The Home Buying Process
Owning real estate can be one of the least risky ways to build wealth. Whether you are a first time buyer or more experienced with purchasing property it is a decision that should be made carefully. Choosing the right REALTOR will ensure you have a professional on your side from the beginning of the transaction to the end. At Kopa Real Estate, we take pride in providing expert advice throughout the entire home buying process. We will assist you from the first property search to closing as explained in our Six Steps to Buying. We will be your advocate at every step of the home buying process. Here on our website you can find information about the best neighborhoods in Austin and surrounding areas. With our advanced search ability we can help you search for real estate listings that best meet your criteria.
Step 1: Determine Your Needs
The first step to buying a home is determining your needs and the reasons why you want to buy real estate in Austin, Texas. Every client is different so we will ask questions to gain a better understanding of your goals. Having a clear understanding of your reasons for buying a home will help you choose the right property. Our experience from working with previous clients allows us to help create your list of needs and wants then we can begin the process of helping to find your next home. No matter what your real estate needs are we want to help you purchase your next home. Please complete the buyer consultation form or call Eric Peterson at 512-791-7473 and we will help you find what you are looking for.
Step 2: Get Pre-qualified
We suggest homebuyers consult with a mortgage lender as soon as you decide to buy a home. We can recommend lenders our clients have enjoyed working with in the past or you can choose your own. By working with a lender to arrange pre-approval you will have an understanding of the monthly payment you can afford and the down payment and closing costs you will need. Being pre-approved for a mortgage will make your offer more attractive to a seller. Sellers will know you are serious about buying their home and therefore more likely to accept your offer over another buyer who is not pre-approved.
Step 3: Find Your Perfect Home
Finding the perfect Austin area home needs to be a team effort. Once we know your criteria we can show you homes that would be a good fit. With our knowledge of the market and our networking with other agents, we will be able to let you know about some homes even before they are listed in the Austin MLS (Multiple Listing Service). We can show you any home listed in the Austin MLS as well as new construction homes that may not be listed for sale by the buyer. You can also do your own Austin home search. The advanced functions on koparealestate.com will enable you to find properties that match your needs, save listings and receive email notifications when homes are listed for sale. If you see homes you would like to view simply send us a message and we will make the appointments. This will save you time and hassle compared to calling the listing agent for each home. Some of the ways you can search at koparealestate.com include by price range, neighborhood, school district or specific school, lifestyle features such as golf course homes or waterfront and special items such as green features and handicapped accessible features.
Step 4: Make An Offer
Once we have found a home you want to buy you are ready to make an offer. We will help you determine what to offer based on the current market value, analyzing recent sales of similar homes, the condition of the home, other options available to you and your interest in the property. We will prepare the contract for your review and submit it to the seller and keep you updated throughout the process. Don’t be surprised if the seller doesn’t accept your initial offer. Counter offers are typical and we will help you negotiate the best possible price and terms possible in the current Austin real estate market.
Step 5: Inspections
Once a contract is signed by all parties it typically takes 30-45 days before closing, when the sale in complete. Once the contract is signed that’s really when we go to work for you. There are many items that need still need to be completed. From ensuring your option money and earnest money are deposited to helping you find a great home inspector. The home inspection will make sure you know what you’re getting into during the option period and before you sign your closing papers. If there are items in the inspection report of concern to you we can address those with the seller during the option period. We can also recommend specialists to further investigate any issues that may come up with the inspection.
Step 6: Closing
Once we have completed your due diligence it should be smooth sailing from here. Your paperwork from the lender has been sent to the title company and we will set a date and time for you to close. To ensure that the closing proceeds smoothly we make sure everything turns out the way you expected we will attend your closing. This is the big day you’ve been waiting for! Congratulations, the home is yours!
Contact us for more information about purchasing a home.
Please fill out the form below and we will be in contact to help you get started on your home search:
*Your information will never be shared with any third party.