Buying or selling a home? Hoffer Realty Associates can help.

For many people, buying a home can be a stressful event. However, with a bit of up-front planning, it's not too hard. So they know exactly what to expect, I'll give buyers a road map of the whole deal. Here are my nine steps to buying a home. Should you have any questions about any of this information or if you're prepared to get started, you can contact me here or e-mail me at .

Step 1 – Get ready to buy
There are a lot of things you should take into account prior to beginning your home search. When you begin your search, you'll probably want to form an outline of items you want, get a plan of what neighborhoods you want to live in, and begin planning around your budget. Ensuring your mortgage payment is less than or around 1/3 of your monthly income is a good rule of thumb to adhere to.

Step 2 – Talk to a real estate agent
That's where I come in. I'd love to book a time to get together with you and talk about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your upcoming plans. We'll discuss neighborhoods, school districts in the DuBois area, the mortgage industry, and any additional economic factors that could potentially affect your buying decision today or in the future.

I can also help you start the loan process. There are some great mortgage professionals in DuBois, and I partner with a lot of them, so you'll be in great hands. They can help you choose which kind of loan is best for you, as well as help you get approved.

Step 3 – Begin your home search
After our initial meeting, I'll start searching for available homes on the market that are a good fit for you. I'll research many of the homes and exclude the bad ones, and then we'll schedule appointments to tour the homes when it's convenient for you.

When we view homes, I'll show you the positive features and bad ones. And I'll ask you to talk about things you like and dislike. Most often, buyers change their list of must-haves as we view homes and some features become more necessary than others. If that's the situation, I'll search all the listings once more and trim it down to the house you've been wishing for.

Step 4 – Understand the market
My knowledge of the DuBois housing market is a fundamental component in your house search. I am informed of all the schools and neighborhoods, and I'll alert you to certain districts are "hot" and call for prompt action and some that are "cold" and allow for cautiousness.

When we view homes, I'll be sure to tell you if the seller's asking price has room for negotiation or if I believe the house is "priced to sell." Every real estate agent will claim to understand the housing market, but be on guard, and make sure you ask your agent lots of questions. If it seems like they don't know everything, contact me at 8143712100 or e-mail me at , and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. My knowledge of the market will help you stay a step ahead through the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the house you've been waiting for
We'll find your dream house in DuBois, and when we do, I'll meticulously create your purchase offer. The offer will be tailored with your needs in mind and the home, including several contingencies, such as obtaining financing, carrying out the home inspection, and a clean title.

When submitting your purchase offer, you'll want to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to the seller to secure the offer to buy the property, and it's typically applied to the closing costs. If the offer is accepted by the seller, we should close within 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows ample time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
A lot of contracts don't close on the first offer – it's pretty common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it intimidate you. We'll consider whether or not to agree to the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and go on.

How aggressively we negotiate the contract depends on the state of the market. We'll also work within your financing limits. And when it's all said and done, we'll create a deal that is best for you.

Step 7 – Get your loan
Upon completing the deal, you'll start working with your lender to close the loan. If you're already pre-qualified, it shouldn't take very long at all. But you'll need to stay in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll manage all the property information your mortgage lender will need to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) detailing your closing costs from your mortgage lender within three days of getting your loan application. This estimate rests on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements dictate that it has to include all closing costs and be within a tight range of accuracy. I'll go over the estimate and let you know if everything looks good.

Then we'll close on your home. This will most often happen at a title company or escrow office and will most often be a smooth and comfortable occasion.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, be sure to contact me at 8143712100 or e-mail me at .