Reasons to buy a home

Buying a home can be a great investment. If home prices in your area have been rising, buying now can help you stay in a neighborhood that you might otherwise be priced out of in a few years. And even if you don’t end up staying long term, a sharp rise in local property values could mean a sizable profit when you sell. Some indications that buying may be right for you:

  • You plan to stay in the same place for more than a few years.
  • You’d be willing to rent out part or all of your home, should your plans or finances change.
  • You’re eligible for a mortgage, with payments you can afford.
  • You’re willing to put some “sweat equity” into a fixer-upper, allowing you to buy something more affordable. You can increase the home’s value with improvements over time.

Reasons to rent a home

Though owning your own home can offer a sense of security, homeownership has its drawbacks — remember the roof replacement? Getting out of a lease is also much less of an ordeal than selling a house, so if you’re not sure where you’ll be next year, renting can save you some costly headaches. Some indications that renting may be right for you:

  • You aren’t sure how long you’ll be in the home because of work, changing family circumstances or other reasons.
  • You won’t be able to afford — or don’t want to bother with — the maintenance or repairs a house may need.
  • Your finances are variable or likely to change soon, potentially making it difficult to keep up with mortgage payments.

Looking for a new home can be an exciting and challenging experience. Having a real estate professional that takes the time to understand your unique needs and lifestyle is important. We work hard to not only find the perfect home for you, but also to handle every last detail of the purchase process, from negotiating the terms of sale to recommending moving companies. That’s why it’s so important that the agent you choose to guide you through this journey is your trusted expert and advocate. We have a team of experienced, qualified real estate professionals ready to help you find homes for sale that meet all of your criteria. 

To help you get started on buying your new home we’ve broken the process down into 3 Phases so you can take them each one step at a time.

Buying a House: Phase 1

Make A Plan and Hire Your Team!

  • Step 1: Hire Your Agent – A licensed real estate professional provides much more than the service of helping you find your ideal home.
  • Step 2: Secure Financing – Unless you’ve got a rather large coffee can of cash buried in the back yard, chances are you’ll need to obtain a loan to purchase your home.
  • Step 3: Narrow Criteria – The next priority is to develop a detailed description of the home you hope to find. This is where the Buyer Consultation comes in handy.

Buying a House: Phase 2

Find The House and Make An Offer

  • Step 1: Find Your Home – Searching for homes is a little like dating: you have a pretty good idea what will make a good match, but you never know exactly when the sparks will fly.
  • Step 2: Make an Offer – You’ve found a home you absolutely love. Now you need to make a compelling offer.
  • Step 3: Under Contract – You’re Under Contract on your new home! The day you go under contract the clock starts ticking on several important timelines.

Buying a House: Phase 3

Perform Due Diligence and Prepare For Closing

  • Step 1: Perform Due Diligence – Just because you love a particular property doesn’t mean it’s perfect. We always recommend our clients do a home and termite inspection during their Due Diligence period.
  • Step 2: Appraisal – After inspections are complete and any repairs agreed upon, the next step is for the Lender to order the Appraisal.
  • Step 3: Underwriting – You know the part where the lender really makes sure the “I’s” are dotted and the “T’s” are crossed? This is it.
  • Step 4: Closing! – You’ve made it! Closing day is in sight! Closings in Georgia typically take place at an attorney’s office.