Buying with Nika

I started my real estate business because I'm passionate about helping people navigate one of the most important decisions of their lives - buying or selling a home. I strive to be a guiding light in the sometimes overwhelming world of real estate, always putting your needs and best interests first.

As you explore this page, I hope you find valuable insights and tips that will help you make informed decisions throughout your home-buying journey. I would be truly honored to have the opportunity to discuss the home-buying process with you further and help you find the perfect home that fits your goals and lifestyle.

Step 1: Choose a Realtor & Get Pre-Approved

Having the right Realtor and Mortgage Consultant by your side is essential when buying a home. A trusted real estate agent will guide you through every step of the home buying process, providing honest advice and helping you understand both the pros and cons of each property. At the same time, connecting early with a mortgage consultant ensures you’re searching within the right price range and sets you up for a smooth home financing process. Together, your Realtor and mortgage expert help you make confident, informed decisions and move toward homeownership with ease.

Step 2: Refine Your Focus & View Properties

Before you begin your home search, take time to identify your must-haves and nice-to-haves in a home. While the goal is always to find your perfect home, most homebuyers, especially first-time buyers, make a few compromises along the way. Once you’ve defined your priorities, your realtor will help you find homes for sale that match your criteria and schedule property showings based on your preferences. This home buying process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on your real estate goals, budget, and timeline.

Step 3: Make an Offer

When you find the right home for sale, it’s important to act quickly especially in a competitive real estate market. Your experienced realtor will guide you through the home buying process and help you craft a strong, competitive offer based on current market conditions to increase your chances of securing your dream home.

Step 4: Offer Accepted

Once the seller accepts your home purchase offer, it’s time to submit your earnest money deposit and schedule a home inspection. Your real estate contract may include contingencies, which means your offer to buy a home is dependent on certain conditions being met—such as inspection results, financing approval, or appraisal value.

Step 5: Inspection & Appraisal

The home inspection is your best opportunity to evaluate the property’s major systems and uncover any potential issues before closing. If the inspection reveals concerns, you can choose to accept the property as-is, request repairs, renegotiate the purchase terms, or cancel the transaction altogether. If you’re financing your home, your mortgage lender will also order a home appraisal to ensure the property’s value aligns with the purchase price. If the appraisal comes in low, you may need to bridge the gap, an important factor to consider when competing in multiple-offer situations in today’s competitive real estate market.

Step 6: Closing

As you move toward closing on your new home, you’ll work closely with your mortgage lender and chosen title company to coordinate all the final details. Your realtor will oversee the transaction to ensure everything stays on schedule, while you prepare to transfer utilities into your name effective on the closing date. Before closing, you’ll receive a Closing Disclosure (CD) outlining your final loan terms and the total cash-to-close amount. The most secure and preferred method of payment for closing costs is typically a cashier’s check, ensuring a smooth and successful home closing process.

Nika Nelson