I want to buy a home in 2024- what do I do next?

I want to buy a home in 2024- what do I do next?

The holidays are over, the decorations have been taken down, the kids are going back to school, and now it’s time to plan out 2024. Buying a house keeps creeping into your mind as something that you might want to do this year. But where to start! Read on for our step-by-step guide on how to get started on your home buying journey.

1. Find a Realtor.

This may seem obvious, but finding a first class Realtor is crucial to your success. Do your research and find an amazing Realtor to assist you during your home buying exploration process. Key things to consider when choosing a Realtor include:

1. How many homes have they sold? Have they distinguished themselves as market experts? (My team of Realtors at MilitaryHomeSearch.com has collectively sold over 2000 homes over the past 8 years).
2. Do they own multiple websites and invest heavily in their business? (My team owns: COSpringsHomeSearch.com; MilitaryHomeSearch.com; MilPCS.com)
3. Do they have hundreds upon hundreds of positive online reviews? (We do! Check them out here: http://tinyurl.com/3hay3jc7 and https://www.zillow.com/profile/LaurenSchneiderMHS).
4. Do they have past client references to provide you? (We literally have hundreds. Just ask!)
5. Are they upbeat, positive, and excited to help you? (Oh yes we are, almost to a fault!) 

2. Find a Lender.

Your Realtor will have lender recommendations that best meet your needs. Your Realtor/Lender team should have an extremely cohesive relationship, as the three of you will be working closely together in order to hit your financial goals. Do you have a home to sell before you purchase a home, or do you possibly have a lease to break? We can easily work through all of these scenarios with your lender. We recommend Grant Schneider, Market Leader for Movement Mortgage. Grant has 17+ years of mortgage experience, and has consistently found himself on the top 10 list of the Scotsman Guide, which celebrates the production of mortgage loan originators in the US, across all companies. Grant can be reached at: Grant.Schneider@movement.com; 719-494-4509; and you can fill out an online loan application at: www.GrantEasyApp.com.

3. Get set up on a home search website.

Your Realtor can carefully craft an online home search for you, so you receive listings via email that best meet your criteria. Set the email frequency to: instant, daily, weekly, or monthly depending on your timeline. Save your favorite properties. Set up your free home search at one of these websites: www.COSpringsHomeSearch.com or www.MilitaryHomeSearch.com.

4. Set up showings!

 Text/email your Realtor requesting showings or virtual tours of homes you like. Let the fun begin! From there, your lender can be working up exact mortgage payments on properties you have interest in as well.

5. Make an offer.

Working with your Realtor, you will choose a home to make an offer on. Your Realtor will study previous permits, and pull comparable sales for you. Together, you will decide on an offer price, and other various contract terms, to include: inclusions/exclusions, dates/deadlines, loan terms, etc.

6. After negotiations, your offer is accepted; begin escrow period.

Congratulations! Your offer was accepted! Now, the approximately 30-day escrow period begins. For the next 30 days, you will be working on submitting your earnest money, setting up a home inspection, working with your lender to finalize necessary documents, working through repair requests with the seller, scheduling a final walk through, and setting up a closing time to sign for your new home. Closing can take place in person, or remotely, via a remote online notary.

7. Close on your new home.

You did it! Buying a home is a breeze when you are working with an extremely skilled team. We LOVE cheering on our clients, turned friends, as they begin building their wealth through home ownership.

Buying a home is always a big step in life, no matter if this is your first home purchase, or your tenth. Knowing what you are looking for in a property, and what your 3-5 year plan is with the property will help your Realtor and Lender team make your journey that much more successful for you. If you think 2024 might be the year you want to purchase a home, please reach out! You can connect with us in the following ways:

Sign up for a free home search account at: www.COSpringsHomeSearch.com or MilitaryHomeSearch.com. 

Email us at: Team@militaryhomesearch.com

Call/Text us at: 719-338-7294

Follow us on Facebook: @MIlitaryHomeSearch.com

Follow us on Instagram: @MilitaryHomeSearchTeam