Tucson Real Estate

Home Buying Process

 

Step 1 - Get pre-qualified. Call a few lenders and interview them. Tell them that you are in the process of looking for a house and that you want to get 'pre-qualified'. Some Lenders will handle this over the phone and some will ask that you meet with them in person. They may meet you at your home or at their office. Expect that the Lender will ask you questions about your income, your debts, and your assets.

In addition finding out what kind of loans and rates they offer, Pre-qualification determines;

1) How much down payment and closing cost money you will need.
2) What interest rate options are.
3) How much you can afford.
4) How much your monthly payments will be.

After you have interviewed a couple Lenders choose one.

 

Step 2 - Go look at homes

The typical home buyer looks at between 5 to 20 homes before they are looking for. This is just an estimate, it could be more or less.

I will typically set up a home buyer with a customized MLS Web Portal to assist in the home search. In the Web Portal, you will be notified automatically of any house that comes on the market that meets your search criteria. The stricter your search criteria, the less homes that will be found. In the Web Portal, you can choose to 'reject' or 'save' the listing. Then we can get together and go look at homes.

In addition, any home that you find in any of the numerous Home Magazines, I can show you. My experiance is that if it didn't come up in your MLS search criteria, then something doesn't fit your needs; typically price or location.

 

Step 3 - Writing an offer on a home

All offers to purchase a home should be in writing. In Arizona, the Statute of Frauds require this. In addition, verbal contracts or agreements are very dangerous..

Offers are typically written on an Arizona Association of Realtors approved Purchase Contract, which is 9 pages long. I will give you a sample contract early in the home search so you can read through it at your leisure and understand all of the clauses. If you have a question on a certain section, I am always available to help. It takes a while to write a contract and sometimes there are several addendums that are incorporated into the offer. Please expect at least 2 hours to write an offer.

When we sit to write an offer you will need to write a check for what is known as the Earnest Money or Earnest Deposit. This check is usually made out to an Escrow Company of your choice. This money can be applied towards your total amount needed as a down payment at the Close of Escrow. The amount of earnest money depends upon several factors. All of which I will explain..

Contract negotiations occur through the buyers agent and the sellers agent. Typically in Arizona, the buyers agent faxes the contract over to the listing agent with a cover letter. Phone conversations may take place between the two agents. Less frequently is the opportunity to present the offer directly to the seller in person. The seller then reviews the offer and determines how to respond.

 

Step 4 - Contract Acceptance

When an Offer is presented to the Seller, the Seller is given a specific time frame to reply. The Seller has three choices when receiving an offer.
1) Accept the offer as written
2) Counter Offer the Offer
3) Reject the Offer

In the event there is a Counter Offer, the Buyers Agent will present it to the Buyer. The Buyer is given a specific time frame to reply. The Buyer has three choices when receiving a Counter Offer.

1) Accept the Counter Offer as written
2) Counter Offer the Counter Offer
3) Reject the Counter Offer

At some point in this process either an acceptance or rejection will be achieved. Rejection means going back to Step 2. Acceptance means to proceed to the next step!

If the contract is accepted, both the buyer and seller are legally bound by the terms and conditions agreed upon in the contract.

 

Step 5 - Escrow

The Escrow Period begins at Contract Acceptance and ends at the Close of Escrow. Close of Escrow (COE) is the moment the home is legally recorded in your name at the county recorder.

An Escrow and/or Title Company is an unbiased neutral third party that is used to take care of the accounting part of the Real Estate transaction. The Escrow/Title company uses the terms and conditions of the Purchase Contract as the Escrow Instructions. An Escrow Officer will be assigned to handle your transaction.

There are a number of fees incurred by the Escrow and/or Title Company. The party responsible for paying some of these fees is negotiated and agreed upon in step 4. Typically if the seller pays fees customarily paid by the buyer it is usally reflected in a higher price than the seller would have accepted without paying those fees.

If at anytime in the process you feel the need for legal or tax professional advice - please do so. Earlier the better.

 

  Step 6 - Time is of the Essence   There are MANY time frames mentioned in the Purchase Contract. Time of eht Essence Clause - means that the specific time frames are strictly adhered to. “Days” are calendar days unless otherwise noted.

Escrow is opened at the Escrow or Title Company and Earnest money deposited within 24 hrs or one business day from contract acceptance.

The Buyer begins completing loan process upon contract acceptance. The Buyer will give money to the Mortgage Lender for ordering the Appraisal.

The Escrow Company will order the Home Owners Association (HOA) documents.

Sellers Property Disclosure Statement (SPDS) are delivered to the Buyer within 5 days of contract acceptance. Buyer responds within 5 days.

Insurance Claims History delivered to Buyer within 5 days of contract acceptance. Buyer responds within 5 days.

 

Step 7 - Inspection Period – Buyer's opportunity to perform any and all inspections that are material to the Buyer.

Buyers Inspection Period begins upon contract acceptance, and expires as identified on line 182 of the Purchase Contract. Typical Inspection Period is 10 days after Contract Acceptance.

At a minimum, the Buyer will order and have performed a professional Home Inspection and Wood Infestation (Termite) Inspection during this time frame.

A Buyers Inspection Notice delivered to Seller prior to the end of the Inspection Period.

Seller has 5 days to respond to the Buyers Inspection Notice. Any party in receipt of additional Inspection Period Notices has 5 days to respond to the other party.

Buyer applies for Homeowners Insurance . If not done already, Appraisal should be ordered at this point.

Buyer to approve/disapprove Preliminary Title Report within 5 days of receipt.

Buyer to approve/disapprove HOA CC&R's within 5 days of receipt.

 

Step 8 - Appraisal

In the event the home does not at least appraise for the purchase price, the Buyer may elect to cancel within 5 days.

 

Step 9 - Final Stages of Closing Escrow – The Closing Date is identified in the terms and conditions agreed upon in the Purchase Contract.

Buyers Final Walkthrough should take place 3-5 days prior to the Close of Escrow date. Seller must have had all repairs that were agreed upon in the Inspection Period completed by this time.

No later than 3 days prior to Close of Escrow date, Buyer will review the HUD Settlement Statement , sign loan documents, and deliver closing funds to the Escrow or Title Company. This is a full 3 days which I will explain more on how this is calculated.

 Buyer should have arranged for utilities and insurance to be effective on the close of escrow.

 

Step 10 -  Close of Escrow Date – This is the day that the Escrow and/or Title Company will properly disperse funds and Record the new Deed , to complete the Real Estate transaction.

Title Company properly and officially disperses Buyer and Seller's funds.

Title Company will record the new Deed in the new Buyer's name, with the county recorder.

Title Company will notify the Buyers Agent that Recordation has taken place.