Homebuying Process

Go from Searching to Sold in 5 easy steps

1. Pre-Approval

Getting pre-approved is very important to make sure you know what you can afford prior to looking at homes. Pre-approval letters are submitted with your offer and show the seller you are ready to go. We will request documentation related to your specific situation and pull your credit report. Once we receive everything, we can provide a pre-approval letter typically within 24 hours. The pre-approval letter will only be contingent upon an acceptable offer to purchase and an appraisal.

Get Pre-Approved

2. Find a Home

Your Realtor will show you homes within the purchase price parameters of your pre-approval. They will guide you through the process of putting in an offer on a home and negotiating that offer.

3. Offer Accepted

Once you have an accepted offer it is important to contact your lender right away and make sure we get a copy of the offer. There may be contingencies in the offer, like the appraisal and financing, which are very time sensitive.

Between getting the offer accepted and closing, it’s important that you do not incur any additional debt or change jobs without talking to your lender. There will be disclosures to sign, and a rate lock can be discussed based on the agreed-on closing date. This is also a good time to check on homeowners insurance for your new home. Proof of insurance is required prior to closing.

4. Approval

Once the appraisal and any other updated documentation is received and reviewed, an approval of financing can be issued. This is called a commitment letter. After you sign the commitment letter, it will be sent to the Realtors. The letter informs the seller that you are approved for the loan.

5. Closing

The closing takes place at a title company previously chosen by the seller. This is where you will sign your loan documents and other documents required by the title company. You will have received the information prior to closing regarding the funds you need to have at closing. These funds need to either be a cashier’s check or wire. You will also need to take a valid drivers license to closing.