Buying your first home will come with its own set of surprises.
While the experience is an exciting one, and there are many resources out there to help you prepare for it, there are things people just don’t tell you. Here are some of the most important things you need to know about the process:
You’re playing the central role
Buying a home requires some work on your part. Unless you hire someone to do it for you, you don’t get to sit back while everyone else does the work. You, as the home buyer, are the most important conduit in the process, and you’ll be connecting people to each other so they can get what they need.
It’s more than just picking a house
You’ll have to decide on the finer details, like which insurance company and home inspector to go with. There’s a lot that goes into the process and it’s certainly more than just picking out a home.
It’s not linear
A lot of steps in the homebuying process will happen at the same time. Your bank statements may be under review while your appraisal results are coming in, while the title company is sending you a questionnaire.
Get ready for questions
It helps to ask questions, not just to your loan officer, but to other parties involved in your home loan as well. For people who do this for a living, they may come to assume certain things. If there’s ever a time when you feel something is unclear, don’t be shy.
Your agent knows more than you do
Your agent has access to MLS listings that only licensed real estate professionals can view. They’ll find properties for sale that you can’t find online, and may have some up their sleeve that haven’t gone on the market. Find a good one, trust them, and you’ll be all set.
Source: Cardinal Financial