Why It's a Good Time to Buy - Lehigh Valley Real Estate Market

Why Use An Agent?

Reasons to use a licensed Realtor as a buyer:

1. Expertise: A licensed Realtor has the experience, knowledge, and expertise to guide you through the home buying process from start to finish.

2. Access to listings: Realtors have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which means they can show you all of the homes that meet your criteria, even if they are listed by another agent.

3. Negotiation skills: Realtors have strong negotiation skills and can help you get the best possible deal on the home you want to purchase.

4. Guidance on inspections: Realtors can recommend qualified home inspectors and can help you interpret the results of your inspections.

5. Knowledge of the market: Realtors stay up to date on market trends and can provide you with valuable insights into the neighborhoods and communities where you want to buy.

6. Protection: A licensed Realtor can protect your interests throughout the buying process and ensure that all legal requirements are met.

The Buying Process

We have narrowed it down to 5 steps to make it easy to track.

1. Pre-approval process: 1-2 weeks

Before you start your home search, it's important to get pre-approved for a mortgage. This involves submitting financial information to a lender, who will then review your credit score, income, and debt-to-income ratio to determine how much you can borrow. Getting pre-approved can help you understand your budget and make your home search more efficient.

2. Home search and tours: 2-6 weeks

Once you know your budget, you can start searching for homes that meet your needs and preferences. This can involve browsing online listings, attending open houses, and working with a real estate agent to find properties that match your criteria. Depending on the market and your preferences, this process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

3. Making an offer: 1-2 days

When you find a home you want to purchase, you will need to make an offer to the seller. This involves submitting a written offer that includes the purchase price, any contingencies, and other terms of the sale. The seller can then accept, reject, or counter your offer.

4. Home inspection and appraisal: 2-4 weeks

If your offer is accepted, you will need to have a home inspection and appraisal done. The home inspection is an opportunity to identify any potential issues with the property, while the appraisal is an assessment of the property's value. These processes can take a few weeks to complete and may uncover issues that need to be addressed before the sale can move forward.

5. Closing process: 30-60 days

Once the home inspection and appraisal are complete, the next step is to go through the closing process. This involves finalizing the mortgage paperwork, obtaining title insurance, and paying closing costs. The length of the closing process can vary, but on average it takes 30-60 days to complete.

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