Buying or selling a home in Saint Simons Island? Signature Properties Group, Inc. can help.

Purchasing a home is an intimidating event for most people. However, with a little planning ahead of time, it isn't all that complex. I like to provide buyers with an outline of the entire deal so they'll understand exactly what they can expect. These are my nine steps to buying a home.


	Shopping for homes? Click here to see our homes, or contact us today to get you more information on any home in the area.

Step 1 – Prepare to purchase a home
There are plenty of things you should take into account prior to beginning your home search. When you start your search, you'll want to create a check list of features you need, get an idea of what school districts and neighborhoods you want to live in, and start planning your budget. A good guideline to adhere to is that your mortgage payment should be less than or close to a third of your net monthly income.

Step 2 – Contact a real estate agent
This is where I come in. I'd be more than happy to book a time to get together with you and communicate with you about your real estate needs and get an idea of your upcoming plans. We'll talk about the mortgage industry, other economic factors that could potentially affect your purchase today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and school districts in the Saint Simons Island area.

I can also assist you in getting started on your loan. There are some excellent mortgage professionals in Saint Simons Island, and I partner with a lot of them, so you're in great hands. They can assist you with choosing which kind of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Begin looking for a home
After we meet, I'll begin searching for homes on the market that are a great fit for you. I'll get a sneak peek of many of the houses and exclude the bad ones, and then we'll set up appointments to view the homes when it's most convenient for you.

As we view the homes, I'll point out positive features, as well as bad ones. I'll even ask you to talk about things you like and don't like. For the most part, buyers revise their must-have list as we tour houses and some items become more essential than others. If that happens, I'll go back through all the listings another time and narrow it down to the house you've been dreaming about.

Step 4 – Get a grasp of the market
My understanding of the Saint Simons Island housing market is a valuable resource in your search. I am informed of all the neighborhoods and school districts, and I will alert you to what areas are "hot" and warrant prompt action and some that are "cold" and allow for more analysis.

As we view houses, I'll be sure to tell you if the seller's list price has room for bargaining or if I believe the home is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be on guard and make sure you ask lots of questions, as every REALTOR^® in Saint Simons Island will tell you they know the market. If it doesn't seem like they know everything, contact me at 912-634-9995 or e-mail me at Janice@janicejoneshomes.com, and I'd be glad to answer your questions. My understanding of the market will keep you a step ahead through the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the house you've been waiting for
I know we'll find your dream home in Saint Simons Island. When that happens, I'll meticulously develop your purchase offer. The offer will be tailored keeping your needs in mind, including a lot of contingencies. A few examples are getting financing, finishing the home inspection, and a clear title.

Let Signature Properties Group, Inc. guide you through finding your dream home in Saint Simons Island Upon sending in your purchase offer, you'll likely need to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to a seller to secure an offer to buy the property, and it's typically put towards the closing costs. If the seller accepts the offer, we should close on the home about 30 to 60 days after. This allows plenty of time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
Unfortunately most contracts don't close on the first offer – it's pretty common to receive a counter offer. Don't let this alarm you. We'll talk about whether or not to accept the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or reject the seller's offer and move on.

Market circumstances determine how aggressively we negotiate the deal. In addition, we'll work within your budget. And at the end of the day, we'll assemble a contract that's best for you.

Step 7 – Obtain a loan
Once we sign the final deal, you'll start working with your lender to close the loan. This won't take much time at all if you're pre-qualified, but you should to stay in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll manage all the property information your mortgage lender will need to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
Your mortgage lender will furnish you with a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) detailing closing costs within three days of taking your application. You'll get a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of closing costs from your lender within three days of receiving your loan application. This estimate is formed from the loan amount, and RESPA requirements order that it has to involve all closing costs and be within a strict range of accuracy. I'll examine the estimate and let you know if it all looks adequate.

Then it's time to close on your home. This will most often happen at a title company or escrow office and is often a smooth and relaxing occurrence.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! Now you can move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you have any questions, just call me at 912-634-9995 or send me an e-mail.