The Cunningham Group | LA Real Estate

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THE HOME

BUYER'S GUIDE

9 Steps to find your dream home.

Buying a home is probably the biggest financial decision you will ever make.

Whether this is your first purchase or you are moving on to a different home that better meets your needs, this decision must be made carefully. When you work with The Cunningham Group, you’ll have a trusted real estate team by your side. We will help you understand the entire process and ensure a seamless execution.

–01/09

OUR FIRST MEETING

Asking the right questions will give us a better understanding of why you are moving and where you are at in the home buying process. Why do you want to buy? Are you tired of paying rent? Having a clear sense of your reasons for buying will help you choose the right home. Has your income grown? Home ownership can be a very good investment. As you pay down the principal part of your loan, you are building equity over time in addition to any market appreciation on your property. Can you afford to buy? Experts recommend spending between 33-40% of your income on housing. The tax benefits of home ownership can provide a considerable advantage over renting.

–02/09

FINANCIAL PREPARATION

Build your ‘Green File’. A green file contains all your important financial documents. You’ll need it to secure financing for your home.

Check your credit rating. Your credit score will have a huge impact on what type of home you can buy, and at what price. Check your credit rating with a credit reporting agency such as Equifax, Experian or Trans Union.

Be careful with your finances. Now is not a good time to make sudden career changes or large purchases. You want to approach home buying from a position of financial stability.

–03/09

DETERMINING WHERE TO LIVE

Having a team of agents who have lived in countless neighborhoods in Los Angeles, we have the knowledge to help you understand the lifestyle you are trying to achieve and how to guide you to a perfect community for you.

–04/09

FINDING THE PERFECT HOME

Take a drive and get to know the neighborhoods you are interested in. Drive around and get a feel for what it would be like to live in the area. Start getting a sense of the homes available in those neighborhoods.

Use our "Explore LA" search feature to select a few homes that interest you the most and have The Cunningham Group make appointments to visit them. We will investigate the potential costs of maintenance and repairs on the house.

–05/09

MAKING AN OFFER

The Cunningham Group has a unique advantage over other real estate agents in Los Angeles. Having a solid reputation and history of seamless transactions, other agents look forward to working with us. We’ll want to review comparable home sales in the area and discuss attractive offer strategies.

–06/09

TITLE COMPANY & ESCROW HOLDER

Buying or selling real estate usually involves the transfer of large sums of money. It is imperative that a neutral third party handles the transfer of funds and related documents from one party to another. It is essential that all conditions of the sale are met before the property and money change hands.

–07/09

INSPECTIONS OF THE PROPERTY

Once your offer is accepted by the seller, you’ll need to have professional inspectors evaluate your home’s major systems. We may recommend other inspections, such as roof, chimney/fireplace, pest control, property boundary survey, pool/spa, or mold to make sure you're aware of any issues in advance.

–08/09

CLOSING—ALMOST THERE

A few days before you take over the property, we’ll do one last inspection to make sure everything is in order.

When your transaction is nearly completed, the title company will provide you with a “closing statement” that details all of the financial details of your home purchase.

We will go over this with you to ensure its accuracy. At the last step in the buying process, the title company will have you sign the final documents, including loan documents.

–09/09

MOVING IN

We can help you with any of the details of your move and settling in. We have a large network of trusted experts we can bring in, including: movers, home designers, painters, electricians, etc.

You will want to set up all of the necessary utilities in your name. This will include: electricity, water/sewer, phone, internet, security system, and other services in your area. If there is a HOA you’ll want to contact the office/point of contact as well. We can assist and provide phone numbers of preferred venders for whatever is needed.