Expert Guide for Home Buyers

Buying a home can be broken down into a number of steps that will help you understand your responsibilities and how you can use a Buyer’s Agent from the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team to your benefit.

Experienced home buyers can use this Expert Guide for Home Buyers like a checklist to plan for a purchase. By following the links, curious buyers and First Time Home Buyers can use this Guide to learn more about the details of buying a home.

The Path to Homeownership

Step 1 – Decide that is it time to buy a home.

Your decision should include considering your financial situation, plus considering your short and long term goals so that you can choose the correct home for your needs. You should speak with a Mortgage Lender or a trusted financial adviser to look at your budget and determine what you can comfortably afford. Your Credit Report and Credit Scores will affect your ability to buy a home.

Step 2 - Establish a list of your wants and needs in a home.

It helps to brainstorm and write down everything that you think would be necessary or important to have in your new home, including price, location, number of bedrooms and baths, parking, basement and the size of the lot. This list will become the basis for your home search.

Step 3 - Find a real estate professional who can help guide you through the process of buying your new home.

The Joe Hayden Real Estate Team is uniquely prepared act as Buyer's Agents and help home buyers with all aspects of Buying a Home. Kentucky state law allows Buyer's Agency, greatly benefiting you as a purchaser of real estate in this state. Buyer's Agency is the only way you can ensure your best interests are protected and represented when buying a home in the Greater Louisville Area.

Step 4 - After coordinating with your real estate agent, begin to search for homes that best meet your wants and needs.

The MLS Home Search tools on this website are very powerful, functional and user-friendly. You can even do a simple MLS Map Search to quickly locate all homes in a certain location. Save and Email the Homes you find as you see fit and discuss each listing with your real estate agent. Have your agent Set Up Showings on the homes that appear to meet your wants and needs and go view the homes in person.

Step 5 - After locating the home that most fits your wants and needs, work with your real estate agent to formulate the best negotiating strategy and make an offer on the home.

Read about Real Estate Contracts to learn more information about Making an Offer on a Home. Work to get the offer accepted with terms you find favorable to you. Your real estate agent should guide you through this process and help mitigate any issues regarding negotiations.

Step 6 - Work with your real estate agent and your mortgage lender to provide any required paperwork necessary to close the transaction.

Make plans to attend the Home Inspection to best become familiar with the house systems and discover any defects that may require repair. Contact the appropriate Utility Companies to set up new service in the home.

Step 7 – Your mortgage lender should help coordinate the title search and closing process and your real estate agent will help.

You should Learn About the Closing Process so that you will know what to expect.  You will want to get a copy of the HUD-1 Settlement Statement before closing to understand all of your Closing Costs.  If you are buying a home with cash you will need to purchase a title search and select a closing company. Your real estate agent can make suggestions and provide guidance throughout the entire closing process.

Step 8 – Attend the closing and complete the transaction.

You will sign all final documents at the closing table and will complete the last steps to satisfy all contractual agreements.

Congratulations! You are now a homeowner! Please do not hesitate to Contact the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team immediately if you have any questions regarding buying or selling a home.