Seven Steps to Follow When Buying a Home in Phoenix Arizona

Above is a picture of the heart of Fountain Hills, you can see where the town gets the name. The fountian turnd on every hour, on the hour, people come from miles around to enjoy this park. I know this has nothing to do with the post, I just love Fountain Hills and thought it would be a nice picture to share with you all.

So let's begin, of course the unwritten step but most important is, always use a REALTOR, for both resale homes and New Construction. If you decide to go with new construction, a real estate agent can be a powerful advocate in your corner as you negotiate upgrades, a move-in date and other terms with the home builder. The builders represent themselves, not the buyer.                                                                                                                                                        
DEFINE YOUR NEEDS
Congratulations on your decision to purchase a new home! Before you go house hunting, it's a good              
idea to define what kind of home and neighborhood would best suit your desires and needs, so make a       
wish list. Share this list with your real estate agent. The finer the details, the more effective your home             
search will be. To further define your needs, you may want to divide your lists into negotiable and                     
non-negotiable items (AKA wants and needs), so your agent can operate with some flexibility when scouting for homes on your behalf.

GET PREAPPROVED 

Now that you know what you want in a home and neighborhood, you need to find out what you can afford.       
Your real estate agent can refer you to a mortgage broker to begin the process. Your preapproved status lets the seller know that you have gone through an extensive financial background check. that a lender is willing to do business with you and the likelihood of unexpected obstacles regarding financing is minimal.

BEGIN YOUR HOME SEARCH
Now you are ready to begin your home search - an endeavor that can prove overwhelming if not               
approached with some forethought. The most efficient route is to allow your real estate agent do the                
initial scouting for you. Using your wish list as a guide, he or she will alert you of new and existing                    
listings that have strong potential. If these listings spark your interest, your agent will arrange home                 
tours at your convenience. Many agents send alerts via email - sometimes as often as daily, depending         
on the available inventory in your market. Let your agent know how you'd like to receive these alerts, whether by phone, email or fax.
You also can do some research on your own. Read local real estate publications, contact your local                
neighborhood associations, visit the local chamber of commerce, surf the Internet, or drive around your          
favorite neighborhoods. While these methods certainly can lead to your dream home, it's important to             
note that 82 percent of home sales are the result of agent connections.* That means it's more likely your        
agent will find your dream home through being in the real estate business than you driving around on             
the weekends.

MAKE AN OFFER

When you're ready to make an offer on a home, your real estate agent will help you determine the offer price by reviewing recent sales of homes similar in size, quality and amenities. With your input, your agent will draft a written contract that outlines what needs to be done by both parties to execute the transaction. If the seller accepts the offer, the document becomes a binding agreement, so it is imperative that you carefully review it with your agent and speak up if anything is not clear to you. It's important to note that if the seller changes any aspect of the offer, it is not a binding agreement until the buyer agrees to the seller's changes.

STRIKE THE DEAL
Sometimes, you get lucky and the seller accepts your offer as is. However, in most instances, the seller         
will make a counteroffer. This is where your real estate agent's experience in negotiations will be                     
invaluable. Keep in mind almost everything is negotiable when you are buying a house. This can give             
you a great deal of leverage in the buying process - that is, if you have adequate information and you use       
it in an appropriate manner. Some items you may negotiate:                                                                                 
* Price
* Financing
* Closing costs
* Move-in date
* Repairs
* Appliances and fixtures
* Landscaping
* Painting                                                                                                                                                
Remain in close contact with your real estate agent so you can quickly review any changes from the                
seller. Remember: Bargaining is not a winner-take-all deal. It is a business process that involves                    
compromise and mutual respect.

PREPARE FOR CLOSING                                                                                                                       When an offer becomes a binding agreement, your real estate agent will help you tackle the checklist of         
action items that you, as the buyer, have agreed to perform prior to closing. Depending on how the                   
responsibilities are divvied up in the agreement, this is typically when you will:                                                 
* Conduct a home inspection.
* Get an appraisal and finalize your financing.
* Secure title insurance.
* Shop for a home warranty.                                                                                                                      
Having these procedures done in a timely and professional manner is a must, as any delays could                 
threaten a successful closing. A first-rate real estate agent should be able to serve as your "one-stop              
shopping" referral source for service providers. Your agent also should serve as your advocate, helping         
to coordinate activities and making sure the vendors have access to the property to perform their jobs.

CLOSE THE DEAL
Congratulations! The moment you've been anticipating has arrived. The closing is where home                        
ownership is legally transferred from the seller to the buyer. It is a formal meeting that most parties                 
involved in the transaction will attend. Closing procedures usually are held at the title company's or                  
lawyer's office. The closing officer will coordinate all the document-signing and the collection and                     
disbursement of funds. A few days before your closing date, your lender will send a final closing                       
statement that outlines your closing costs, if applicable. Your real estate agent will review this document        
with you to ensure its accuracy, as well as help you gather any necessary documentation that you'll need       
to bring to closing.