Purchasing a home in Charlottesville?

	When you're ready to get started, you can contact me here or send e-mail to adunbar@cfw.com. I'm glad to answer questions you have regarding this information.

Step 1 – Get ready to buy a home
Before you begin searching for a home, there are plenty of things you need to take into account. You'll most likely want to form a checklist of items you need to have, get an idea of what neighborhoods you want to live in, and start planning your budget. Ensuring your mortgage payment is less than a third of your net monthly income is a good rule to adhere to.

Step 2 – Get in touch with a real estate agent in Charlottesville
This is where Anita Dunbar - Montague, Miller & Co. can help. I'd be more than happy to schedule a time to get together with you and speak with you regarding why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your upcoming plans. We'll talk about neighborhoods, schools in the Charlottesville area, the mortgage and housing industries, and any additional economic factors that might affect your buying decision today or in the future.

I can also help you begin the loan process. There are some great mortgage professionals in Charlottesville, and I partner with a lot of them, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They'll help you decide which kind of loan is best for you, as well as help you get approved.

Step 3 – Start your home search
After our first meeting, I'll start searching for available homes on the market that are a great fit for you. I'll get a sneak peek of most of the homes and remove the duds, and then we'll schedule appointments to tour the homes at a time that's convenient for you.

When we view houses, I'll identify good features and negative ones. I'll even ask you to point out what things you like and dislike. It's widely common for buyers to revise their list of must-haves as we tour homes and some items become more substantial than others. If that's the case, I'll look through all the listings one more time and narrow it down to the home you've been dreaming about.

Step 4 – Know the housing market
Your agent's knowledge of the Charlottesville market is a fundamental factor in your home search. And I assure you I'm mindful of all the neighborhoods and school districts, and I can alert you to certain districts are "hot" and require immediate action and others that are "cold" and allow for thoughtful examination.

When we tour homes, I'll let you know if the seller's asking price has room for bargaining or if I believe the home is "priced to sell." Every REALTOR^® in Charlottesville will claim to understand the housing market, but be wary, and make sure you ask plenty of questions. If it seems like they don't know everything, call me at (434) 951-7135 or e-mail me at adunbar@cfw.com, and I'd be glad to answer any questions you might have. My market expertise will keep you a step above the rest throughout the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the house of your dreams
I'm confident we'll find the home of your dreams in Charlottesville. When that happens, I'll thoroughly develop your purchase offer. The offer will be tailored to suit your needs, including some contingencies, such as obtaining financing, finishing the home inspection, and a clean title.

When presenting your offer, you'll need to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to a seller to secure the offer to purchase the property. The amount is typically applied to the cost of closing. If the offer is accepted, we should close about 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows necessary time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
Unfortunately most deals aren't closed on the beginning offer, and it's really common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it intimidate you. We'll discuss whether or not to accept the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and move on.

Market circumstances determine how aggressively we negotiate the contract. We'll also work within your financing limits. And when it's all said and done, we'll compose a contract that works well for you.

Step 7 – Obtain a loan
After the contract is finalized, you'll start working with your lender to close the loan. If you're pre-approved, it shouldn't take much time at all. However, you should to stay in close contact with your lender. And I'll look after all the property information your lender needs to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) outlining your closing costs from your mortgage lender within three days of taking your loan application. The estimate depends on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements mandate that it has to involve all closing costs and be within a strict range of accuracy. I'll go over the estimate and let you know if it all looks good.

Then we'll close on your home. This will most likely occur at a title company or escrow office and will probably be a smooth and easygoing occasion.

Step 9 – Move in
Success! Now you can move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, just call me at (434) 951-7135 or send me an e-mail.