10 Steps to Making an Offer

1. Decide you Need or Want property.


2. Decide what kind of property you desire and the location. (criteria)

3. Determine what you can afford, your agent can help with this.

4. Find a Broker/Agent that will help assist you thru the entire process.

5. Find a Lender and get Pre-Approved.

a. Pre-Qualified is verbal and does not carry any weight.

b. Pre-Approval is verified by the lender thru documentation like pay stubs, W2, Tax Return, bank statements, etc.

c. Have lender write you a Pre-Approval Letter that your agent will include with your offer/contract.

6. Search for property. Use your agent and only your agent to search for property

a. Always let other agents know that you have representation. Don’t expect something for nothing.

b. Avoid using the “shotgun” approach when searching. Contact your agent about properties.

7. Find property you like that meets your criteria and is within your budget.

8. Have Agent run comps of the area and write an offer/contract.

9. Complete all documents.

a. Sign and initial each page of the contract/offer.

b. Include an offer price. This may not be the same as the asking price and may be determined by the area comps.

10. Agent will submit offer/contract to Seller’s Agent.



Some key items:

a. Make sure you read and understand all documents prior to signing.

b. If you have questions about the documents and are not sure what you are signing, have your lawyer review the documents.

c. Lenders, builders, or agents should not force you to do business with a particular party or company. An exception to this may be the appraiser used by the lender.

d. Remember, if you are unsure about something, ASK.

Texas Leads U.S. in High-Growth Cities

Tired of reading about how rotten the real estate market is? Here's some good news that shows that even during the worst of the recession plenty of American cities, towns, and suburbs continue to grow.

One such place is Atascocita, Tex. A mostly residential community 20 miles from Houston, it gained more than 1,800 households in 2009, an 8% year-over-year increase, according to new data from Little Rock-based data firm Gadberry Group. Over the decade, amenities that have helped attract residents to this wooded locale include Lake Houston, just east of the city; the school district; and proximity to the city of Houston. With new roads in the area under construction, "we're starting to see major industry start to take a look at the area," says Mike Byers, president of the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce.

To read full story, visit www.businessweek.com