Buying a home is an exciting and sometimes complex adventure. It can also be a very time-consuming and costly one if you're not familiar with all aspects of the process, and don't have all the best information and resources at hand. One of my specialties is representing the best interests of buyers in Southport, Oak Island, Caswell Beach, Boiling Spring Lakes and all other areas in Brunswick County. I take buyers throughout the home buying process. My comprehensive, high-quality services can save you time and money, as well as make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful. If you're like most people, buying a home is the biggest investment you will ever make. So whether you're buying a starter home, your dream home or an investment property, why not take advantage of my experience as a local market expert for any of the areas in Brunswick County. By doing this, you can make the most informed decisions every step of the way? With some up-front planning, it's makes the process not as intimidating. So you know exactly what to expect, I like to furnish my buyers with a road map of the entire deal.  Here are my nine steps to purchasing a home.

When you're ready to get started, just contact me at 910-250-6073 or send e-mail to susan@susanoakisland.com . I am happy to answer any questions you may have about this information. Here are My Nine Steps to Purchasing a Home. Step 1 – Get ready to purchase a home There are plenty of things you'll want to contemplate before beginning your home search. You'll most likely want to create a list of features you want to have, get an idea of what neighborhoods you'd like to live in, and begin working on your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment less than 30 percent of your monthly income is a good guideline to follow. Step 2 – Get with a real estate agent based in Southport/Oak Island - Susan Tyson Scott This is where Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty comes in. I will book a time to meet so we can talk about your real estate needs and get an idea of your upcoming plans. We'll discuss everything from neighborhoods, school districts in the area, the mortgage industry, to any other economic factors that could potentially affect your purchase today or in the future. I'll also help you start the loan process. There are some great mortgage professionals in our area and I work with a lot of them, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They will help you figure out which type of loan is best for you, as well as help you get qualified.  Step 3 – Begin your search After we meet, I'll start finding available houses on the market that are good for you. I'll preview many of the houses and remove the duds, and then we'll set up appointments to view the homes whenever it's most convenient for you. When we view the houses, I'll identify good features as well as negative ones. I'll ask you to tell me about things you like and dislike. Usually, buyers amend their wish list as we tour houses and some things become more necessary than others. If that's the case, I'll search the listings once more and trim it down to the home you've been dreaming of. Step 4 – Understand the market An agent's awareness of the area's home market is a crucial factor in your home search. And I assure you I'm mindful of all the neighborhoods and schools. I'll alert you to what areas are "hot" and warrant prompt action and the ones that are "cool" and allow for thoughtful consideration. As we view houses, I'll make sure to communicate if the seller's list price has room for negotiation or if I believe the house is "priced to sell." Any real estate agent will claim to comprehend the market, but be on guard, and be sure to ask lots of questions. If things don't add up, just call me at 910-250-6073 or e-mail me at susan@susanoakisland.com , and I would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. My market expertise will keep you a step above the rest throughout the entire process. Step 5 – Find the home of your dreams I'm certain we'll find the home of your dreams in Southport, Oak Island, Caswell Beach, Boiling Spring Lakes or any other areas of Brunswick County. When we do, I'll carefully prepare the real estate Offer to Purchase and Contract and other applicable contracts that need to be submitted to the Seller's Agent. The North Carolina Offer to Purchase includes a Due Diligence Date and Period. The Due Diligence Period includes time to review all documents, have an appraisal of the property, survey the property, do all inspections, complete the loan process, obtain insurance, have the attorney title search for clear title of the property and other necessary things. All these things must be done by this Due Diligence Date. A knowledgable real estate agent will fill out the contract that will be tailored to the client's needs. Upon submitting your offer, you'll want to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to the Seller's agent to secure the offer to buy the property and it's applied to the cost of closing. If the seller accepts your offer, we should close on the home within 45 to 60 days afterward. This allows ample time for your mortgage financing. Step 6 – Negotiate Unfortunately most contracts don't close on the first offer – it's really common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it discourage you. We'll talk about whether or not to agree to the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and move on. Market conditions determine how aggressively we negotiate the deal. In addition, we'll work within your financing limits. And when it's all said and done, we'll put together a deal that's best for you. Step 7 – Obtain financing After the deal is signed, you'll begin working with your lender to close the loan. This won't be a long process at all if you're already pre-qualified, but you'll want to keep in close contact with your lender. And I'll look after all the property information your lender needs to close the loan. Step 8 – Close the deal Your mortgage lender will supply you with a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of your closing costs within three days of taking your loan application. You'll get a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of your closing costs from your mortgage lender within three days of accepting your application. This estimate rests on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements require that it has to involve all closing costs and be within a strict range of accuracy. I'll analyze the estimate and let you know if everything looks okay. Then we'll close on your home. This should happen at an attorney's office and is most often a smooth and peaceful event. Step 9 – Move in You made it! It's time to move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you have any questions, be sure to contact me at 910-250-6073 or send me an e-mail. I will stay in touch with you even after closing because that is the type of business that I have. BY THE WAY, I am NEVER too busy for your referrals!!!