Steps To Buy A Home

1. Determine What You Can Afford

Before beginning your home search, it's helpful to obtain a mortgage pre-approval.  We can assist you to find and talk with a lender to obtain  pre-approval. Pre-approval will give you a good idea of your buying power, and the approximate amount you can expect for your monthly principal and interest.  Mortgage pre-approval also gives the seller peace of mind that you will be able to obtain the financing necessary to purchase their home.

2. Decide What You Want

Now it's time to look at what you want in your new home.  We have the experience and knowledge you need about the types of homes you're considering and the areas in which you are interested in living.  We can share demographic information with you and are knowledgeable about prices of homes,  the school systems, and the surrounding areas.

It's helpful for you to think about the features you want and need in your new home, and talk about this with your ExecuHome Realtor so they can tailor home searches to fit your requirements.  Features to consider include number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the architectural style(s) you prefer, any special attributes such as a garage, fireplace, fenced yard, and the age of the home.  You may wish to have your new home close to specific routes, schools, or your job.  If you have children, you'll want to know the makeup of the neighborhood.   Is it comprised mostly of young families with children or older families?  And if you do have children, you'll want more information on the local school system.  Your ExecuHome Realty realtor can help answer all these questions for you.

3. Searching For Homes

Once you've narrowed down the features and geographic area, the fun begins, visiting homes for sale.  You can use our search links to view listings of homes for sale in Montgomery County, or submit a Home Search Request, and we will handle the search for you, saving you time and effort.

Custom MLS Search → Montgomery County Homes

MLS listings in 13 languages → Multilingual Search.

Interactive Map Search → Montgomery County Homes Map Search

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Your ExecuHome Realtor will present you with houses available for sale that meet your criteria.  This information will usually include a picture of the outside of the home, and details about the property such as square footage, lot size, home features, room sizes, any improvements/upgrades made to the home, homeowner's association information, and school district.  And if you drive by a house for sale that you like, simply give the address to your ExecuHome Realtor and he/she can quickly provide you with details on that home.   As you find houses that meet your criteria, the next step is to set up appointments to go view the houses in person.  Contact your realtor and they will handle scheduling the appointments.  It's a good idea to take along pen and paper to make notes about specific house features and your likes/dislikes about each property.  Your new home is out there waiting to be discovered!

4. Making An Offer

You've found the home of your dreams, and the time has come to make an offer.  Whether you are a first time or experienced home buyer, it pays to have a real estate professional handling your negotiations.  ExecuHome Realtors have the knowledge and experience to know the difference between a reasonable asking price, and one that is above or even below market value.  They work closely with you to determine a realistic offer and consult with the seller on your behalf.  These negotiations can often times be quite difficult and stressful.  Your ExecuHome Realtor serves as your advocate to ensure that you're receiving the highest value for the best possible price.

5. Inspection and Home Owners Insurance

Your offer has been accepted and now it's time to set up various home inspections before settlement.  Your ExecuHome Realtor can make all the arrangements for structural, mechanical, radon, oil/gas, pest, asbestos, and any other inspections that he/she sees necessary.  Your realtor will ensure that your settlement is contingent upon a clean inspection and will negotiate with the seller in the event that repairs need to be made.  This is an essential step in the buying process, as you don't want any unnecessary surprises and/or hidden costs after settlement.

You will also need to contact a title company and make arrangements for Home Owners Insurance at this phase in the buying process.  Your ExecuHome Realtor can recommend insurance plans and point you in the direction of qualified title companies and insurance brokers.

6. The Closing

It's closing time and you're ready to become a homeowner.  Before you attend the closing, be sure to complete all of the necessary paperwork and pay all required deposits for the mortgage, title, homeowners insurance and anything else that falls under local and state requirements.  Your ExecuHome Realtor will guide you through to ensure a smooth closing free of the many issues that can cause unnecessary delays or financial penalties.  Once the closing is complete, congratulations are in order! Now it's time to celebrate!