Buy

Unless you're paying with cash, you will want to discuss your financing options with a mortgage broker to understand how much money you can borrow and how much house you can comfortably afford. A written pre-approval will be needed to prove you have someone willing to finance your purchase.

(Some financing information is available to view here)

 Try to come to some general understanding as to what you want. Consider location, price, taxes, type of home, number of rooms, special amenities, etc. Then, effectively communicate this information to your agent. They will then make appointments and show you properties. Don't be afraid to ask questions and always feel free to request a second showing. 

 Once you find a property you'd like to purchase, you will need to make an offer. The 3 key factors to consider is 1) identifying the price you are willing to pay, 2) the amount you want to put down, and 3) the date you wish to close. Once prepared, your agent will submit it for consideration along with any other required paperwork. 

 Your offer will either be accepted, rejected or countered. If it is countered, your agent will enter into a negotiating process to try and get you the best possible price. If there are more than one offer, you may want to consider changing it and offer your "highest and best" terms.

 Once your offer is accepted and all parties sign the contract, you have the right to have an attorney review it and make any changes. (usually 3 days). Once completed, you will need to make your deposit to your attorney's trust account. Then, immediately start steps 6 and 7. (NOTE: while in attorney review, the seller can still entertain other offers).  

 After attorney review, you will now need to contact your lender and apply for your mortgage. This will most likely require you to provide them with all the appropriate documentation to support your financial position. The mortgage company will then order an appraisal. To be approved, the property will need to appraise for the sale price.

 You have the right to order (and attend) a home inspection by a licensed inspector, to find out if everything is in good working order. This can include a non-intrusive physical inspection as well as termite, radon, oil tank, well, septic, etc. Copies of the reports are then sent to the attorneys. (Payment is usually made on site) 

 Any concerning issues discovered in the inspections, will be brought to the seller's attention. Sellers are not required to make repairs. However, the attorneys often attempt to remedy the problem by negotiating some meaningful resolution, so that the buyer wants to move forward. Buyers have the right to cancel.