THE BUYING PROCESS
Your Dream Home Awaits - I'll See You There.
From property hunting and price negotiations to mortgage offers and legal paperwork, I’ll help you with everything involved in buying or renting a new property. Your dream home or office is waiting and I can’t wait to help you find it. Get in touch to find out how to get the process started. I’m looking forward to helping you on this exciting new journey.
FAQ
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE FINAL HOME SALE PRICE DO YOU CHARGE?
Buyers are not typically responsible for the cost of real estate agents, beyond a nominal flat fee ($325 at my company). Sellers have contracted to pay for both agent's commissions. Buyers do not need to budget for a real estate agent.
DO I NEED A REAL ESTATE LAWYER AS WELL?
Luckily for you, I am a real estate lawyer. But moreover, real estate lawyers are not required in Ohio to be a part of every transaction like they are in other states. In Ohio we use Title Companies instead.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BUY A HOME?
Under normal market conditions, the average time to complete the sale of a home (with a loan) is around 35-45 days. Though, well-prepared home buyers have been known to purchase properties faster than that. Lender requirements, as well as mortgage regulation is the major driver of this delay. Homes that are bought with cash can be a matter of days, if so desired and able.
HOW MUCH DO I NEED FOR A DOWN PAYMENT?
As little as 3%, and sometimes less. First time homebuyers will often only put down 3 to 5% on a home. That’s because several first-time home buyer programs don’t require big down payments. A longtime favorite, the FHA loan, requires 3.5% down. What’s more, some programs allow down payment contributions from family members in the form of a gift.
Some programs require even less. VA loans and USDA loans can be made with zero down. However, these programs are more restrictive. VA loans are only made to former or current military service members. USDA loans are only available to low to-middle income buyers in USDA-eligible rural areas.
For many years, conventional loans required a 20% down payment. These types of loans were typically taken out by repeat buyers who could use equity from their existing home as a source of down payment funds. However, some newer conventional loan programs are available with 3% down if the borrower carries private mortgage insurance (PMI), which is an added monthly cost to your loan.
Got more questions? Get in touch today.