Buying or selling a home in Mission Viejo?

Purchasing a home is stressful for many people, but with some planning ahead of time, it's not too difficult. We like to supply buyers with a road map of the whole deal so they'll understand exactly what to expect. These are our nine steps to buying a home.

Step 1 – Get ready to buy a home
There are plenty of things you need to take into account before commencing your home search. You'll want to make a list of features you need, get a feel for what school districts you'd like to live in, and begin planning around your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment less than or around a third of your net monthly income is a good guideline to follow.

Step 2 – Speak with a real estate agent
This is where The Alden Team can help. We can plan a time to get together so we can talk about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your future plans. We'll discuss the mortgage and housing industries, other economic factors that could affect your purchase today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and schools in the Mission Viejo area.

We can also assist you with getting started on your loan. There are some very good mortgage professionals in Mission Viejo, and we partner with a lot of them, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They can help you choose which type of loan is best for you, as well as help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Begin house hunting
After we meet for the first time, we'll start searching for homes on the market that suit your needs. We'll get a sneak peek of many of the houses and throw out the duds, and then we'll schedule appointments to tour the houses when it's convenient for you.

As we tour houses, we'll show you the positive features and negative ones. we'll even ask you to point out what things you like and don't like. It's common for buyers to revise their list of must-haves as we view houses and some things become far more essential than others. If that happens, we'll search the listings once again and narrow it down to the house you've been dreaming about.

Step 4 – Understand the housing market
Our knowledge of the Mission Viejo home market is an indispensable advantage in your search. We are informed of all the neighborhoods and school districts, and we will communicate what neighborhoods are "hot" and require immediate action and the ones that are "cold" and allow for cautiousness.

As we view homes, we'll let you know when the list price has room for negotiation and also when we believe the house is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be careful and be sure to ask plenty of questions, as every real estate agent will tell you they know the home market. If things don't add up, contact us at 949-466-2933 or e-mail us at scott4homes@scottalden.com, and we'd be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. Our understanding of the market will keep you a step above the rest through the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the home of your dreams
We know we'll find the house of your dreams in Mission Viejo. When that happens, we'll carefully develop your purchase offer. The offer will be tailored exactly to your needs, including many contingencies, such as getting financing, carrying out the inspection, and a clear title.

When we submit your purchase offer, most likely you'll want to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit made to a home seller to secure an offer to purchase the property, and it's most often applied to the closing costs. If the seller accepts the offer, we should close on the property about 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows ample time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Unfortunately most contracts aren't closed on the first offer, and it's widely common to receive a counter offer. Don't let this discourage you. We'll consider whether or not to consent to the counter offer, present our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and go on.

Market circumstances will play a 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 assemble a contract that's best for you.

Step 7 – Obtain financing
Upon completion of the contract, you'll begin working with your lender to close the loan. If you're already pre-qualified, this shouldn't take much time at all. But you'll want to keep in close contact with your mortgage lender. And we'll care for all the property information your lender will need to close the loan.>

Step 8 – Close the deal
Your lender will supply you with a Loan Estimate (LE) of your closing costs within three days of getting your loan application. This estimate is based on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements dictate that it has to contain all closing costs and be within a close range of accuracy. we'll review the estimate and let you know if it all looks permissible.

Then it's time to close on your house. This should happen at a title company or escrow office and will most likely be a smooth and calm event.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! Now you can move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, make sure you call us at 949-466-2933 or send us an e-mail.