Buying or selling a home in Del Mar? Torrey Pacific Properties can help.

With a little up-front planning, purchasing a home isn't very difficult, but the event intimidates many people. So they understand exactly what to expect, I will give buyers an overview of the entire deal. These are my nine steps to purchasing a home. When you're ready to get started, you can contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm happy to address questions you have about this information.

Step 1 – Get ready to purchase a home
There are a lot of things you need to take into account before beginning your home search. It's likely that you'll want to create a check list of must-have features, get a feeling for what school districts you'd like to live in, and start planning around your budget. A good principle to follow is that your mortgage payment should be close to a third of your net monthly income.

Step 2 – Contact a real estate agent
That's where I can help. I'd love to arrange a time to get together with you and talk about your real estate needs and get an idea of your future plans. We'll talk about everything from neighborhoods, school districts in the Del Mar area, the mortgage and housing industries, to any other economic factors that could potentially affect your buying decision today or in the future.

I can also help you start the loan process. There are some very good mortgage professionals in Del Mar, and I work with a lot of them, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They'll assist you with deciding which type of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Start your search
Following our first meeting, I'll start finding homes on the market that best suit you. I'll get a sneak peek of many of the homes and exclude the bad ones, and then we'll set up appointments to view the homes at a time that's convenient for you.

When we tour houses, I'll identify good features, as well as negative ones. I'll also ask you what things you like and don't like. Generally, buyers amend their must-have list as we view houses and some things become more important than others. If that's the situation, I'll look through the listings once again and narrow it down to the house you've been dreaming about.

Step 4 – Comprehend the market
An agent's awareness of the Del Mar home market is a necessary component in your house search. And I assure you I'm familiar with all the school districts and neighborhoods, and I'll alert you to what districts are "hot" and demand immediate action and the ones that are "cool" and allow for more consideration.

As we tour houses, I'll let you know if the asking price has room for bargaining or if I believe the house is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, trust your instincts and be sure to ask plenty of questions, as any real estate agent in Del Mar will claim to truly understand the market. If it seems like they don't know everything, contact me at 8587558240 or e-mail me at , and I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have. My understanding of the market will help you stay a step above the rest through the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the house you've been waiting for
We'll find the home of your dreams in the Del Mar area, and when that happens, I'll thoroughly create your home purchase offer. The offer will be tailored to suit your needs and the home, including many contingencies. A few examples are obtaining financing, finishing the inspection, and a clean title.

When we turn in your offer, you'll need to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit made to the home seller to secure an offer to buy the property, and it's typically applied to the closing costs. If the seller accepts your offer, we should close on the property within 30 to 60 days after. This allows sufficient time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Most contracts don't close on the initial offer. It's pretty common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it discourage you. We'll talk over whether or not to take the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and go on.

The state of the market determines how aggressively we negotiate the contract. We'll also work within your financing limits. And when it's all said and done, we'll compose a contract that works well for you.

Step 7 – Secure your loan
Once the contract is signed, you'll start working with your lender to close the loan. If you're already pre-qualified, this shouldn't take long at all. But you should to keep in close contact with your lender. And I'll look after all the property information your lender needs to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) outlining closing costs from your lender within three days of receiving your loan application. This estimate is based on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements require 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 everything looks permissible.

Then it's time to close on your house. This will probably take place at a title company or escrow office and should be a smooth and pleasant event.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! Now you can move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, make sure you contact me at 8587558240 or e-mail me at .