:: Home Buyers Guide ::
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Buying your home is a major commitment and should not be taken lightly. A history lesson would tell you that home ownership is a forced savings account and most people that stay in one location for a period of time, sell their homes for a much greater price than they paid for them.

Do not get fooled into believing that all homes are created equal! There are impact items that dictate values to areas; waterfront, downtown areas, large lots, condo's, etc.

When you make a purchase of this magnitude make sure you talk to a professional. While they can never guarantee long term market conditions, they should have a very strong local knowledge. For instance, you may find the perfect home with all the gingerbread features. However, what if the future land use map shows the City is planning on placing a landfill on a neighboring site?. This will negatively impact the future value of this property. This might be why the home is for sale in the first place. Your AmState agent will disclose this information to you, because we are experts in real estate.

Go to our mortgage calculator below and make sure you know how much home you can afford before you start searching. This will save you time and frustration.

Have your AmState agent schedule several home visits for you to preview. Make copious notes on the pros and cons of each home. This will assist you in remembering which homes you would like to see again.

Once you have made your selection, your AmState agent will prepare a contract for purchase.

If your offer is accepted, you will be advised to have the home inspected and any and all imperfections corrected or credited to you for a later date.

Time is always of the essence. If you are taking out a mortgage, get your paperwork in as soon as possible.

You will need to make sure that you have a title search on the property. This is standard business practice in most states and highly recommended by AmState.

Home owners insurance is also a highly recommended purchase for your home.

Make sure you get a copy of the closing statement prior to closing. This will eliminate any surprises upon closing.

When all of the above is in place, you will most likely be ready for the closing. A picture ID, a cashier's check for down payment or a cashier's check in full are some of the critical items you will need at this time.