Buying or selling a home in Rancho Palos Verdes?

Buying a home can be stressful for a lot of people, but with a little up-front planning, it's not that confusing. So they understand exactly what they can expect, I will furnish buyers with an overview of the whole deal. These are my nine steps to buying a home. If you have questions regarding any of this information or if you're ready to get started, simply contact me here or e-mail me at .

Step 1 – Prepare to purchase
There are a lot of things you'll want to take into account before you start searching for a home. You'll most likely want to create an index of must-haves, plan for what neighborhoods and school districts you want to live in, and begin planning your budget. Ensuring your mortgage payment is no more than 1/3 of your monthly income is a good rule to follow.

Step 2 – Contact a real estate agent in Rancho Palos Verdes
This is where Excel Funding Real Estate Services, Inc. comes in. I'd be happy to plan a time to meet with you and speak with you regarding why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your plans for the future. We'll discuss everything from neighborhoods, schools in the Rancho Palos Verdes area, the mortgage industry, to any other economic factors that may affect your purchase today or in the future.

I'll also assist you in getting started on your loan. I work with some of Rancho Palos Verdes's finest mortgage professionals, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They will assist you with choosing which type of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Begin house hunting
After our initial meeting, I'll begin finding houses on the market that best suit you. I'll get a sneak peek of many of the homes and throw out the bad ones, and then we'll schedule appointments to view the homes when it's convenient for you.

As we view the homes, I'll show you the good features, as well as bad ones. I'll even ask you about things you like and don't like. Most often, buyers update their wish list as we tour homes and some items become far more crucial than others. If that's the case, I'll go back through all the listings again and narrow it down to the home you've been waiting for.

Step 4 – Understand the market
Your agent's knowledge of the Rancho Palos Verdes housing market is an essential component in your house search. And I assure you I'm familiar with all the school districts and neighborhoods, and I'll alert you to which neighborhoods are "hot" and require immediate action and some that are "cool" and allow for careful examination.

When we tour houses, I'll be sure to tell you if the list price has room for negotiation or if I believe the house is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be mindful and be sure to ask lots of questions. Every REALTOR in Rancho Palos Verdes will claim to truly know the housing market. If it appears they don't know everything, contact me at 3107842828 or e-mail me at , and I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have. My understanding of the market will keep you a step ahead through the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the house of your dreams
I'm positive we'll find your dream house in the Rancho Palos Verdes area. When that happens, I'll thoroughly create your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored keeping your needs in mind and the home, including some contingencies. A few examples are obtaining financing, carrying out the inspection, and a clean title.

Upon presenting your offer, you'll need to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit given to a home seller to secure an offer to purchase the property. The amount is often put towards the cost of closing. If the seller accepts your offer, we should close on the property about 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows enough time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
A lot of deals don't close on the beginning offer. It's extremely common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it alarm you. We'll discuss whether or not to agree to the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or reject the seller's offer and go on.

The state of the market will play a large role in how aggressively we negotiate the deal. In addition, we'll work within your financing budget. And at the end of the day, we'll put together a deal that's best for you.

Step 7 – Get a loan
Once the deal is finalized, you'll start working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. It won't take much time at all if you're already pre-qualified, but you'll want to stay in close contact with your lender. And I'll deal with all the property information your lender needs to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) of closing costs from your lender within three days of taking your application. The estimate depends on the loan amount. RESPA requirements dictate that it has to involve all closing costs and fall within a precise range of accuracy, and I'll review the estimate and let you know if it all looks all right.

Then it's time to close on your home. This will probably occur at a title company or escrow office and should be a smooth and comfortable event.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, just call me at 3107842828 or e-mail me at .