It’s important to understand your goals of purchasing a new home before you begin your search.

What type of property will fit your needs best? What is important in terms of location? Do you want to live close to work, schools, or shopping? What type of neighborhood is important to you? Considering what you want and need from your home will help you make important decisions down the road and narrow down your search so you don’t get sidetracked!

We suggest creating a list and ranking the features that matter the most to you and understanding the pros and cons of different property types.

Now that you’ve defined your goals, it’s time to choose your personal real estate agent. It is undeniably helpful to have a licensed agent by your side as an advocate for you. Your agent is with you every step of the way to help you find your perfect home while guiding you through the complexities of the home-buying process.

Our agents at Ivie Avenue have been hand-selected, due to their integrity, honesty, friendliness, and professionalism. We have your best interest at heart and would love to go to work for you.

When it comes to buying a home, it is extremely beneficial to get your finances in order first. You’ll need to meet with banks, credit unions, and mortgage lenders to learn about your mortgage options.

We have trusted lenders we use and are happy to refer you to them. They can help educate you about the different types of home-financing, what you can afford, and down payment options. This is an important step in determining your buying power.

Once you’ve found a home you are interested in, your agent can help negotiate your offer. If your offer is accepted, you’ll make a down payment to officially be under contract.

Then begins the due-diligence period. During this time, your agent will help you understand the conditions, provisions and obligations of your contract and guide you through the appraisal, inspection and warranty process.

This is the most rewarding part of the home-buying experience. At this point, all your questions should be answered, negotiations settled and your mortgage approved.

At closing, you will sign your mortgage paperwork and officially become the homeowner! You will get your keys and are on your way to the next exciting stage in your life.