Are you contemplating purchasing a home in Palm Harbor? Bradshaw & Bradshaw Realty Services can help.

Purchasing a home is intimidating for a lot of people, but it isn't too complicated with a little up-front planning. So they know exactly what they can expect, I will furnish buyers with an outline of the whole deal. Here are my nine steps to buying a home. Should you have questions regarding this information or if you're ready to get started, you can contact me here or e-mail me at .

Step 1 – Get ready to buy a home
Before you start looking for a home, there are a lot of things you should consider. You'll most likely want to create an outline of features you want, get a feeling for what neighborhoods you want to live in, and start working on your budget. A good guideline to adhere to is that your mortgage payment should be no more than a third of your monthly income.

Step 2 – Connect with a real estate agent in Palm Harbor
This is where I come in. I'd be happy to schedule a time to get together with you and communicate with you regarding why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your future plans. We'll talk about everything from neighborhoods, schools in the Palm Harbor area, the mortgage and housing industries, to any other economic factors that could potentially affect your buying decision today or in the future.

I can also help you get started on your loan. There are some very good mortgage professionals in Palm Harbor, and I work with a lot of them, so you're in great hands. They can help you decide which type of loan is best for you, as well as help you get approved.

Step 3 – Start house hunting
After our first meeting, I'll start looking for available houses on the market that best suit you. I'll get a sneak peek of most of the homes and exclude the bad ones, and then we'll set up appointments to view the houses whenever it's convenient for you.

When we tour the homes, I'll identify positive features and bad ones. I'll even ask you to talk about things you like and dislike. It's widely common for buyers to change their list of must-haves as we view homes and some things become more essential than others. If that's the situation, I'll search all the listings once again and narrow it down to the home you've been dreaming about.

Step 4 – Know the market
Your agent's understanding of the Palm Harbor market is an essential component in your home search. And I assure you I'm informed of all the neighborhoods and schools, and I will let you know which neighborhoods are "hot" and require immediate action and others that are "cold" and allow for thoughtful analysis.

When we view houses, I'll be sure to tell you if the list price has room for bargaining or if I believe the home is "priced to sell." Every REALTOR in Palm Harbor will convince you they comprehend the housing market, but beware, and make sure you ask plenty of questions. If it doesn't seem like they know everything, contact me at 7274171290 or e-mail me at , and I'd be glad to answer any questions you may have. My market expertise will keep you a step ahead throughout the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the home you've been waiting for
I'm confident we'll find your dream house in Palm Harbor. When we do, I'll precisely develop your purchase offer. The offer will be made to suit your needs and the home. We'll include some contingencies, such as obtaining financing, completing the inspection, and a clean title.

Upon sending in your offer, you'll likely want to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to the seller to secure an offer to buy the property and is typically applied to the cost of closing. If the seller accepts the offer, we should close within 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows plenty of time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
A lot of contracts aren't closed on the first offer, and it's really common to receive a counter offer. Don't let it discourage you. We'll figure out whether or not to agree to the counter offer, present our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and move on.

How aggressively we negotiate the contract depends on market conditions. We'll also work within your financing limits. And at the end of the day, we'll assemble a deal that works well for you.

Step 7 – Obtain a loan
Upon signing the contract, you'll begin working with your lender to close the loan. This shouldn't be a long process at all if you're already pre-approved, but you'll need to stay in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll manage all the property information your lender needs to close the loan.

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

Then it's time to close on your house. This should happen at a title company or escrow office and should be a smooth and stress-free event.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you have any questions, be sure to call me at 7274171290 or e-mail me at .