Buying a home is a huge investment, especially if you’re purchasing one for the first time. The Clouse Eaglin Team knows this only too well so they have put together a useful guide for those looking to buy a home in and around Columbus, Ohio.
Consider financing options
Getting pre-approved is an essential step in the home buying process. With pre-approval, you’ll know how much home you can afford. This move will also speed up the closing process once you actually find a home to buy.
There are several national and state homebuyer programs available to you such as the Federal First-Time Homebuyer Programs, Grants for Grads, Ohio Heroes, RenovateOhio, and Mortgage Tax Credit.
Determine real estate needs and wants
Before you start looking for homes in Columbus, Ohio, create a list of features that you need and want in your new house and neighborhood. Needs refer to amenities that your new home must absolutely have. Wants, on the other hand, are features that you can live without.
Here are several questions that can help you figure out your home buying needs and wants:
- What kind of layout are you looking for?
- How long are you planning to live in your new home?
- Are you allowed to remodel or renovate the home? And do you have the resources to remodel if you can?
- How much space do you need inside and outside your home?
- How far will the drive be to your office and back?
Shopping for the right home
Now comes the fun part: Shopping for a home! However, finding the home that’s right for you can become an overwhelming task especially if there is a good selection of available homes for sale. The best way to go about it is to look at a maximum of six to eight homes per day. This way, you won’t be overloaded with information and forget specific details about each home.
Start house hunting online. Check out online real estate databases such as Zillow and Realtor.com for listings in your chosen area. You can also check out other websites, newspapers, and social media sites with real estate listings. Once you narrow down your options, you can visit the houses in person with your trusted real estate agent.
Prepare for closing
The final step in the home buying process is closing. After you find the perfect house and reach an agreement with the seller, you’ll have around 30 to 40 days before the house is finally yours.
During this period, the following will occur:
- Opening of an escrow account
- A title search and obtaining a title insurance
- Completion of home inspection and pest inspection
- Payment of closing costs
- Signing of paperwork
Also note that in Ohio, sellers are not required to use a home inspector when filling out the Residential Property Disclosure Form. That’s why it’s a must to hire a home inspector during closing.
Once these steps are completed, you can now move into your new home!
Ready to buy your dream home in the Metro Columbus area? Dena Clouse and Courtney Eaglin of the Clouse Eglin Team can help you every step of the way.
Give them a call through these numbers: 614.325.1740 or 614.746.0304. You can also send them an email at dena(at)rcgrealtors(dotted)com or courtney(at)rcgrealtors(dotted)com.