Home Buying Checklist

At the HENRI FRANK GROUP we believe choosing your Broker-Realtor should be the very first step to getting started to the purchase of your new home. The HENRI FRANK GROUP provide full consultation services and will take you through each step of the Home Buying To Do Checklist.

Getting acquainted with your Broker-Realtor is very important, so carefully choose this agency and the Realtor. An agent with the HENRI FRANK GROUP will be with you every step of the way, from the mortgage-financing process, choosing just the right home to the closing and even post closing TO-DO stuff! The HENRI FRANK GROUP it doesn’t stop at the closing. We provide our buyers post-closing services that go above and beyond the typical Broker-Realtor services. Another really great reason for choosing the HENRI FRANK GROUP.

Below are the steps to follow that the HENRI FRANK GROUP believes will take you through the process of Home Buying and ensure that you’ve not missed any steps in this very important endeavor. It will keep you focused and on task to getting just the right home for you. Each of these tasks are equally important and careful attention must be taken to get them completed.

One of the most important things you can do is to utilize this checklist as you search for, find and buy a home. By keeping on top of your game-plan at all times you will greatly increase your chances of success. To save time, bookmark this page and refer to the following checklist frequently. Follow these steps, print out this checklist and let it increase your house buying effectiveness. Especially the Southern Florida Real Estate market, ways for buying a home has changed immeasurably in the last couple of years so the preparation that you do for your house purchase is essential.

Home Buying Checklist
	Be an informed buyer. Gather as much information as you can. Want to keep yourself up-to-date on the Real Estate market and the latest in news related to home buying? Subscribe to our FREE newsletter, follow the HENRI FRANK GROUP Twitter, FaceBook and Frank’s Blog.
	Familiarize yourself with the mortgage process. Have questions? Call us and we can direct you to the right professionals to help.	........
	Get Pre-Approved for a mortgage BEFORE you look for a home and shop with the power of a cash buyer. Getting pre-approved helps to smooth the entire home buying process and is a requirement of the HENRI FRANK GROUP. We only work with buyers who are preapproved. You’ll thank us afterwards.
	Get your financial picture in focus as soon as possible. Since it is an important component, be aware of your credit situation.
	The best time to work on your budget is before you move. You want to maximize your financial picture? Sit down and write all your expenses.
	Create a home buying timeline.
	Find the right REALTOR. A professional that you trust. It is important to do this before you go rushing off looking for homes or you may end up with no representation. Be represented when making your purchase.
	Determine your housing needs and wants to determine what types of houses you should be considering.
	Familiarize yourself with the various types of housing available: Single family, town houses and condominiums.
	When you find an acceptable house, Henri Frank Group will write the offer for you.
	Henri Frank Group will negotiate the best deal for you.
	Once the offer is accepted, there are more things to do. The first is to go to your mortgage broker to start the loan process.
	Arrange for a home inspection.
	Obtain homeowners insurance. Get quotes, compare and secure homeowners insurance right away.
	Arrange for closing agent or attorney. The HENRI FRANK GROUP will advise you and provide you a list of choices.
	Make moving plans. If you plan to use a moving company, make comparisons and reserve time now.
	Do a final walk through of the house.
	Final closing and settlement.
	Move to your new home and begin enjoying it--you deserve it!

Choose a Mortgage Broker-Consultant.

Figure out how much mortgage you can afford. Don’t fall into the myth that the bank you have your checking and savings account will be the best mortgage option for you. Don’t fall into the myth, “I know the branch manager at the bank and they will give me a deal!” The business of financing-mortgage has changed dramatically just in the last 24-months. And beyond that, everyday the Federal rules, regulations and guidelines are changing. Long gone are those days when you could walk into a bank and walk out with a loan commitment. The process of lending money for a real estate purchase has been the focus of Federal and State regulatory agencies. All in response to the most recent mortgage crisis. And when you choose the HENRI FRANK GROUP as your Broker-Realtor to represent you through this process, we will guide you through this step and recommend those Mortgage Broker-Consultants that have helped our other home buyers. And this part of the process, like choosing the right Broker-Realtor, choosing the right Mortgage Broker-Consultant is equally important. This person must be committed to you and your transaction, must be knowledgeable of the latest Federal and State rules, regulations and guidelines for obtaining a loan and not only a loan, but the right loan for you.

Decide what you can afford to spend.

No matter how much a lender can lend you, what you qualify to borrow, having borrowed too much you may have to cut back on other expenses such as holidays or entertainment and that yearly vacation. At the HENRI FRANK GROUP we strongly encourage our buyers not to be “mortgage poor”! It’s easy to spend more than you can actually afford. The HENRI FRANK GROUP will help you stay focused on your budget and remind you through out the process. As you shop through the market you can be tempted to talk yourself into affording that extra $100 or $200 per month, when that amount will mean the difference between a night out each month or a yearly vacation. This purchase is your #1 most important investment you will make in your lifetime. Staying with in your budget is extremely important. Unlike many other Broker-Realtor’s, the HENRI FRANK GROUP won’t take you to properties we know you cannot afford and up sell your purchase. Through out the house hunt, we will remind you to consider how your day-to-day cash flow will be affected.

Costs of CLOSING to the Buyer

• Legal Fees (if you choose an attorney)
• State and Local Documentary Fees
• Title and Lien Search
• Title Insurance (in Broward and Dade County)
• Settlement Fees
• Mortgage Fees: appraisal, processing fee
• Survey and Elevation Certificate

Costs of MOVING into your new Home

• Home Inspection
• WDO Inspection, (wood-destroying organism a/k/a Termite Inspection)
• Roof Inspection
• Mold Inspection (if needed)
• Insurance Mitigation Inspection
• Moving Costs
• Repairs and renovations

Costs of HOME OWNERSHIP

• Mortgage payments
• Property taxes
• Utilities: gas, electric, water, cable television, telephone
• Insurance
• Gardening and grounds expenses
• Condominium fees and expenses

Home Analysis – Is this the right property for me?

• Age of Home, Square footage, Type of Construction
• Practicality of floor plan
• Ability to Expand/Enlarge House
• Interior walls condition
• Age of Cooling System
• Age of Water Heater
• Age of Electrical Wiring
• Estimated Water Bill
• Capacity of Water Heater
• Estimated Electric Bill

All of these things have to be answered and why a Home Evaluation and Inspection is necessary. And that should be done by a professional who will carefully examine all of the features of the property. HENRI FRANK GROUP can recommend a list of home inspection companies. Upon completion of the home inspection, we’ll gather all the reports with you and help you do an analysis that will answer the question, “is this the right home!” Another reason why choosing the HENRI FRANK GROUP is important. We are involved with our buyers from start to finish with a real estate transaction.