The 9 Steps to Home Ownership

Step1 - Make the Decision to Buy

It seems obvious, but it's good to note that the first step to buying a house is making the decision to buy. Consider the reasons you want to own a home and write them down. Determine how long you want to live in your new home. Does buying still make good financial sense? Can you afford a house that will meet your list of requirements? A good rule of thumb is your mortgage payment should not exceed 1/3 of your net monthly income.

Step 2 - Seek Professional Guidance

We'd like to schedule a time to meet with you to hear the reasons you want to buy a house and your plans for the future. We'll talk about factors likely to affect the market today and tomorrow. We will provide you with the State of Ohio Guide to Agency Relationships, review how agency relationships are practiced in Ohio AND show you how you can have a Buyers' agent at no cost to you!

At this time, we will also guide you in getting pre-qualified for a mortgage loan. Pre-qualification is a written statement from a loan officer indicating his or her opinion that you will be approved for a mortgage loan up to a certain amount. The fact that you are pre-qualified will help us when we are negotiating a purchase offer.

Step 3 - Begin the Search

After the initial meeting, your Minister Realty agent will search the inventory of the Columbus Board of Realtors MLS and other resources for homes that fit your criteria and e-mail them to you. Then, we'll schedule appointments to tour the homes at times convenient to you.

As we tour houses, your agent will point out positive features and negative features. We will ask you to tell us what features you like and which features you dislike. You'll probably amend your "wish list" as we tour houses, some things will become more important and others less important. With this new information, your Minister Realty agent will refine the search criteria to narrow in on the home of your dreams.

Step 4 - Know the Market

Your Minister Realty agent's knowledge of the local market is an essential factor in the house search. We'll let you know when the market in a particular neighborhood seems "hot" and requires immediate action or when the market might be "cool" and allow for thoughtful consideration.

As we tour houses, your agent can let you know their feelings on the asking price compared to other homes in the area. Your agent can also advise you if they feel the house is "priced to sell". Our market knowledge and experience will keep you a step ahead of the "house hunting competition".

In a "seller's market". It is not unusual to see multiple offers on a property, full-price offers and even above-price offers. On the flip side, during a "buyer's market" there are more houses for sale than buyers. This gives Buyers more negotiating room as houses are taking longer to sell.

Step 5 - Find Your "Right" House

I'm confident we'll find your "right" house. When we do, we'll put together the purchase offer tailored for your needs including appropriate contingencies (such as obtaining financing, favorable home inspection, clear title, etc.).

Step 6 - Negotiate the Offer

It is not uncommon to receive a counter offer when the initial purchase offer is submitted. We will discuss the counter offer and decide whether or not to accept it, continue negotiating by submitting our own counter offer, or reject the counter offer and move on.

Step 7 - Finalizing your Mortgage Application

During the closing period, you will be working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. Since you completed a pre-approval for the loan before starting your home search, you will be that much farther along in the process. Your Lender will complete their documentation of your finances, order an appraisal and contact the title company to handling the closing.

Step 8 - The Closing

You will receive a "Good Faith Estimate" of closing costs at the time the of loan application. The estimate factors in an estimated purchase price, prorations for property taxes and a possible closing date. If the closing date changes, the prorations will change. The title company handling the closing will provide you with you a lender-approved HUD statement prior to closing. This statement will tell you how much to bring to closing. Don't forget a cashiers check (not a personal check) is what is required. This check can be made out to you and signed over to the title company at closing. In Central Ohio we generally have "round table" closings, this means the Sellers, Buyers and their agents meet together as the final closing documents are signed!

Step 9 - Move In

Congratulations! It's time to move into your new house and make it your home. Enjoy this exciting time.