Understanding the Home Buying Process

The decision to purchase a home at the Lake of the Ozarks is one of the biggest choices you'll likely make in your lifetime. Purchasing your own home is a great investment that can deliver several financial benefits - equity buildup, value appreciation, automatic savings plan - not to mention a new sense of pride! This week, Team Andy Gibson is sharing with you the steps of buying a home to help you more easily understand the process.


Hire Your Agent
Before hiring a real estate professional at the Lake of the Ozarks to help you, know that above all else, good agents put their clients first. This is your dream, and your agent is your advocate to help you make your dream come true. Not only can an agent help you locate your dream home, but they can help you negotiate the contract to get the deal for your money.

Secure Financing
To make the financing process as painless as possible, ask your agent to introduce you to a preferred mortgage lender. This professional will work with you and your agent to make sure the financial aspect of your home purchase is stress free.

Find Your Home
There are a lot of homes out there to choose from, and diving in without a guide can become overwhelming and confusing. Your Team Andy Gibson agent will help you more accurately pinpoint homes that fit your criteria. The right home will meet all your important needs, and as many of your additional wants as possible.

Make an Offer
Once you've found a home you love, the next step is deciding on a price. It's important to remember that a home is an investment. Your agent can give you information on other properties in the neighborhood to help you make an informed decision when it comes to a price to offer. Look to your agent to explain and guide you through the offer process.

Perform Due Diligence
Your agent should provide you with need-to-know information about the home so that you know what you are getting into before you complete the purchase. Knowing what work needs to be done to a home is important information to have in the buying process. This can determine whether it's worth moving forward with the purchase, when you'll be able to take occupancy, and how much money you'll need to sink into the property to get it to where you want it if the seller is unwilling to cover certain expenses. 

Close
Once you've determined a price point you're comfortable with, you're in the "home" stretch! But, in order to ensure that you don't put the property purchase at risk, you have a couple responsibilities that you'll need to keep in mind. Prior to closing, it's essential that you stay in control of your credit and finances. Do not make any large purchases during this time. It's also important to stay in constant communication with your real estate agent and lender during this process. And don't be afraid to ask questions. Your team is there to help you!

Protect Your Investment
Congratulations, and welcome home! The home-buying process is complete, which means it's time for your maintenance plan! It's now your responsibility, and in your best financial interest, to protect your investment for years to come. Performing routine maintenance on your home's systems is always more affordable than having to fix big problems later. Be sure to watch for signs of leaks, damage and wear.

Team Andy Gibson is excited about your decision to buy a home at the Lake of the Ozarks, and we would love to discuss what we can do to help your real estate transaction go as smoothly as possible. For all of your real estate related questions, contact Team Andy Gibson, the most trusted real estate agents at the Lake of the Ozarks!

CONTACT TEAM ANDY GIBSON FOR ALL OF YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS!

Keller Williams Lake of the Ozarks Realty
858 Hwy 42
Osage Beach, MO 65065 
573-286-5907 Cell
573-348-9898 Office
FOLLOW US ON:  FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOOGLE+ | LINKEDIN
Location: Osage Beach, MO, USA

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