What does the pre-buying process look like? [hint: it’s more than getting a pre-approval]

Buying a home can be a little overwhelming - where do you even start? We've put together the five top things you should do before you start seeing homes for sale:

1. Get pre-approved for financing.

We suggest going with a local, New Hampshire-based lender. If you are buying an investment property, this type of financing will work for 1-4 units.

Buildings of 5 or more units require "commercial financing," which is a different product via other types of banks (local banks instead of mortgage brokers).

Let us know if you'd like to connect with lenders.

2. Check your CollabCenter listing cart regularly.

When you reach out to us initially, we'll set you up with a CollabCenter account on the New Hampshire MLS. Even if you're not ready to buy quite yet, this is a great way to get a good feel for values and areas.

Once your agent sets up the CollabCenter, you'll get regular emails when properties come on the market that match your search criteria. You'll also be able to save properties as your favorites so we can get an idea of what you are looking for.

When you see something you like, send us the address or MLS number and we will send you available disclosures and give you our thoughts on them.

3. Start looking at properties.

As soon as we have the green light from the lender, we can start looking at properties in earnest.

We'll coordinate days/times that work best for you and then your agent will request the showings from the listing agents. Sometimes it's approved, sometimes they come back with a different day/time; sometimes they only allow viewing of one or two units in a multi-family property.

It’s a good idea to give at least 48 hours' notice, so if you know you want to see something on a weekend, it's best to decide that on Wednesday or Thursday so we can give enough notice to the other side.

Our team works seven days a week and we do our best to accommodate your schedule. If you are located out of state and would like us to do a video tour with you, we are happy to do that.

We encourage you to attend open houses when they are available; if we can’t join you, simply tell the agent there that you are represented by Porcupine Real Estate.

4. Strategize the offer.

After you identify a property you want to make an offer on, we’ll strategize to make sure you get the most bang for your buck.

We help you negotiate the best price/terms for your situation and, once accepted, we'll guide you through the entire process, including home inspections, title insurance, appraisal, financing, and, finally, the closing.

Ready to take the plunge? Contact us today to get started.