Are you looking to buy your home in Oakland? Thomas-Chambers Company
BRE # 01208644 can help.

Purchasing a home is a stressful event for most people. However, with a bit of up-front planning, it isn't all that difficult. I like to furnish buyers with a road map of the whole deal so they understand exactly what they can expect. Below are my nine steps to buying a home. When you're ready to get started, just contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm glad to address any questions you have about this information.

Step 1 – Get ready to buy a home
Prior to starting your home search, there are a lot of things you should contemplate. When you start your search, you'll want to assemble a list of features you need to have, get an idea of what school districts you'd like to live in, and begin planning around your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment around 1/3 of your net monthly income is a good principle to adhere to.

Step 2 – Talk to a real estate agent in Oakland
That's where I can help. We'll set up a time to meet so we can 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 Oakland area, the mortgage industry, and any additional economic factors that may affect your purchase today or in the future.

I can also help you get started on your loan. I work with some of the best mortgage professionals in Oakland, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They will assist you with choosing which type of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Begin your home search
After our initial meeting, I'll start looking for available homes on the market that are good for you. I'll research many of the homes and reject the duds, and then we'll schedule appointments to tour the homes whenever it's convenient for you.

As we view houses, I'll point out good features and bad ones. I'll even ask you about things you like and dislike. Most often, buyers amend their list of must-haves as we tour homes and some features become more essential than others. If that's the case, I'll go back through all the listings once again and trim it down to the house of your dreams.

Step 4 – Get a grasp of the housing market
An agent's awareness of the Oakland housing market is a leading element in your house search. And I can assure you I'm conscious of all the school districts and neighborhoods, and I'll communicate certain districts are "hot" and require immediate action and the ones that are "cool" and allow for thoughtful examination.

When we tour homes, I'll be sure to tell you if the seller's list price has room for bargaining or if I believe the house is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be careful and be sure to ask a lot of questions. Any REALTOR in Oakland will tell you they know the market. If it appears they don't know everything, call me at 5106010116 or e-mail me at , and I'll be more than happy to answer any questions you have. My market knowledge will help you stay a step above the rest through the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the home of your dreams
I know we'll find your dream house in the Oakland area. When we do, I'll carefully create your home purchase offer. The offer will be made to suit your needs and the home. We'll include several contingencies, such as getting financing, completing the home inspection, and a clear title.

When submitting your purchase offer, you'll want to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to a home seller to secure an offer to buy the property, and it's often put towards the cost of closing. If your offer is accepted, we should close on the home about 30 to 60 days after. This allows plenty of time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
A lot of contracts don't close on the first offer. It's extremely common to receive a counter offer. But don't let this intimidate you. We'll talk about whether or not to accept the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and go on.

Market conditions determine how aggressively we negotiate the contract. In addition, we'll work within your financing constraints. And at the end of the day, we'll create a deal that's best for you.

Step 7 – Obtain your loan
After the deal is complete, you'll start working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. It won't be a long process at all if you're already pre-approved, but you need to stay in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll look after all the property information your mortgage lender needs to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) of closing costs from your mortgage lender within three days of receiving your application. The estimate is based on the loan amount. RESPA requirements mandate that it has to contain all closing costs and be within a tight range of accuracy, and I'll study the estimate and let you know if everything looks good.

Then we'll close on your home. This will likely take place at a title company or escrow office and will most often be a smooth and calm occurrence.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! Now you can move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, make sure you call me at 5106010116 or e-mail me at .