When buying a house in Austin TX, there are several steps to follow, but if broken down, it's much less intimidating. What else helps?  Doing the steps in a particular order.

For example, Buying a house in Austin TX, the Simple Steps to Follow- Part 1 of this series talked about getting Pre-Approved for a mortgage, while Part 2 talked about how to start looking for houses and neighborhoods.  Part 3 talked about actually looking at the insides of houses, while Part 4 talked about writing the offer. Part 5 I talked about the inspections, while Part 6 talked about the waiting game.

Seriously?  There's still more?  You say these are "Simple Steps to Follow", but there are so many of them.

Yes, there are more steps, but haven't they been fairly easy?  This next step really is an easy one... as long as you've been practising writing out your name.

We're so used to typing these days, that's it's hard to actually "write" something out, especially our own name a million times.  If you're not used to writing or signing your name, legibly, you need to practice.  This will be hard on your wrist as well, so do some wrist exercises prior to closing.

You think I'm joking, but I'm serious.  We'll be less than halfway through the documents to sign, and buyers are always complaining about how they can't sign their name anymore or how they're not used to it.  Get used to it.

As for the legible part, this will vary lender to lender, but I like to caution on the safe side.  If you have a scribble signature where you can't actually make out any letters of your name, you need to work on it because many lenders have thrown out the docs and asked for them to be resigned.  Verify ahead of time if you're allowed to use your scribble signature because it'll save a lot of time!

Some people like to argue that the scribble is the true signature and forcing them to legibly sign their name is a false signature.  I don't care.  It's not up to me.  If the lender wants to be able to read your name, the lender needs to be able to read your name.  Either you want the house or you don't...  don't let a signature get in the way of one of the happy steps!!

After you sign everything, the seller will also come in and sign.  99% of the time, in Texas, the buyers and sellers will never meet.  They might pass in the lobby of the title company, but they won't speak.  They'll nod and smile and move along.

Funding could take 10 minutes, or it could take the rest of the day. It all depends on how many files the closing department at the lender has on his desk.  You can get your keys once a funding number is released. 

What do you do once you get your keys?  RE-KEY the entire house!!  You don't know who has keys to the house.  Be safe and change your locks.  You don't have to actually buy new locks, as that can be expensive.  You can either call a locksmith and tell them you need a "re-key" or you can buy kits at Home Depot and do it yourself.

I hope you've enjoyed this series for the simple steps to follow when buying a house in Austin TX. If you have any questions or concerns, please call or email me.

**Are You Packed Yet?** 

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 

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** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **

Copyright© 2009 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Real Estate - Buying a House - Austin TX-  The Simple Steps to Follow- Part 7 * was first published on donnahomesblog.com