BUYERS
House Buying Information & Resources
The house buying process can seem overwhelming, especially to first-time buyers. Home buyers have many things to consider, and life doesn’t pause to give them time to worry about every detail. Fortunately, that’s where we come in! Our real estate agents guide home buyers through the necessary steps and make sure they find the right property with as little stress and few surprises as possible.
Especially if you are a first time home buyer in Texas, you’ll find this checklist a handy starting place for understanding how G2 Real Estate Group makes it simple and enjoyable to buy real estate.
1. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
Getting pre-approved for a mortgage loan prior to starting your house shopping in earnest gives you more power as a buyer. It will tell you exactly how much you can afford, what monthly costs to prepare for and what type of financing you’ll have. When you find that perfect house and fall in love, you’ll be ready to make your strongest possible offer right away. In super competitive real estate markets like Central Texas (especially the Austin area), this pre-approval step can make all the difference.
Not sure where to begin with finding the right lender and getting pre-approved? No problem! We can help you get started and connect you with trustworthy financing resources.
2. House Shopping
Now for the fun part! As your real estate agent, it’s our job to make your house shopping experience as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. There are a lot of properties out there (see our current listings here). Start by clearly defining your criteria, such as price (see step one), location, square footage and lot size.
Then, tell us which factors and house features are most important to you. This will help us narrow down your search and present a list of true contenders. Be prepared to visit several open houses, and ask lots of questions as you view and compare properties. We will provide the answers you need! Honest feedback about what you like or don’t like about certain properties helps further refine your search.
3. Submit a Purchase Offer
Once you’ve identified the house you want, it’s time to submit an offer. As your agent, we can provide guidance on what to offer and will submit it to the seller or listing agent on your behalf. If the initial offer is not accepted, we’ll advise on how to counter or what alternatives to consider.
4. Purchase Offer Accepted
If the price is right, the seller will accept your purchase offer! Upon acceptance, there is a due-diligence period that involves home inspection, final appraisal, mortgage approval and other steps. Buyers usually pay an amount of earnest money at this point, which is a deposit signifying your good faith offer to buy the home.
Lots of paperwork follows, and we’ll guide you through working with your lender, processors, insurance providers and inspector. If you’re a first-time home buyer and this step sounds overwhelming, rest assured that it’s our goal to keep each part simple and efficient.
5. Closing
The final step of the house buying process brings everything to a crescendo. We will keep all parties on schedule and focused. We make sure that all numbers and paperwork are correct and delivered by the agreed-upon deadlines. The goal is to close as quickly and smoothly as possible so that you can move in and start enjoying your new house!