The phrase “It Takes a Village” could not be truer when it comes to buying and selling a home in the Pittsburgh Real Estate Market.
How many different parties do you think are involved in one real estate transaction?
- First, you must have a Seller who wants to sell their home.
- Next, you need to have a Buyer who can purchase a home. (Seems simple so far!)
- You need a Lender who will analyze the buyer’s financial situation. The Lender will determine if they qualify for the mortgage (for non-cash buyers).
- Typically, two Real Estate Agents are involved. One agent works on behalf of the seller helping them to prepare their home for sale, develop a marketing plan and a pricing strategy. The other agent represents the buyer and shows them homes, assists with making an offer on a home they like & manages counter offers.
- After the home is under contract, the Home Inspector performs an inspection for the buyer. The inspector will determine if there are any issues with the home. The purpose of the home inspection is to determine if there are any major ticket items or safety issues with the home. The buyer(s) will then decide how/if they would like to proceed with the purchase.
- Once the property has been inspected and the buyer and seller agree to any necessary corrections, the Title Company goes to work researching the home. The title search is performed to determine that there are no title issues that need to be resolved. Then they secure Title Insurance for the buyer(s) which protects the lender and owner against any lawsuits or claims that were undetected in their original title search. The Title Company will prepare the paperwork required for each party to sign at closing.
- The Appraiser will visit the home to prepare an opinion of value for the Lender. This is not to be confused with a home inspection. The Appraiser will note any safety issues that are apparent to them, but they are not required to be as thorough as a home inspector.
- A dye test or occupancy inspection may be required by the Municipality where the home is located. Normally, it is the responsibility of the seller to have these inspections performed. Each Municipality has their own requirements.
- Lastly, the Underwriter reviews the information collected from the buyer and the appraiser’s opinion of value to determine if the mortgage can be issued for the purchase price agreed upon. The underwriter may need to request additional information to clear up any uncertainties that arise to be sure lending the money to the buyer is a solid investment for the bank/lender. The last hurdle in the process is having the Underwriter issue final mortgage commitment and a “Clear to Close”!