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Maria Cunneen’s Complete Home Buying Guide for Quogue

05/5/23

Learn how to secure your dream home in Quogue with the expert advice in this article.

It’s an exciting time to shop for Quogue luxury homes. The luxury properties in the area will take your breath away, but it’s important to know what steps to take once you find a home that you love. Below you’ll find a comprehensive guide that breaks down every step of the process of purchasing Quogue real estate.

 

 

Set realistic expectations

 

Setting realistic expectations involves understanding the price range where you’re shopping and how long it will take to purchase your new home. Most buyers will spend three to six months working to purchase their home. This includes the time you’ll spend interviewing real estate agents, getting quotes from lenders, seeing available properties, making an offer, and preparing for closing. There’s a lot that goes into the process each time you buy a home. Commit to remaining focused, patient, and diligent throughout the entire process. You’ll thank yourself once you’ve moved into your new home.

 

 

Get your funding together

 

If you don’t already have money saved up for a down payment, you’ll want to start compiling funds as soon as possible. Buyers usually must put down at least 3% of the total cost of the home at closing. This amount doesn’t include the buyer’s share of the closing costs, which can range between 2-5% of the home’s value. You’ll save money on interest each month if you have enough cash on hand to make a larger down payment, but this is not a requirement.

 

You also shouldn’t wait too long to reach out to a lender who can help you determine what type and amount of loan you could qualify for. Each lender will want to know about your debt-to-income ratio and your current credit score. They may also ask to see recent pay stubs or tax returns to confirm that you have a regular and consistent source of income. Once they run all of your information, they will give you a preapproval letter that outlines the maximum amount that you can borrow. This document will also list what interest rate you would qualify for with this loan. Don’t forget that different lenders can offer different interest rates, and it’s always a good idea to talk with multiple lenders before deciding who you’ll work with. A slightly lower interest rate can have a major long-term impact.

 

 

Determine what you’re looking for in a home

 

This is the part that many buyers enjoy most. Take some time to look around online at different properties available for sale. After you look at several listings, you’ll begin to develop a better idea of what features and amenities are most important to you in your new home. You can share your wishes with your Realtor, and they will recommend properties that fit the profile of what you’re looking for.

 

 

Visit homes in person

 

Only make an offer on the home after first seeing the property in person. Some homes don’t show as well in person as they might appear online. Physically seeing the property will also give you a chance to imagine what it would look and feel like to spend each day in the home. Make sure you keep an eye out for any signs of foundation damage, such as cracks in the wall or doors that don’t open properly. Watch out for chipped and faded paint as well. This could be only a minor cosmetic issue or a reflection of how the previous homeowner cared for the property regularly.

 

 

Make a competitive offer

 

Your first offer doesn’t have to be at the seller’s asking price. They are unlikely to accept an initial offer much lower than the listing price if the home has only been on the market for a few days. Buyers sometimes have more negotiating room if the house has recently dropped in price or if it has already spent several weeks on the market. Your Realtor will know how to negotiate effectively and will help you determine the terms of your initial offer. They may suggest using other points in the negotiation, such as asking the seller to pay your share of the closing costs.

 

 

Prepare for closing

 

Schedule a home inspection immediately after the seller agrees to your offer but before you sign any contracts. You don’t want to buy a home without seeing an inspection report. Many of the most expensive home repairs are necessary because of issues that are hard for an untrained eye to detect. If you catch these problems before closing, you can negotiate with the seller about who will be financially responsible for making the repairs as long as your contract has an inspection contingency. This clause also allows you to walk away from the deal if you’re uncomfortable with the home’s condition after seeing the inspection report.

 

 

Work with an expert real estate professional

 

You’ll work closely with your real estate agent throughout the homebuying process, so you want to be sure that you’re choosing the best agent to partner with. Before you make a final decision about who will help you with your home sale, take time to read online reviews from past clients. You can also schedule a time to meet an agent in person to ask about their qualifications and their experience.

 

Many people in Quogue find that Maria Cunneen is the best agent to help them buy a home. Maria knows the market for Quogue luxury homes as well as possible. She takes time daily to study the market so that she fully understands the current landscape. She takes great pride in serving each of her clients to the best of her abilities. She always displays professionalism and poise when helping people buy and sell homes. Reach out to Maria when you’re ready to take the next step and begin seriously shopping for Quogue luxury homes.

Work With Maria

Maria's genuinely caring nature, engaging personality and abundant patience are keys to her success in working so well with her customers and clients. She is extremely loyal in her dealings, and knowledgeable of her market having lived on the South Shore of Long Island her entire life.

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