Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you’ll make, and the right advice and guidance is paramount. Experience and expertise matter, and they can make a significant difference in making sure that you find the right house at the best price. At Lakeshore Real Estate, we not only have a thorough understanding of the local market, we also have awareness of properties that are about to be listed.
The wants and needs of you and your family will always be the focal point of our business. We will watch the market, alert you of compatible listings, show you properties, and be available to you whenever you need us. Once you choose a property we will represent you throughout the entire purchase process, from negotiating a price to receiving the keys at closing—we have your back.
To make sure you are ready to take the next step in searching for your next real estate investment, fill out the form below and one of our agents will contact you.
Getting pre-approved will give you an idea of the price range you are able to afford. The lender will perform a credit check, and obtain employment and financial information in order to determine the loan type and amount you qualify for. We recommend talking to multiple lenders to shop around for the best interest rates. Get recommendations from friends and family. Make sure to find someone that you are comfortable with and who makes you feel at ease. Once you are pre-approved you can officially start shopping and you will be prepared to submit an offer when the perfect property comes along.
Did you know that you can pick your favorite agent and our service to you as a buyer is free? That’s right—we will show you properties, answer all your questions, complete all paperwork, and fully represent you and your family, at no cost to you. If you buy a property, we get paid a percentage of the purchase price, which comes off the seller’s side of the transaction. So call your favorite agent at Lakeshore Real Estate and let’s find you the perfect home.
We’ve found the perfect property and now you’re ready to make an offer. We will help determine the best price and do all the negotiating for you, with your best interest in mind. We write the purchase agreement, review all disclosures, explain all aspects of the agreement and make sure you are comfortable with the terms before signing.
Having a home inspection is not required, but we strongly recommend it. Hiring a trusted home inspector helps to minimize unpleasant surprises and may identify the need for house repairs. Through the home inspection process, you will have a better understanding about the house so that you can make decisions and buy with confidence. We work with many local and trusted inspectors and we are happy to coordinate this step in your transaction.
If you are financing the purchase of the property, your mortgage lender will require an appraisal. An appraisal basically ensures that the mortgage company doesn’t loan you more money than the property is worth. A licensed appraiser will conduct a thorough inspection of the property to assess its worth (which isn’t always the same as the listing price). The appraiser will then compile all their findings into a report and generate the home’s appraised value. If the appraised value is at or above your offer price, the transaction can move forward to the next steps.
Title work is done to ensure that the title is clean when it is transferred from the seller to you. We will arrange a local title company or an attorney of your choice to do the title work. They will research the title to find out if there are any liens and encumbrances against the property. They will then prepare the title commitment which will show what is on the title policy, what is owed against the property, and what encumbrances are against the property. The encumbrances can be things like covenants, bylaws, rules and regulations, easements, etc. Most all properties will have some encumbrances but that is what the title work is for, to ensure that you have clear title subject to those recorded exceptions.
This is the final step before the property is officially yours! The closing date is the day you become the legal owner of your new property. During the negotiation phase, you and the seller will set the closing date, which is typically 45-60 days from the final acceptance date of the purchase agreement. At closing, you will review and sign all pertinent documentation, pay closing costs if applicable, and your lender will distribute the funds covering your loan amount to the closing agent. Congratulations! The keys are yours and you can officially move!
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