How to Make an Offer on a Home

You've found your dream home and you're ready to make your offer. Remember, the offer you make could become legally binding. Here are the steps you'll need to take.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Inspectors
• Real Estate Attorneys

1. Consult a lender or mortgage broker to find out how much you can afford to spend on a home, or use a calculator on a financial Web site such as Quicken.com (see "eHow to Determine How Big a Mortgage You Can Afford').
2. Decide what type of financing you want: a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage.
3. Know how much money you have for a down payment; typically 5 to 20 percent of the purchase price is required, depending on the loan terms.
4. Get prequalified for a loan by a lender or mortgage broker.
5. State what inspections you want to have done before you'll agree to buy the home. You can get general home inspections, as well as geological, roof, pool/spa, earthquake/flood and environmental inspections.
6. State whom you want to pay for inspections, the termite report, required work, title insurance and escrow fees, and warranties.
7. Decide how long you want the escrow period to be.
8. Establish how long both parties should have to complete inspections, approvals and work.
9. Put a limit on the amount of time the seller has to respond.
10. Present your offer and a letter of prequalification for financing to the seller yourself or through your agent.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult a real estate attorney or broker before you sign anything. What you agree to could severely limit the remedies available to you by law.