities and Other Service Providers of Your Move-In Date:
You must have all of your utilities disconnected and reconnected in your name at your new address.

10. Go to Closing: Your EXIT Key West agent will help you select a closing attorney. At the closing, he/she will represent you and help explain all of the settlement statements and individual charges and fees and assure all your contract conditions have been met. You must bring a check for your down payment and closing costs. When all of the settlement papers have been signed, you will be given the keys to your new home!

11. Make Your Move! Congratulations on the purchase of your new home!