Buying or selling a home in Santa Fe?

Buying a home is an intimidating event for many people, but with a bit of up-front planning, it's not very difficult. So they'll understand exactly what to expect, I like to supply buyers with an outline of the entire deal. Here are my nine steps to purchasing a home. If you have questions regarding this information or if you're ready to get started, just contact me here or e-mail me at .

Step 1 – Get ready to buy a home
There are many things you should take into account before commencing your home search. When you start your search, you'll probably want to make a list of features you want, get a feeling for what school districts and neighborhoods you want to live in, and begin planning around your budget. A good principle to follow is that your mortgage payment should be a third of your net monthly income.

Step 2 – Speak with a real estate agent in Santa Fe
This is where Leyba Real Estate LLC can help. I'd be more than happy to book a time to get together with you and speak with you about your real estate needs and get an idea of your future plans. We'll talk about neighborhoods, schools in the Santa Fe area, the mortgage and housing industries, and any additional economic factors that might affect your purchase today or in the future.

In addition, I'll help you begin the loan process. Leyba Real Estate LLC works with some of the best mortgage professionals in Santa Fe, so you'll be in great hands. They'll help you choose which kind of loan is best for you, as well as help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Begin looking
Following our first meeting, I'll begin finding houses on the market that are great for you. I'll get a sneak peek of many of the houses and reject the bad ones, and then we'll set up appointments to tour the houses when it's convenient for you.

When we tour the houses, I'll identify positive features and bad ones. I'll even ask you to point out what things you like and dislike. As a rule, buyers change their must-have list as we view homes and some features become more substantial than others. If that's the case, I'll look through all the listings another time and narrow it down to the house of your dreams.

Step 4 – Comprehend the housing market
An agent's understanding of the Santa Fe home market is an imperative aspect in your house search. And I assure you I'm acquainted with all the neighborhoods and schools, and I can communicate what areas are "hot" and demand immediate action and some that are "cool" and allow for more examination.

When we view houses, I'll make sure to communicate when the list price has room for negotiation and also when I believe the house is "priced to sell." Be on guard and make sure you ask your agent a lot of questions, as any real estate agent in Santa Fe will tell you they know the housing market. If things don't add up, contact me at 5054730223 or e-mail me at , and I'll be happy to answer your questions. My market expertise will help you stay a step ahead through the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the house of your dreams
We'll find the home of your dreams in the Santa Fe area, and when we do, I'll meticulously develop your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored keeping your needs in mind and the home, including several contingencies. A few examples are obtaining financing, carrying out the home inspection, and a clean title.

When we turn in your purchase offer, most likely you'll need to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit given to a seller to secure the offer to purchase the property, and it's most often applied to the closing costs. If the seller accepts your offer, we should close within 30 to 60 days after. This allows plenty of time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
Unfortunately most deals don't close on the beginning offer, and it's really common to receive a counter offer. Don't let it discourage you. We'll figure out whether or not to consent to the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and move on.

How aggressively we negotiate the contract depends on market conditions. In addition, we'll work within your financing budget. And at the end of the day, we'll formulate a contract that works well for you.

Step 7 – Obtain your loan
Upon finalizing the deal, you'll begin working with your lender to close the loan. If you're already pre-qualified, it won't take very long at all. However, you need to keep in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll manage all the property information your mortgage lender will need 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 getting your application. The estimate depends on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements dictate that it has to include all closing costs and fall within a close range of accuracy. I'll go over the estimate and let you know if it all looks permissible.

Then we'll close on your house. This should happen at a title company or escrow office and will probably be a smooth and hassle-free occasion.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you need anything or have any questions, just contact me at 5054730223 or e-mail me at .