Buying or selling a home? Leyba Real Estate LLC can help.

Purchasing a home is a stressful event for most people, but with a little up-front planning, it's not too hard. I like to supply buyers with a road map of the entire deal so they'll understand exactly what they can expect. Below are my nine steps to purchasing a home. When you're ready to get started, you can contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm glad to address questions you have about this information.

Step 1 – Get ready to buy
Before you start searching for a home, there are many things you need to consider. It's likely that you'll want to make an index of features you need, get a feel for what school districts you'd like to live in, and start working on your budget. A good rule to go by is that your mortgage payment should be less than 1/3 of your net monthly income.

Step 2 – Contact a real estate agent in Santa Fe
That's where I come in. We'll schedule a time to get together so we can talk about your real estate needs and get an idea of your future plans. We'll discuss the mortgage and housing industries, other economic factors that could affect your purchase today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and schools in the Santa Fe area.

In addition, I'll help you facilitate the loan process. There are some very good mortgage professionals in Santa Fe, and I partner with a lot of them, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They can help you decide which kind of loan is best for you, as well as help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Start your search
Following our first meeting, I'll start looking for available houses on the market that are a good fit for you. I'll preview many of the houses and throw out the duds, and then we'll set up appointments to view the homes whenever it's convenient for you.

When we tour houses, I'll show you the positive features and negative ones. I'll also ask you what things you like and dislike. Oftentimes, buyers change their must-have list as we view houses and some items become more crucial than others. If that's the case, I'll look through the listings another time and narrow it down to the house you've been wishing for.

Step 4 – Get a grasp of the market
My understanding of the Santa Fe home market is a leading agent in your house search. I'm familiar with all the neighborhoods and school districts, and I will communicate certain areas are "hot" and call for immediate action and the ones that are "cool" and allow for thoughtful consideration.

When we tour homes, I'll let you know if the list price has room for bargaining or if I believe the home is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be careful and make sure you ask a lot of questions, as any real estate agent in Santa Fe will tell you they understand the market. If things don't add up, call me at 505-473-0223 or e-mail me at , and I'd be glad to answer any questions you might have. My market knowledge will help you stay a step ahead throughout the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the house you've been looking for
I'm sure we'll find the home of your dreams in the Santa Fe area. When we do, I'll thoroughly create your home purchase offer. The offer will be tailored with your needs in mind and the home, including several contingencies, such as acquiring financing, finishing the home inspection, and a clean title.

When turning in your purchase offer, you'll probably need to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to the seller to secure the offer to purchase the property and is typically put towards the closing costs. If the seller accepts the offer, we should close within 30 to 60 days after. This allows enough time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
Unfortunately most deals aren't closed on the initial offer. It's widely common to receive a counter offer. Don't let this discourage you. We'll talk over whether or not to consent to the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and move on.

The state of the market will play a role in how aggressively we negotiate the contract. We'll also work within your financing budget. And at the end of the day, we'll compose a deal that's best for you.

Step 7 – Obtain your loan
Upon signing the contract, you'll start working with your lender to close the loan. This shouldn't take much time at all if you're pre-qualified, but you'll need to stay in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll take care of all the property information your lender needs to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) of closing costs from your lender within three days of receiving your loan application. This estimate depends on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements dictate that it has to contain all closing costs and be within a narrow range of accuracy. I'll analyze the estimate and let you know if everything looks all right.

Then we'll close on your house. This should take place at a title company or escrow office and is often a smooth and relaxed occasion.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything or have any questions, be sure to call me at 505-473-0223 or e-mail me at .