10 Easy Steps to Buying You're ready to make a move – and your next home is waiting for you somewhere out there! Let Real Living and our qualified associates help you by: 1. Providing a Comparative Market Analysis A "comparative market analysis" or "CMA" is an overview of property values, prepared by an agent. It includes data on recent sales in a specific neighborhood, along with homes that are presently on the market. 2. Facilitating Financing Unless you're a cash buyer, you'll need to apply for and acquire a mortgage loan. Your Real Living buyer's agent can help you select a lender and coordinate timing and paperwork. We even provide an "in-house" lending affiliate, Real Living Mortgage, for your financing needs. 3. Streamlining Your Home Search The right buyer's agent will work on your behalf to find your new home, first expanding your choices then helping you narrow the field. She/he will set-up home tours, send you a suggested tour of homes that match your needs, and provide maps and directions by e-mail, U.S. mail or fax. 4. Preparing Required Documents Helping you write your purchase offer is one of the most significant areas of assistance provided by Real Living buyer's agents. Depend on our expertise to manage all the paperwork and appropriate documents. 5. Evaluating/Negotiating Offers and Counter-Offers While it may be true that anything is negotiable, it may not be in your best interest. An agent skilled in negotiation is your best ally in a competitive market. 6. Counseling for Contract Acceptance Your Real Living buyer's agent is an objective professional in your home purchase. Where emotion might cloud your better judgment, you can rely on your agent to advise you of your options throughout the transaction and make sure your interests are protected. 7. Setting Up Inspections Sellers in Ohio must disclose material facts about their home's condition to interested buying prospects. Buyers may protect their own interests by acquiring various inspections; municipalities and lenders sometimes require additional once-overs. Your buyer's agent can help you determine what you need, make the appointments and accompany you to the inspections. 8. Negotiating Disputes/Issues Even the smoothest, simplest real estate transaction involves two parties with needs and objectives that may differ. The right buyer's agent provides skilled negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution. 9. Providing Contingency Resolution Contractual contingencies are terms that must be met before an agreement is binding. The written contingency, therefore, must also be removed in writing, by a specified date, before the contract can be fully in effect. Whether it's financing, inspection or any other item your agreement is "subject to," your Real Living buyer's agent will assist you in understanding the fulfillment and removal of contractual conditions. 10. Facilitating Closing The No. 1 irritant among home buyers is unanticipated difficulties gaining possession of the home they purchased. Your Real Living buyer's agent will make it happen, finalizing the transfer of utilities, house keys and ownership.