Buying a home is a significant and exciting decision. Adam will guide you through the home buying process from start to finish. He is ready to make a full-time commitment to help you capitalize on current market opportunities and assist you in making an informed decision.

To ensure you make the right choice for the long term, Adam offers extensive knowledge in:

Neighborhoods, schools and market conditions
Mortgage specialists who can assist you with your financing
Technology that gives you an edge, along with multiple resources available just for you on Century21Clemens.com.

The single biggest reason most people buy a home is the simple desire to own a home of their own. At the same time, homeowners accumulate wealth for the future while enjoying the benefits of a residence that they can use, improve and enjoy. What’s different is each individual’s wishlist of essentials; from school systems, number of bedrooms, acreage, etc. Adam can help you create a comprehensive list of criteria to work with.

He has lived and worked in Connecticut his entire life and has assisted clients with the acquisition of their dream homes for over a decade. Below are several useful tips and tricks to consider. Please do not hesitate to contact Adam so that you may get together to discuss what it is you're looking for and how he can help you get it.

WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU?

Before deciding which house to buy, consider your lifestyle, current and anticipated housing needs and budget. It’s a good idea to create a prioritized list of features you want in your new home; you'll quickly discover finding the right house involves striking a balance between your "must-haves" and your "nice-to-haves."

If you love to cook, you'll appreciate a well-equipped kitchen. If you're into gardening, you'll want a yard. If a home office is a must, you’ll need a room that will provide you adequate work space. If you have several cars, you may require a larger garage. Use this list as your search guide.

Next, think about what you might need in the future, and how long you are likely to live in this particular home. If you're newly married, you might not be concerned with a school district right now, but you could be in a few years. If you have aging parents, you may want to look at homes that offer living arrangements that could accommodate them as well.

It’s important to think about your new home’s location just as carefully as its features. In addition to considering the distance to work, evaluate what matters to you in terms of services, convenience and accessibility, such as shopping, police and fire protection, medical facilities, school and daycare, traffic and parking, trash and garbage collection, even recreational facilities.

While buyers frequently use the Internet to gain access to listings or available properties for sale, it's real estate professionals like Adam who bring value to the entire home buying process. He is available to analyze data, answer questions, share his professional expertise, and handle all the paperwork and legwork that is involved in any real estate transaction. Adam helps his clients narrow their choices by sharing market trends and local information.

Once you've found your ideal house, it’s time to get started with the financial and contractual side of the purchase. Let Adam guide you through this process. Purchase contracts vary in length and terms from deal to deal.

Multiple offers on the same home are not uncommon, so you may only get one chance to make an offer that the seller will consider. That's why it's important to think carefully about your strategy.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU AFFORD?

Now that you know what you're looking for, the next step is figuring out what type of home you can afford. A review of your income, savings, monthly expenses and debt will be necessary.

Early in the process, you'll want to get pre-qualified for a mortgage loan. It enables you to move swiftly when you find the right home, especially when there are other interested buyers. It also indicates to the seller that you are serious and can afford to buy the property. A pre-approval is a simple calculation done by a mortgage lender that tells you the amount you'll be able to finance through a loan and what your monthly payment will be. Adam has assembled a team of elite mortgage professionals who he has worked with for many years to close hundreds of transactions.

The price you can afford to pay for a home will depend on several factors, such as:

Gross income
The funds you have available for the down payment, closing costs and cash reserves required by the lender
Your debt
Your credit history
The type of mortgage you select
Current interest rates

Another figure that lenders use to evaluate how much you can afford is the housing expense-to-income ratio. It is determined by calculating your projected monthly housing expense, which consists of the principal and interest payment, property tax payments and insurance premiums on your new home loan (also known as PITI).

Each buyer is unique, and a mortgage professional can help you find out just what you can afford. Your income and debts will typically play the biggest roles in determining your price range.

HOW MUCH DO YOU OFFER?

