Buying a home can seems to be an enormous undertaking, be sure to retain the services of a qualified Realtor. You can trust our Realtors to always keep your interest first and foremost. As qualified professionals, they’ll guide you through the entire home buying experience and assist you in being an nformed buyer.

What features do you require in a home to satisfy your lifestyle now and in the future?
Knowing your range of affordability you can explore your needs from design preferences to neighborhood choices.

Once you have found the home that is right for you, move forward to present an offer. This will consist of earnest money to be held in an escrow account and a written agreement. This agreement will set forth your terms of the purchase and a schedule of events in order to own the property. This extremely important document is a legally binding agreement and should be carefully prepared by knowledgeable Realtors who are qualified to cover all your interests.

Upon your complete satisfaction, arrangements will be made to attend a closing. Coordinating the closing will usually be a title company who has your escrow money in account. After furnishing the down payment and whatever other applicable fees have been agreed upon prior to closing, final papers will be signed. The deed and mortgage will need be recorded in the state Registry of Deeds, and you will be a homeowner.

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It is highly rewarding to buy, own and maintain your own home. Whether this is your first home or you have experience with the home buying process, we can help. When you have the tools at your fingertips, you can be confident in your ability to search, finance your home, negotiate terms and be prepared at closing.

Purchasing a new home can be overwhelming. Without the right resources and information, the buy process can be stressful and frustrating. With our online services, you can avoid the pitfalls. We’ll be there to help every step of the way.

Money Matters – the most important part of financing is your knowledge of the options available. Consider the following questions as a basis for determining your financing needs.

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A mortgage, which allows the lender to adjust the mortgage's interest rate periodically on the basis of changes in a specified index. Interest rates may move up or down, as market conditions change. The change in interest rate will result in a change in the periodic payments due under the mortgage. ARMs are attractive when short-term interest rates are trending lower.

Balloon Mortgage

Usually a short-term fixed-rate loan that involves small payments for a certain period of time with the balance due in a single, large payment at a time specified in the contract. Whenever the balloon mortgage becomes due, the entire unpaid balance is due. Generally, the homeowner must either refinance or sell the property.

The payment of extra money on a loan now so as to provide a lower interest rate over either a given period or over the life of the loan. To buy-down a mortgage, the buyer pays additional points to the lender, which will decrease the interest rate for a specific period.

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Conforming Loan

Conventional home mortgages, first mortgages up to loan amounts mandated by Congressional directive, which meets the qualifications for sale or delivery to either the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC).

A structured, short-term loan to provide funds necessary to begin construction on buildings or homes.

A mortgage loan made by an institutional lender without the inclusion of government guarantees such as VA or FHA loans.

The convertible ARM is a combination of both fixed-rate and adjustable rate mortgages, allowing the best of both options in one package.

A mortgage in which the payment is not sufficient to cover the principal and the interest and the payment portion of the interest is postponed until a certain date at which time the interest postponed is added to the principle owing.

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The Federal National Mortgage Association, which is a congressionally chartered, shareholder-owned company that is the largest national supplier of home mortgage funds.
It is commonly known as Freddie Mac. The company buys mortgages from lending institutions, pools them with other loans, and sells shares to investors. Detailed information may be found at http://www.freddiemac.com.

An agency of the federal government, the Division of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, both sets standards for the underwriting of private mortgages and insures residential mortgages made by private lenders.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) low-rate loans are available to Americans with smaller incomes who are interested in modestly priced homes. Down payment requirements are usually lower than the prevailing ones.

The U.S.'s largest supplier of mortgages to home buyers and owners, a corporation established by Congress and owned by stockholders. It is commonly referred to as 'Fannie Mae,' this government-sponsored enterprise is chartered by Congress
This federally chartered agency buys mortgages from lending institutions, pools them with other loans, and sells shares to investors. Detailed information may be found at http://www.fanniemae.com

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The interest rate you pay and the monthly principal and interest payments are agreed upon from the outset and will not change throughout the entire term of the mortgage.

A government-owned corporation within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, it is also referred to as 'Ginnie Mae,’. This government agency guarantees the payment of principal and interest on all of its pass-through securities, and its guarantee is backed in turn by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

A mortgage that usually starts the borrower with low payments that are gradually increased over five to ten years, before leveling off for the remainder of the term of the loan until the loan is fully amortized. Negative amortization usually occurs until the payment reaches the level payment stage. Usually government insured loans (VA or FHA)

Growing Equity Mortgage (GEM)

This is a long-term mortgage whereby the borrower agrees to increase his payment each year by an agreed amount. The added money per payment is applied directly to the outstanding principal on the mortgage. The mortgage thereby is paid off in a shorter number of years.

Similar to an Adjustable Rate Mortgage, this type of mortgage allows the interest rates and payments to be adjusted periodically according to an index.

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A type of mortgage where the property's equity serves as security for periodic payments made by the lender to the borrower. Mortgage is generally paid out upon the sale of the property.

A mortgage where the payments are only guaranteed for three, four, or five years. The borrower is allowed to refinance at the end of the term at the interest rate then applicable.

It is a loan arrangement where two or more parties participate in the purchase of real estate and share the appreciation and tax deduction. Similar to shared equity mortgages.

Mortgage loans to veterans by banks, savings and loans, or other lenders that are guaranteed by the Veterans' Administration, enabling veterans to buy a residence with little or no money down.

A secondary financing option in which a new larger mortgage is created to encompass the first mortgage. This large second mortgage is used to preserve the low interest rate on the first mortgage for a potential buyer.

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DriveTo Learn – evaluate as you drive though a community. Consider the following questions as a basis for determining your location needs:

Will the seller repair or replace any items that need repair or replacement?

Think carefully about each house you see and don’t be in a hurry. Your real estate agent can point out the pros and cons of each home from a professional standpoint.


Making an offer to buy a home entails many factors. You and your Sales Associate will discuss the following factors prior to putting the offer on the table:

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Sales contracts may differ significantly yet all should clearly set forth the responsibilities and privileges of all the parties involved. It is a legally binding document that protects each party. Carefully review the terms of the contract. The sales contract should include the following:

Once the contract is signed, your Sales Associate will continue to be your advocate and ensure that your best interests are served. Some of the details they will be available to handle are: