Are you looking to buy your new home in Fort lauderdale? Charles Rutenberg Realty, Fort Lauderdale, The Scott Todd / Mike Imperiale Team can help.

Purchasing a home is stressful for a lot of people, but with a little up-front planning, it's not too hard. So they know exactly what they can expect, I'll give buyers a road map of the whole deal. Here are my nine steps to buying a home. Should you have questions regarding this information or if you're prepared to get started, you can contact me here or e-mail me at .

Step 1 – Prepare to buy a home
There are plenty of things you should do before you search for a home. You'll want to assemble a checklist of features you want, get a plan of what school districts and neighborhoods you want to live in, and begin planning around your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment around 30 percent of your net monthly income is a good rule to follow.

Step 2 – Get in touch with a real estate agent in Fort lauderdale
That's where I come in. I'd be happy to set up a time to meet with you and communicate with you regarding why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your upcoming plans. We'll discuss the mortgage and housing industries, other economic factors that may potentially affect your purchase today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and school districts in the Fort lauderdale area.

I can also help you facilitate the loan process. There are some very good mortgage professionals in Fort lauderdale, and I partner with a lot of them, so you're in great hands. They can help you decide which type of loan is best for you, as well as help you get approved.

Step 3 – Start house hunting
Following our first meeting, I'll begin looking for homes on the market that are a great fit for you. I'll research most of the houses and reject the duds, and then we'll schedule appointments to tour the homes whenever it's convenient for you.

As we view homes, I'll point out positive features and negative ones. And I'll ask you to point out what things you like and don't like. It's pretty common for buyers to update their must-have list as we tour homes and some features become far more essential than others. If that's the case, I'll look through all the listings another time and trim it down to the house you've been dreaming about.

Step 4 – Understand the housing market
An agent's awareness of the Fort lauderdale housing market is a necessary element in your home search. And I assure you I'm informed of all the neighborhoods and schools, and I'll communicate certain areas are "hot" and warrant immediate action and others that are "cold" and allow for more analysis.

When we view homes, I'll be sure to tell you when the seller's asking price has room for negotiation and when I trust the home is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be on guard and make sure you ask lots of questions. Every real estate agent will convince you they understand the market. If things don't add up, contact me at 9548184743 or e-mail me at , and I'd be happy to answer your questions. My knowledge of the market will help you stay a step above the rest through the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the house you've been looking for
I'm certain we'll find your dream home in Fort lauderdale. When that happens, I'll carefully develop your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored exactly to your needs and the home, including a lot of contingencies, such as acquiring financing, carrying out the inspection, and a clean title.

When turning in your purchase offer, you'll want to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to the seller to secure the offer to buy the property, and it's often put towards the cost of closing. If the seller accepts the offer, we should close about 30 to 60 days after. This allows necessary time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Unfortunately most deals aren't closed on the initial offer, and it's extremely common to receive a counter offer. Don't let this intimidate you. We'll consider whether or not to take the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and move on.

Market conditions will play a vital role in how aggressively we negotiate the deal. We'll also work within your financing budget. And when it's all said and done, we'll formulate a contract that is best for you.

Step 7 – Obtain your loan
After the contract is signed, you'll begin working with your lender to close the loan. If you're pre-approved, this won't take long at all, but you need to keep in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll care for all the property information your lender will need to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
Your mortgage lender will supply you with a Loan Estimate (LE) of your closing costs within three days of receiving your loan application. You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) outlining your closing costs from your lender within three days of taking your loan application. The estimate is based on the loan amount. RESPA requirements order that it has to include all closing costs and be within a strict range of accuracy, and I'll examine the estimate and let you know if everything looks okay.

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

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, just call me at 9548184743 or e-mail me at .