1. Find a loan officer you trust (e-mail for a list with names) and have your mortgage pre-approved. This will help you enormously when making an offer. Sellers love pre-approved buyers, because it tells them the buyer is serious and serious buyers don't waste the seller's time which would make me as a seller more willing to negotiate.
    
2. Use our map search to view all active listings from all Asheville Real Estate Companies.
   We can also meet at the office and view listings together.
    
3. Now comes the fun part: you pick the homes you would like to see, I might make additional suggestions and I will arrange for showings.
    
4. Once you have selected the home you wish to purchase we will need to prepare a written Offer to Purchase Agreement that will be presented to the seller. The purchase agreement includes the price you are offering, amount of down payment, amount of earnest money, the terms you desire and the date of closing. These terms include the type of financing, possession date, and any other conditions you need. After the purchase agreement has been prepared, you will need to carefully read the agreement and make sure you understand everything it contains. This is an important step because whatever is listed on the agreement is what will be presented to the seller so it should not reflect any terms you cannot fulfill. Do not assume anything can be changed or added at a later date.
    
5. Once you have completed and signed the purchase agreement, we will present your offer to the seller’s Listing Agent. The seller will then have three options: accept the offer as presented; reject the offer;  prepare a counter offer to submit to you.
    
6. If a counter offer is presented to you, it will outline the terms and conditions the seller desires. Maybe the price you offered was not acceptable or maybe the possession date you requested is not convenient. Whatever the case, we will work with you to negotiate an agreement in the areas where you and the seller differ. After an acceptable offer has been agreed upon, both parties sign the agreement and it becomes a binding contract.
    
7. Your next step as a buyer will be to obtain financial approval from your lender. You most likely will also want to order property related services: - home inspection - pest inspection - radon test - well and septic test if applicable - survey - appraisal - a closing attorney.
    
8. Also: when you talk to your loan officer he will provide you with a good faith estimate. The good faith estimate shows your monthly mortgage payment as well as the estimated cash you’ll need for closing.
    
9. 10 days before closing we will remind you to contact the phone company, utilities, cable company, moving company, post office, newspaper, magazines, friends and family of your impending move and change of address.
    
10. On closing day all parties will meet to finalize the deal. You need to bring: Cashier’s or Certified Check for the amount of the down payment and the closing costs. Personal ID – Drivers License. Insurance Policy. Congratulations! You are the owners now!

In addition to selling price (new mortgage and earnest money are credited to buyer) buyer usually pays for the following at the closing table:

• Attorney's fee
• Recording expenses (transfer charges)
• Title insurance
• Loan origination fee (if applicable)
• Appraisal and survey fees (if required by lender)
• prepaid insurance and tax reserve for mortgage assumed by buyer
• Prepaid general real estate taxes
• Fuel oil on hand (if applicable)