Adam will help you find out what other homes have sold for in the area, and how much money you might have to put into repairs or renovations. These considerations should be a factor along with the amount you're comfortable spending.

In addition to sale prices of other comparable homes, there are several ways to come up with a winning bid. For example:

The condition of the house. Is the home in move-in condition, in need of paint and other cosmetic improvements, or a fixer-upper that needs real work?

The market. If you are in a buyer's market — where there are more homes for sale than there are people to buy them — prices are probably stable or falling. If you are in a seller's market — where there are more buyers looking for homes than there are homes for sale — prices are probably moving upward.

Your ceiling. If you have a credit pre-approval, you know how much you can borrow for your home purchase. Of course, you may not be comfortable paying as much as you've been approved to borrow, so think carefully about your financial situation before making an offer.

Next, decide how much you are willing to pay for a home. Remember, the advertised price of a house is just a starting point – it may take quite a bit of negotiating to arrive at a final cost.

WE'RE UNDER CONTRACT, NOW WHAT?

Home Inspection - A standard inspection that includes:

Room-by-room review
Exterior home components
Electrical systems
Foundation and structural components – both interior and exterior
Heating/air conditioning systems
Plumbing systems
Attic/basement/crawl spaces

Once you have arranged for a home inspection (Adam has assembled a team of professionals with proven track records), plan to accompany the inspector for the entire procedure. You have the right to be there, and leading home inspection companies will encourage your presence. It helps you to better understand the findings in the report and will reduce post-closing surprises. Don't forget your list of questions and items of concern.

A thorough home inspection covers more than 1,000 items, everything from foundation to roof, and takes two to three hours depending on the size and age of the property. The report should reflect the condition of about 400 items. A typical inspection can range from $300-$600.

Some common items a home inspection could uncover are:

Maintenance problems such as rotting decks, paint chips, water damaged ceilings, etc.
Electrical problems (even faulty fuses can lead to bigger difficulties in the future)
Drainage problems, which could include water intrusions below the home
Roof leaks and defects from aging
Poor ventilation, especially in an attic; this is the time to assure that all vents are clean and working properly
Excess air leakage due to poor weather stripping and subpar caulking around fixtures
Failed window seals, which are routinely found with dual pane windows
Environmental contamination caused by asbestos, mold, formaldehyde, lead paint, radon, soil contamination and/or water contamination
Faulty lines in water heaters, overflow piping and/or hazardous flue conditions

CLOSING

In general, ownership of the home is officially transferred from the seller at the closing meeting. Most of the people involved with the purchase of your home will attend your loan closing.

In advance, a title company is usually hired to conduct a search for any recorded documents that affect the deed to the property. Examples include easements, liens, tax assessments, covenants, conditions and restrictions, and homeowner association bylaws. The buyer and lender must approve the preliminary title report prior to closing.

Once the conditions of sale have been met and the preliminary title report has been approved, all parties will agree to sign closing documents. The preliminary title report then becomes the final title report, on which any applicable title insurance is based.

If everyone agrees that the papers are in order, the buyer submits payment to cover the closing. If the lender will be paying your annual property taxes and homeowners' insurance for you, a new escrow account (or reserve) is established at this point.

Finally (and here’s the best part) Adam will hand you the keys to your new home!

BUYER SERVICES & STRATEGIES MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Mortgage Pre-Approval

What’s your buying power?

Customized Real-Time Property Search

Sent directly to your computer, tablet or phone.

Personalized Property Tours

It’s Adam's job to see things that you normally would not.

Comparative Market Analysis

Is the home you’re interested in actually worth the asking price?

Full Spectrum Negotiating/Contract Services

Defining and successfully negotiating for your dream home on your terms.

Century 21 Clemens & Sons Realty, Inc.

2840 Main Street, Suite A, Glastonbury, CT 06033

E: Adam@AdamClemens.com | M: (860) 989-0773 | F: (860) 258-6907

Buyers