Buying Process

Welcome, you’re in the right place to review how to buy an Atlanta home. The first step in the Atlanta home buying process is a face-to-face meeting with your BAP agent. They’ll ask questions about your ideal home and listen carefully to what you say. For a successful outcome, it’s really important that everyone, including spouses and significant others, are on the same page. Should you decide to move forward, the next step will be to review and sign the Buyer’s Broker Agreement which clearly outlines the services you can expect to receive and the fees you can expect to pay.

Getting pre-approved for a loan is your ticket to a successful home buying experience. You can begin by using our quick and easy mortgage calculator to get an idea of what you can afford. Then you’ll want to discuss the loan process with a lender of your choice.

Our client resources section lists our recommended lenders. We only recommend lenders who have a proven track record of excellence with our previous clients. Once you’re pre-approved for a loan, we go shopping together to find the best home you you!

Speaking of looking for homes, we offer several convenient ways to search. Use our advanced Atlanta home search with a social search feature to invite friends and family to be joinyour search. You can also search by neighborhood or search zip code. Basically search the way you want.

Of course we will create a custom home search for you. And, if you’d like, email you immediately when new homes that meet your needs come onto the market. Due to the fact that we focus solely on Atlanta’s in-town neighborhoods we know quite a bit about what new listings are in the pipeline and in our area that can be an advantage when things get competitive.

Once we identify a home, condo loft or townhouse you love, we’ll write an offer based on market facts as to the home’s value and the competitive landscape.

Among other things, the offer will specify who will pay closing costs, a suggested closing date and include a time frame for home inspection, appraisal contingency and a finance contingency. These contingencies are an important way for you to protect yourself in the purchasing process.

Though not required, in most cases we recommend our buyers specify a due diligence period during which time the home or condo can be inspected by a professional home inspector and if it’s a condo you’ll also have the opportunity to review the condo declaration, bylaws and annual budget.

It’s important to know that during due diligence you can get out of the contract for any reason and receive your earnest money back. The due diligence period is typically between 7 and 21 days but can be any time frame the two parities agree upon.

You will select a home inspector of your choice to inspect the home. Here are the best questions to ask Intown Atlanta home inspectors. We have a list of qualified licensed home inspectors in our client resources section that have made our previous clients happy and thus we can recommend to you.

We will accompany you and the home inspector for the home inspection. This can typically take from 1 – 4 hours. We highly recommend you follow the home inspector around the house and ask any questions you have. This is a great opportunity to learn the important details about your potential new home.

Shortly after the inspection, your home inspector will provide you with detailed results of the inspection at which time we will determine which repairs you will want to ask the seller to address. This is basically a second round of negotiation with the seller. The seller can reject, counter or accept the request you’ve made as to the repairs.

If you don’t agree with the seller’s response then you have the right to cancel the contract and in most cases receive your earnest money back provided it all happens within the due diligence contingency period.

After due diligence, you can expect your lender to finalize the loan underwriting process. This includes reviewing the appraisal and sorting out any last minute questions they may have for you.

If approved, your lender will pull together the final loan documents for closing and forward them to the closing attorney. During this time, which is normally about 2 weeks, the seller is busy finishing up any agreed upon repairs.

During these weeks just prior to closing, you will want to make arrangements to purchase home insurance and potentially a home warrantee if one has not been provided by the seller. You’ll also want to make arrangements well in advance with a reputable moving company. We can of course assist you with finding the right service providers that will make your move hassle-free.

Normally the afternoon before or the morning of the closing day, we will return to the home for the final walk-through. This is where you look to see that all the agreed upon repairs have been satisfactorily completed by the seller and that the home is in the same condition it was in when you made the offer.

Closing takes place at the closing attorney’s office and normally takes about an hour. During this time you’ll review your loan documents and sign lots of paperwork! And finally, congratulations you’re now an Intown Atlanta homeowner!