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Find a Great Agent
Like other major markets, the Pittsburgh real estate market is very complicated right now. Getting a great Realtor is a top priority for any buyer. Your agent will be guiding you through the entire process - choose wisely.
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Things to consider when choosing an agent:
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Are they transparent?
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Your agent should be able to answer your questions clearly and concisely. This includes how they will be compensated for their time.
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Are they knowledgable?
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Just like any other profession, there are all levels of skill & ability. A great agent will not only understand the market, but they'll know how to navigate it to win the negotiations. That means they'll know how to structure the strongest possible offer within your budget limitations, and get through the contingencies.
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Do they have strong relationships with other agents?
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A lot of the "shark" agents have horrible reputations in the industry. They can be hard to work with and other agents may shy away from working with them - that can be a liability to you. If your agent can work well with other agents, your chances of a win go way up!
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Do you like them?​
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Do you get a good vibe? Do they care about your needs? Are they compassionate? A great agent will make you feel comfortable, and confident that you're in good hands. You don't need to be BFFs but you should feel good around them.
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Get PreApproved
This is the second most important step in the process - the first is finding a great agent.
Many buyers want to window shop before connecting with a loan officer; This is a big mistake. Realtors won't work with you until you're preapproved. Why?
There are two reasons:
1) The expectation of sellers is that Realtors are only bringing in qualified buyers. Our ethics require us to be sure that the people we bring through someone else's home can actually purchase it, and
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2) Agents can't find you a home if we don't know what you can afford. There's a lot more to the equation than can you afford the mortgage payment. There are a lot of variables that will go into the lender's decision. Before looking, it's imperative that you know exactly what the bank will lend you.
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Start Searching
Now comes the fun part! It's time to start looking for your dream home!
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We recommend coming up with a list of three "must haves' and three "must NOT haves". This helps clarify what you really want and need. No home will be perfect -- even new construction -- but you can find one that checks a lot, if not most, of your boxes.
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When you find "The One," your agent (we hope that's us, by the way) will talk to you about how to make a winning offer. Things are very competitive right now, but there are creative ways to win!
Own Your House
The seller accepted your offer!!!! HOORAY!!!
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Now is where having a great agent will really pay off! There's a lot that will happen, and a great Realtor will guide you through through the entire process.
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First come inspections. Here in Pennsylvania, there are a list of inspections you are able to request. When you made your offer, you negotiated which of those that you'll be allowed to complete.
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Once they're completed, a second negotiation will take place about what repairs, if any, the seller will do. There are a lot of ways to work through these issues, and a smart, savvy and experienced agent can take care of it for you.
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The next big step in most typical sales is the appraisal. In Pittsburgh, neither the bank nor seller chooses the appraiser. The bank will order it, and a licensed appraiser will be chosen at random to evaluate the property, and give their opinion of the property's value. If the home appraises for the amount of the agreed upon sales price, the bank will loan the money. If it doesn’t, there is another negotiation, depending on what was written into the sales contract.
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Once this is all completed... it's time to close! This is where you sign all of the paperwork to own the home. In Western Pennsylvania, this is done in person. After this, you own the home. You'll get the keys and it belongs to you!
CONGRATS!