Buying or selling a home in the Triad of North Carolina? Ann Black Realty, Inc. can help.

With some planning ahead of time, purchasing a home isn't all that confusing, but it still is intimidating for many people. So you understand exactly what to expect, we like to supply our buyers with an outline of the entire deal. Here are our nine steps to purchasing a home.

Step 1 – Prepare to buy a home
There are plenty of things you'll want to contemplate before you start looking for a home. You'll most likely want to assemble a checklist of must-haves, plan for what neighborhoods and school districts you want to live in, and start planning your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment less than or around 30 percent of your monthly income is a good rule of thumb to go by.

Step 2 – Get with a real estate agent in Thomasville, High Point, Greensboro or Winston Salem area 
This is where we can help. We'd be happy to arrange a time to get together with you and communicate with you about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your upcoming plans. We'll talk about the mortgage and housing industries, other economic factors that could affect your purchase today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and schools in the Thomasville, High Point area.

We'll also help you get started on your loan. There are some great mortgage professionals in Piedmont Triad, and we partner with a lot of them, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They can help you determine which type of loan is best for you, as well as help you get approved.

Step 3 – Begin looking for a house
After we meet for the first time, we'll start searching for houses on the market that are great for you. We'll preview many of the houses and throw out the bad ones, and then we'll book appointments to tour the homes whenever it's most convenient for you.

As we view the houses, we'll show you the good features, as well as bad ones. we'll even ask you about things you like and don't like. It's common for buyers to change their list of must-haves as we view homes and some things become more crucial than others. If such is the case, we'll search all the listings once more and narrow it down to the home you've been dreaming about.

Step 4 – Get a grasp of the market
An agent's understanding of the home market in the Triad area is a crucial in your house search. And we assure you we're well-versed in all the school districts and neighborhoods, and we'll alert you to which neighborhoods are "hot" and call for immediate action and the rest that are "cool" and allow for careful analysis.

As we view homes, we'll be sure to tell you if the asking price has room for bargaining or if we believe the house is "priced to sell." Any real estate agent in the Piedmont area will tell you they truly know the market, but beware, and be sure to ask plenty of questions. If things don't add up, call us at (336) 472-1809 or e-mail us at anncblack@gmail.com, and we'll be happy to answer your questions. Our understanding of the market will keep you a step ahead through the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the house you've been looking for
We're certain we'll find the house of your dreams in either High Point, Greensboro, Winston Salem or Thomasville. When that happens, we'll carefully develop your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored exactly to your needs, including several contingencies, such as acquiring financing, finishing the inspection, and a clear title.

When turning in your purchase offer, you'll probably want to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to the home seller to secure the offer to buy the property, and it's usually applied to the cost of closing. If your offer is accepted by the seller, we should close within 30 to 60 days after. This allows ample time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Most deals aren't closed on the first offer – it's pretty common to receive a counter offer. Don't let this discourage you. We'll talk over whether or not to agree to the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and go on.

Market circumstances determine how aggressively we negotiate the contract. We'll also work within your financing limits. And when it's all said and done, we'll assemble a deal that is best for you.

Step 7 – Secure a loan
Upon completing the contract, you'll begin working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. If you're already pre-approved, this won't be a long process at all. But you'll need to stay in close contact with your lender. And we'll sort out all the property information your lender will need to close the loan.>

Step 8 – Close the deal
Your lender will send you a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) outlining closing costs within three days of getting your loan application. The estimate rests on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements dictate that it has to involve all closing costs and fall within a close range of accuracy. we'll go over the estimate and let you know if it all looks okay.

Then we'll close on your house. This should occur at a title company or escrow office and will most often be a smooth and relaxing occurrence.

Step 9 – Move in
You made it! Now you can move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you have any questions, simply contact us at (336) 472-1809 or send us an e-mail.