Ok, so you are ready to buy a house?   Great, first thing, call me!!  Be very candid about your needs and wants and realize that not everything will able to be realized.  Have your priorities.  I will give you a blank contract to read over and you can ask me quesitons so when it becomes time to write a contract, you will be familiar with it.  In Atlanta, one wants to live fairly close to work because of the traffic.

In the process, it is important to get pre-approved before you begin to look - why should you look at the wrong price houses?  Locate THE house, read the Seller's Disclosure,  write a contract, pick out a closing attorney, decide on a closing date, how much earnest money to put down, what do you want to ask the seller for closing costs, how long to give the seller(s) to move out and do you want any window treatments, refrigerator, washer/dryer, etc.  The seller's agent will want a pre-approval letter to either be with the contract or received within a few days of the contract.

During the due dilligence period be sure to have it inspected (not required but necessary), surveyed (not required but important), be sure to check for termites (get a bond).  Your inspector will give you a list of what he(she) deems to be needed to be repaired, replaced, etc.  You and your agent  (moi) will determine what to request the seller(s) to fix.  When it is agreed upon by both buyers and sellers, the contract is a contract!  Your agent (me) will send your mortgage agent a copy of the contract (and would have kept him/her up-to-date as we were going through the contract process). 

OK, we are on the final road to the finish line!  Time to rest up, think about furniture placement, paint colors, yard work, get the post office address change card ready, get cards to go out to family and friends(I can help with all this),call a moving company (I can help with this also).  Will floors have to be refinished before moving in?  (Yep, I can help there also).  What about new carpets, renovations?  Get workers lined up!

Now it is time to go to closing.  Be sure that you bring a photo ID which the closing attorney will need to make a copy.  Your mortgage person  (who may be there at closing) will tell you the amount of money to take to closing which needs to be a cashier's check from the bank; however, if the amount is not exactly accurate (it is not unusual for it to be a bit off due to taxes, etc.) be sure you have your check book for the difference.

OK,  closing over, keys exchanged.  You are now a HOME OWNER!  GREAT JOB!