Buying a home is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll make in your lifetime. It’s important to pick an agent who is not only experienced but will advise you properly, advocate on your behalf, and always keep your best interests at heart. When you choose to work with Daisy, she’ll make sure the process is efficient, educational, and even fun!
Daisy will use her local expertise and in-depth knowledge of current market trends to help you achieve the home of your dreams at the most competitive price.
Buyers Checklist
- Buying a home is an exciting endeavor—and one you’ll never forget. To help you get ready for the process, check out our home buying checklist below. Of course, Daisy is here to help you throughout the process, too.
Step one is to save money if you haven’t already. You’ll need money for a down payment, closing costs and escrow for property taxes and home insurance.
Decide what you’d like in a home. There are options for everyone, including condominiums, villas, townhomes, single-family homes, and 55+ active adult communities.
Work with a lender to figure out what you can afford. With an understanding of your complete financial picture, including total income and debt, your lender can advise you on the total amount you’ll be approved for.
Check your credit score using Credit Karma or a similar platform. You can view your FICO score without it affecting your score via a soft pull of your credit. Check with your existing credit card companies or bank, as they also have options to check your credit score for free. Your credit score is an important factor in qualifying for a mortgage and determining the interest rate you’ll pay on your home loan.
Determine how much of a down payment you’ll need. The size of the down payment is largely determined by the type of mortgage. Some loans begin around 3% to 5% of the home’s purchase price. To avoid having to pay private mortgage insurance along with each mortgage payment, put down at least a 20% down payment.
Getting pre-approved (versus pre-qualified) will allow you to be taken more seriously throughout the process, and it will expedite the process, too. Pre-approval is a rigorous examination of your financial situation and it lets you know exactly how much the lender is willing to underwrite.
Research the different areas, cities and communities to move into. Share with Daisy your list of wants and non-negotiables and she’ll search the market for available properties within the areas discussed.
Hire Daisy. With nearly two decades of experience in Palm Beach County, Daisy has helped hundreds of buyers in her more than $100 million dollars of successful transactions. And for those seeking a 55+ active adult community, Daisy is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), which allows her to bring specialized skills and knowledge to those beginning the next chapter.
Steps to Homeownership
Introduction
Before you begin your home search, you should talk to a lender recommended by a friend or, better yet, Daisy, to learn how much you are pre-approved for and determine your comfort level. Then you can begin to shortlist communities and non-negotiables for your next home.
Consultation with Daisy
Once you have an idea of what you can afford and where you’d like to live, it’s best to have a sit-down consultation with Daisy, as she has extensive experience in and knowledge of the Palm Beach County market. In this consultation, we’ll walk through the entire home buying process and get all your questions answered upfront, so you feel confident as you move through the process. We can also discuss all your criteria upfront to get an appropriate search set up. With an extensive network of other local Realtors, Daisy may also know of properties that haven’t yet hit the market.
Let's House Hunt
We’ll set up an initial appointment and schedule showings as we see homes pop onto the market (or pre-market). Many of the most desirable homes sell fast – especially in the current market – but Daisy will never make you feel pressured to settle until you find ‘the’ one.
Make an Offer
Once you’ve narrowed down your list and have a clear favorite, we’re ready to make an offer on a home after doing our due diligence and reviewing comps. Daisy will send you all forms needed to sign via an electronic signature platform and submit to the listing agent on your behalf. In today’s fast-moving market, it is important your agent works quickly and digitally.
If your offer is accepted, the initial earnest money is deposited, and Daisy will assist you with setting up the appropriate inspections.
Home Inspection
Once you have an accepted contract, it is important to have a home inspection conducted. It is at this point you make sure there are no major defects or safety hazards that would prohibit you from continuing with the purchase. Most major repairs can be negotiated. Sellers will typically offer a credit or make repairs for major deficiencies found during the home inspection. A major deficiency is defined as an active roof leak, plumbing or major electrical issue.
Attorney Review and Association Applications
Should you wish to have an attorney review paperwork, title searches, municipal lien search and estoppels after the title company has worked on the file, now is the time to do so. Additionally, now that the inspections are complete, it’s time to complete and submit any application for the association, should you be purchasing within a community.
Financing the Home
Keep in close contact with your lender or bank to get any documents they’re requiring for final approval of your purchase. Once all documents are in, they will submit the application to the underwriter for final approval.
Congratulations; You're Closing!
When you receive the Clear to Close from the lender, you are ready to prepare for closing! You’ll work with your lender and title company to wire the funds due for the closing. It’s also time to set up your utilities and call the movers. Once the final walkthrough is complete, and you’ve signed all of your closing paperwork, congratulations! You’re a homeowner!