Information for Buyers

NEW FOR BUYERS!
Free E-Book
Montana Market Report
("The Price of Housing in Montana")

You might want to browse our listings or the listings across western montana, or learn more about the buying process below.

BUYING A HOME IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING EVENTS IN YOUR LIFE.

Along with the excitement, buying a home can, potentially, be one of the most stressful events in your life. Working as YOUR agent, helping you through the various phases of the process, is what we do best. Our goal is to relieve as much of the stress and anxiety as possible, and to allow the experience to be a smooth, rewarding, and yes, exciting event for you.

One of the ways we can help you best, at this initial stage, is with education about the process we are about to embark on together. The following pages have been designed to better inform you about what to expect, what to consider, who to consult, and how we will complete the purchase.

MORTGAGE COMPANIES AND BANKS CAN HELP YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD.

First, and foremost, you should find out what you can afford before looking at property. Getting pre-qualified for a loan will save you time and possible disappointment. Your Realtor can help you through this process by accompanying you to see local lenders, and/or by providing names and numbers of local lending institutions from which you can choose. While your Realtor can help you with an initial idea of what you might qualify to buy, the lender will do a much more thorough and complete look at your financial situation, and is best qualified to make this determination for you. There are many financing programs available to choose from, and the lender will be able to determine which programs best suit your individual needs. Once you have provided the necessary information to the lender, and you are determined to be “qualified” for a loan, the lender can provide your Realtor with a “letter of pre-qualification” to submit with your offer. This puts you in a much better bargaining position, and assures the seller that you are taking the necessary steps to buy their home. While you have been “pre-qualified,” this does not mean that you are “pre-approved” for a specific loan. Approval of you final loan will require, in most instances, a full credit report and sufficient credit rating, satisfactory appraisal of the property, satisfactory title report, and underwriting approval, all of which, can take several days to weeks to obtain. At this point, you are armed with a letter, given your Realtor your home requirements and desires, and now you are ready to start looking for that special place you wish to call HOME.

YOUR REALTOR IS QUALIFIED TO HELP YOU FIND THAT SPECIAL PLACE.

Next, you will meet with your agent to begin your search. Your agent will have large data bases of homes and property available in your given area. All available listed properties are entered on these data bases, which is why you can work exclusively with one agent. Your agent will have access to all available properties, listed by all the offices, in a given area. Utilizing the information you have so carefully given to your Realtor, he/she will gather a list of properties that most closely fit your criteria. Together you will pick which ones to consider. He/she will schedule appointments for these properties for your consideration. . .and off you go!

EUREKA! YOU’VE FOUND IT! NOW YOUR REALTOR WILL HELP YOU MAKE AN OFFER ON THE SALE’S AGREEMENT FORM.

1. Determine the PRICE you will offer.
2. Determine the amount of EARNEST MONEY you will provide.
3. Determine the CLOSING time frame.
4. Determine what INSPECTIONS you will want.
5. Determine what DISCLOSURES you want to review.
6. Determine how the CLOSING COSTS will be handled.
7. Determine WHERE the closing will be done and by what TITLE COMPANY.
8. Determine HOW you will TAKE TITLE at closing.
9. Determine when POSSESSION of the property will occur.
10. Determine THE LENGTH OF TIME sellers may consider accepting your offer.