1. Decide what you are looking for.
Congratulations on your decision to purchase a new home! It is important to select a professional real estate agent to work with you before you begin house hunting, so that your agent can help you define what kind of home and neighborhood would best suit your desires and needs. The finer the details on your wish list, the more effective your home search will be. So that our Team member may better assist you in finding the home you are looking for, you will need to have a good idea of what size, number of bedrooms and baths, and other details ready for our agents to assist you.
2. Get pre-approved with Bluechip Capital Partnership, Inc.
Now that you have decide what you are looking for, Bluechip Capital Partnership, Inc. will help you with your financing needs.. The best way to do this is to get prequalification or preapproval for a home loan. In most markets, preapproved buyers are preferred by sellers over those who are prequalified. Your preapproved status lets the seller know:
- You have gone through an extensive financial background check.
- A lender is willing to do business with you.
- The likelihood of unexpected obstacles regarding financing is minimal.
3. Decide where you want to live.
Now you are ready to to start looking for a home — a process that can prove overwhelming if not approached with some forethought. The most efficient route is to allow your real estate agent to do the initial scouting for you. Using your wish list as a guide, he or she will alert you of new and existing listings that have strong potential. If these listings spark your interest, your agent will arrange home tours at your convenience. Bluechip's Agents will notify you of any listings they see that fit in to the criteria you have laid out via email, phone, or however we may most effectively communicate with you.
If you wish, you may also do your own research. Read local real estate publications, contact your local neighborhood associations, visit the local chamber of commerce, surf the Internet, or drive around your favorite neighborhoods. While these methods certainly can lead to your dream home, it’s important to note that most home sales are the result of agent connections. That means it’s more likely your agent will find your dream home through being in the real estate business than you driving around on the weekends.
4. With Bluechip's help, it's time to make an offer!
When you’re ready to make an offer on a home, Bluechip's agent will help you determine the offer price by reviewing recent sales of homes similar in size, quality and amenities. With your input, your agent will draft a written contract that outlines what needs to be done by both parties to execute the transaction. If the seller accepts the offer, the document becomes a binding agreement, so it is imperative that you carefully review it with your agent and speak up if anything is not clear to you. It’s important to note that if the seller changes any aspect of the offer, it is not a binding agreement until the buyer agrees to the seller’s changes.
5. Once the offer is accepted. 
On occasion the seller accepts your offer as is. However, in most cases, the seller will make a counteroffer. This is where your real estate agent’s experience in negotiations will be invaluable. Keep in mind almost everything is negotiable when you are buying a home. This can give you a great deal of leverage in the buying process — that is, if you have adequate information and you use it in an appropriate manner.
Some items you may negotiate:
- Price
- Financing
- Closing costs
- Move-in date
- Repairs
- Appliances and fixtures
- Landscaping
- Painting
Keeping in close contact with your Agent at this time is very important in case any changes should arise and need you approval.
6. Prepare for the closing of the Purchase.
When an offer becomes a binding agreement, your real estate agent will help you tackle the checklist of action items that you, as the buyer, have agreed to perform prior to closing. Depending on how the responsibilities are divvied up in the agreement, this is typically when you will:
- Order a home inspection.
- Order an appraisal and finalize your financing.
- Secure title insurance.
- Shop for a home warranty.
Having these procedures done in a timely and professional manner is a must, as any delays could threaten a successful closing. Bluechip Realty's agent should be able to serve as your “one-stop shopping” referral source for service providers. Your agent also should serve as your advocate, helping to coordinate activities and making sure the vendors have access to the property to perform their jobs.
7. Close the transaction.
Congratulations! The moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived. The closing is where home ownership is legally transferred from the seller to the buyer. It is a formal meeting that most parties involved in the transaction will attend. Closing procedures usually are held at the title company’s or lawyer’s office. The closing officer will coordinate all the document signing and the collection and disbursement of funds.
In advance of your closing date (24 hours at minimum), Bluechip Capital Partnership, Inc. or the lender of your choice, will send a final closing statement that outlines your closing costs, if applicable. Your real estate agent will review this document with you to ensure its accuracy, as well as help you gather any necessary documentation that you’ll need to bring to closing.
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