Home Buying Process

There are many moving parts in a real estate transaction. This page is provided to help you better understand how the home buying process works. While every transaction varies, this list applies to the most typical cases.

Home Inspection:  

This will take place prior to the Home Inspection contingency date.. The inspection will take approximately 2-5 hours; depending on the square footage of the house.  It is not typical for sellers to be on site during the home inspection.  Typically you (Purchaser), your agent and the Home Inspector attend the home inspection.

Your agent will obtain and review a copy of the inspection report. The agent, together with you (Purchaser), will develop a repair request document. After that list is complete, your agent will submit the repair request(s) to the seller.

Termite Inspection:

If applicable, the Buyer’s Agent will arrange for the Termite Inspection Company to conduct their inspection. The purpose of this inspection is to ensure there is no current infestation; and, to determine if there have been any past termite issues, and/or past treatments. If any damage is found, the seller is typically responsible for treatment and damage remediation. Typically, the cost of termite inspections are less than $70 and is the responsibility of the buyer to pay the fee on the day of settlement. For VA loan recipients, the seller is typically responsible for paying the cost of the termite inspection. 

Earnest money Deposit:

This is the amount of money that serves as a good faith deposit, and is held in escrow by the title company and appears as a credit toward the purchase on the final settlement statement.

Final Walk-through:

As we get closer to the settlement date the you will schedule a final “walk-through” inspection with your agent. A walk through usually takes about 30 minutes to complete and it is at this time that you will ensure that the property is empty, clean, and in the same functional condition as of the time of your last visit.