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For the Buyer
 Representing buyers since 1989, our REALTORS® offer a success
record based on reputation, resources and results. Our REALTORS®
become powerful allies who utilize their knowledge and skills to find
you the perfect property to match your needs.
Here are ten essential steps to make the buying process smooth and
successful:
- Determine how much you can purchase. What you can afford depends
on your income, credit rating, current monthly expenses, down payment
and the interest rate.
- Do your
home-work. Talk to several lenders; compare
costs and interest rates. Learn about home-buying programs including
FHA and VA loans.
- Get pre-qualified/pre-approved for a loan. A pre-qualification
determines your purchasing power and indicates a serious buyer. Some
lenders, such as Coldwell Banker Mortgage at (877)
573-7013, offer qualified buyers pre-approvals, which carry
more weight than a pre-qualification.
- Settle on your family's needs in a home. Take into consideration
number of bedrooms and bathrooms, size of lot, proximity to schools,
shopping, and the ocean, as well as climate, rainfall and temperature.
Also consider how much work you are willing to undertake to make the
property your perfect home.
- Compare property prices. Once you find a home that you like, ask
your REALTOR® to complete a market analysis of similar properties
to help you determine an offer price.
- Make an offer. Discuss the process with your REALTOR® and
review the Purchase Contract in detail. The Purchase Contract is your
offer of price, terms and conditions, and is a legally binding
contract. Be prepared for some negotiations with the seller. Your
REALTOR® will be there to help.
- Have the property inspected. Your REALTOR® will schedule home
and termite inspections after you choose an inspector from a
list of reputable companies. If any issues are discovered, make sure
they are addressed promptly, and any agreed upon repairs completed
prior to closing.
- Review the title report and escrow documents. You will receive
instructions and documents from the escrow company which must be read,
signed and returned promptly. Examine the
Preliminary Title
Report which shows the ownership interest being conveyed, as
well as any encumbrances, easements and liens against the property.
For more information, see our Escrow
and Title Process page.
- Buy Homeowners Insurance. Shop for homeowners insurance to cover
your property and household effects. Most mortgage lenders make
insurance a condition of a loan, and depending on the loan, you may
also be required to purchase a separate flood or hurricane policy.
Contact your REALTOR® for more information.
- Sign the closing papers. In order to process the paperwork, final
document signing will take place approximately 4 to 10 days prior to
Recording/Closing. At Recording, the transfer of ownership of the
property and all transactions are finalized. If you are
purchasing property from out of state, allow extra time if documents
need to be mailed or funds wired.
The award-winning Coldwell Banker website has an excellent Home
Buyer's Resources area. It provides information, tutorials and even
videos on a range of topics, including:
- How much of a home can I afford?
- The tax benefits of buying versus renting
- How to buy a home in a buyer's market
- How to go about getting a mortgage
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