Ok, you found a home you like, now what? Next you need to make an offer. If you are using a realtor then this part is easy. You will make an appointment to place your offer. The realtor will get all the paper work together and you will meet with him or her to sign.
If the home you are buying is for sale by owner, the seller may already have the paperwork needed or you can go to several places online and find the forms you need.

If you don’t know much about real estate laws, it might be best to have your attorney draw up the papers or look at the papers the seller already has. You need to decide what price you are going to offer. If the house is listed for $250,000 and you only want to pay $245,000, then that is what you would offer. Remember if your offer is lower then the seller is willing to accept, they will probably give you a counteroffer. Making an offer on a home is a negotiation. After you have decided on an amount, you need to pick a date in which you wish to close the deal and take possession of the home.

Typically 30days is the normal amount of time. Are there any repairs you wish the seller to make before purchase? If so, then you want that that to be included in your offer. If you are getting a mortgage and already have a pre- approval letter from the broker, you need to include that with your offer. This shows the sellers you are serious and you have a good chance of getting the mortgage needed to make the purchase. There is also a thing in offers called a contingency, this is a condition that if it is not met, you can back out of the contract. Remember once you sign an offer it is legal and binding so if the seller accepts your terms you are committed to buy that home. One condition, you want to put in, is that the home gets a valuable inspection, if you have someone look at the home, and they tell you it’s going to fall down any day, you probably don’t want to be obligated to buy it. A contingency is your legal way to cancel a contract. Next, if the sellers are to leave anything in the home such as air conditioners or appliances it is a good idea to have that written out in your offer.

Basically when you put in an offer to purchase a home you want to get everything in writing so you will know exactly what you are getting. After you sign your offer and everything is filled out, you will have to give a check called earnest money deposit, this is similar to a down payment, it shows good faith that you do intend to buy this home.
This deposit will be deducted at closing. In process of buying a home, the offer is only the beginning of all the paperwork that is involved, so make sure everything is right before signing this legal and binding contract.
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Finding a good Real Estate agent can be as daunting and interviewing builders! Step one, as always is: network, network, network. As friends, family, co-workers, etc. who they’ve used, who they’d recommend and from whom they’d warn you away (and why). With the resulting list in hand, make an appointment to meet with the top three choices. If you have time to see four, that’s better, but usually after three you’ll have a good feeling for which company is best.

At that meeting, find out how long the person has been an agent and if the Agent works full time. Most full time agents know their market a little more intimately than part time ones. They also have a more vested interest in keeping their clients happy. Secondarily, let them tell you about the company for whom they work, the longevity of business, their activities in the community, and a list of satisfied clients that you can contact if you wish.

Third, find out if your potential agents really know the neighborhoods / communities in which you want to shop, and the types of home for which you want to shop. If not, see if they’d recommend someone else in house who DOES know those neighborhoods. The lack of a positive response here is the true test – a listing agent works for the seller, but if the agency offers a buyer agreement the showing agent should put your interests first.

Fourth, find out if the Agent has a network of resources. Some agencies cooperate with information, including post-show feedback from potential buyers. This can save valuable time especially for people moving to new towns, cities, or states.

Fifth, see how honestly your potential agents respond to tough questions. These people have a vested interest in selling property at a high value, but if you feel like they’re candy-coating information or potential problems, that’s a big red flag to avoid. Another no-no is multi-agency sales as this can not only increase costs, but also create conflicts and stress for showings, contracts, specific details etc.

By the way, when you’re considering all the information you’ve gathered in your interviews, don’t do so in front of potential agents. This allows you to really compare and contrast without being rushed. Even then, it’s not a bad idea to hire a real estate attorney to review any contracts you’re about to sign with an agency or on a home. The attorney works for YOU, not the realtor, and will help avoid very costly mistakes. They will also make sure that all agreements & options are fully documented in writing.
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Condos have many advantages over traditional homes. The lawn maintenance, snow removal and trash disposal are all taking care of for you. You will pay a small fee either monthly, or yearly called an association fee, and you don’t have these things to worry about. Also many condo communities have amenities such as swimming pools, fitness centers, or tennis courts.

They are there for your enjoyment, but you aren’t responsible for any of the cleaning and upkeep. For instance if you have a traditional home and you get a nice big pool for the backyard, then you have to clean the filter, add chlorine and other chores to make sure it is working right and you can use it. If you have large exercise equipment you have to have a place big enough to store and use it. In a condo that offers a center for you to work out in, you don’t have to worry about the space. Condo living is a fast growing trend; it is popular with the young, as well as the older generations. In fact there are places that are exclusive to the older retirees, and cater to even more of their needs such as having meals, doctors, and hairdressers on site. And many of them even have a shuttle type service to help with appointments, and shopping.

With condo ownership you still have the pride and most of the responsibilities that come along with owning your own home. It is just a lifestyle difference. In condo communities you have certain by laws in which you have to adhere too, they usually pertain to the outside of the home. Like your home must be painted a particular color, the yard must be kept clean of debris, or things like fence regulation. This is to insure that your new neighborhood is clean, comfortable and appealing. You won’t see any cars up on blocks in the yard, but what you will see is a very good looking, well kept and homey place to call home. If you choose the condo lifestyle you will enjoy it very much and reap its many benefits.
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