Want to Buy a House in 2024? Steps 7-14

Want to Buy a House in 2024? Steps 7-14

January 2, 2024

Last month we walked you through the first six steps to get you ready to buy one of the Battle Ground WA homes for sale. We started with getting your finances in order and continued through to starting your house hunt. Now we look at what you can expect once you’ve found a home you’re ready to purchase.

Make Your Offer: Once you’ve found the home you want, it’s time to make an offer. This is when working with an agent can help you determine a fair and reasonable offer for similar homes in the area. 

Negotiate: Once you’ve made the offer, the seller can accept your offer, refuse your offer, or make a counter offer. With new construction, the base price is generally set, but you may be able to negotiate on some upgrades. 

Earnest Deposit: Once a price is agreed upon, you’ll put down an earnest money deposit or a good faith deposit that is a percentage of the total cost. The money shows your determination to purchase the home and is held in escrow as part of the deposit money you will ultimately pay at closing.

Home Inspection: Just because a home is brand new doesn’t mean you don’t need an independent home inspection. There can be problems, though they’re less likely with new construction, but it’s best to check and get anything fixed before closing.

Mortgage Application: You want to submit your application as soon as possible once you’re under contract. Check with multiple lenders to find the best rate for your needs, although you should have a good idea from getting preapproval before starting the process.

Appraisal: Your lender will likely require an appraisal to make sure the purchase price is in line with the market price.

Walk-Through: Once all of the previous steps are done, especially if there were any repairs or changes that needed to be done, it’s time for the final walk-through, where you inspect the home and make sure what you agreed to is there.

Closing: Now it’s time for the closing, the last big step, which is fairly straight forward, with signatures and payments, and transfers of deeds. At the end, you’ll receive the keys to your brand new home!

Now that you have an idea of what is required to purchase a home, it’s time to get out there and start exploring your options. If you’re interested in Battle Ground WA homes, we invite you to contact us today and see the floor plans and communities in which we build. With extensive standard features, as well as a range of options, we can help you find the best home to fit your lifestyle now and for years to come.