Are you contemplating purchasing your home in Brentwood? The June Lunn Team can help.  For many people, buying a home can be an intimidating event. However, with some planning ahead of time, it's not very hard. So you'll know exactly what to expect, I like to furnish my buyers with an overview of the whole deal. Here are my nine steps to buying a home.

	When you're ready to get started, you can contact me here or send e-mail to june@junelunn.com. I'm glad to address questions you have regarding this information.

Step 1 – Prepare to buy
There are several things you should consider prior to starting your home search. You'll want to put together a check list of must-have features, get a feel for what neighborhoods you want to live in, and begin planning around your budget. A good guideline to adhere to is that your mortgage payment should be less than or close to 30 percent of your monthly income.

Step 2 – Contact a real estate agent
That's where I can help. We'll book a time to meet so we can talk about your real estate needs and get an idea of your future plans. We'll discuss neighborhoods, school districts in the Williamson and Davidson Counties, the mortgage industry, and any additional economic factors that could potentially affect your buying decision today or in the future.

I can also assist you in getting started on your loan. Benchmark Realty LLC partners with some of the finest mortgage professionals in Brentwood, so you're in great hands. They will assist you in deciding which kind of loan is best for you and help you get approved.

Step 3 – Start your home search
After our first meeting, I'll begin searching for houses on the market that meet your needs. I'll get a sneak peek of most of the houses and ignore the duds, and then we'll schedule appointments to view the homes whenever it's convenient for you.

When we view the houses, I'll call attention to positive features and bad ones. I'll also ask you about things you like and dislike. As a rule, buyers change their must-have list as we view homes and some things become far more important than others. If that's the case, I'll search the listings once again and trim it down to the house you've been waiting for.

Step 4 – Get a grasp of the market
An agent's knowledge of the Brentwood market is an imperative aspect in your house search. And I assure you I'm conscious of all the schools and neighborhoods, and I can alert you to certain neighborhoods are "hot" and demand prompt action and others that are "cold" and allow for thoughtful consideration.

As we view houses, I'll be sure to tell you when the seller's asking price has room for bargaining and when I think the home is "priced to sell." Be mindful and be sure to ask lots of questions, as every real estate agent in Brentwood will claim to truly understand the home market. If it appears they don't know everything, call me at 615-566-4210 or e-mail me at june@junelunn.com, and I'd be glad to answer any questions you may have. My market expertise will help you stay a step ahead throughout the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the home you've been looking for
I'm sure we'll find the home of your dreams in the Brentwood area, and when that happens, I'll precisely develop your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored exactly to your needs. Whenever necessary, I never forget to make contracts contingent upon items like obtaining financing and the results of the home inspection.

When submitting your offer, you'll need to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit given to a home seller to secure an offer to buy the property and is often applied to the cost of closing. If the offer is accepted, we should close on the home within 30 to 60 days after. This allows ample time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
A lot of deals don't close on the beginning offer – it's widely common to receive a counter offer. But don't let this alarm you. We'll talk over whether or not to consent to the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and go on.

How aggressively we negotiate the deal depends on market conditions. In addition, we'll work within your financing constraints. And when it's all said and done, we'll create a contract that's best for you.

Step 7 – Obtain a loan
Once the deal is complete, you'll begin working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. If you're already pre-approved, this won't be a long process at all. However, you'll want to keep in close contact with your lender. And I'll take care of all the property information your lender needs to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
Your lender will furnish you with a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) detailing your closing costs within three days of accepting your loan application. You'll get a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of your closing costs from your lender within three days of accepting your loan application. This estimate depends on the loan amount. RESPA requirements require that it has to include all closing costs and fall within a strict range of accuracy, and I'll study the estimate and let you know if it all looks permissible.

Then it's time to close on your house. This will most likely happen at a title company or escrow office and will most likely be a smooth and calm occurrence.

Step 9 – Move in
Success! It's time to move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you need anything or have any questions, be sure to contact me at 615-566-4210 or send me an e-mail.