Buying or selling a home in Seminole? Carole & Company can help.

Purchasing a home can be stressful for many people, but with some up-front planning, it isn't all that difficult. So they'll know exactly what to expect, I'll provide buyers with an outline of the entire deal. These are my nine steps to purchasing a home. Should you have questions regarding any of this information or if you're prepared to get started, simply contact me here or e-mail me at .

Step 1 – Prepare to purchase
Before you start looking for a home, there are many things you should do. When you start your search, you'll probably want to make an outline of features you want, get a feeling for what school districts you want to live in, and start planning around your budget. A good rule of thumb to adhere to is that your mortgage payment should be less than or close to 30 percent of your net monthly income.

Step 2 – Communicate with a real estate agent in Seminole
That's where I come in. I'd be more than happy to schedule a time to meet with you and communicate with you about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your future plans. We'll talk about everything from neighborhoods, school districts in the Seminole area, the mortgage and housing industries, to any other economic factors that could potentially affect your buying decision today or in the future.

I'll also help you get started on your loan. There are some excellent mortgage professionals in Seminole, and I work with a lot of them, so you're in great hands. They will help you decide which type of loan is best for you, as well as help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Start house hunting
After our initial meeting, I'll begin looking for homes on the market that best suit you. I'll research many of the homes and ignore the bad ones, and then we'll schedule appointments to view the houses whenever it's convenient for you.

When we view the houses, I'll show you the good features and bad ones. I'll also ask you to point out what things you like and don't like. Oftentimes, buyers amend their wish list as we tour homes and some things become more substantial than others. If such is the case, I'll look through all the listings once more and trim it down to the house you've been dreaming about.

Step 4 – Understand the market
My awareness of the Seminole housing market is a crucial agent in your home search. I'm conscious of all the schools and neighborhoods, and I will let you know certain districts are "hot" and call for immediate action and others that are "cool" and allow for thoughtful analysis.

As we tour homes, I'll make sure to communicate if the asking price has room for negotiation or if I believe the house is "priced to sell." Every real estate agent in Seminole will claim to truly know the home market, but beware, and make sure you ask your agent a lot of questions. If it appears they don't know everything, contact me at (405)382-3689 or e-mail me at , and I'll be happy to answer any questions you have. My market expertise will keep you a step ahead through the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the home you've been looking for
I'm confident we'll find your dream home in Seminole. When we do, I'll precisely develop your home purchase offer. The offer will be tailored to suit your needs and the home, including a lot of contingencies, such as getting financing, completing the home inspection, and a clean title.

When we send in your offer, you'll probably want to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit made to the home seller to secure the offer to purchase the property, and it's usually applied to the closing costs. If your offer is accepted, we should close within 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows sufficient time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
Unfortunately most deals aren't closed on the first offer – it's widely common to receive a counter offer. But don't let this alarm you. We'll discuss whether or not to consent to the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and go on.

Market circumstances will play a large role in how aggressively we negotiate the contract. In addition, we'll work within your financing constraints. And at the end of the day, we'll formulate a deal that works well for you.

Step 7 – Get a loan
After the deal is signed, you'll begin working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. This shouldn't take long at all if you're already pre-qualified, but you'll need to keep in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll take care of all the property information your lender will need to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) detailing closing costs from your lender within three days of accepting your application. The estimate is based on the loan amount. RESPA requirements order that it has to contain all closing costs and be within a precise range of accuracy, and I'll review the estimate and let you know if it all looks all right.

Then it's time to close on your home. This will most often take place at a title company or escrow office and should be a smooth and hassle-free event.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, simply contact me at (405)382-3689 or e-mail me at .