Now that you’ve found your dream home, what is the next step? First, we’ll sit down and work up an offer, otherwise known as a contract. You will want to review it carefully to be sure it states your terms exactly, how much you want to offer, and any applicable contingencies. Once you, as the buyer, and the seller reach an agreement and sign an offer reflecting that agreement, you have a legally binding contract.

Before we get out the pens and pencils, it is important to be aware of the possible scenarios that can arise while negotiating with a seller: The seller can accept your offer, reject your offer, or execute a counter offer. Don’t be surprised if you and the seller initially do not see eye-to-eye on every issue. The seller may deliver back to you a counter offer modifying certain terms that are not acceptable to him. Typical counter offers include modifications of the purchase price, closing date, possession date, and/or inclusions, although any term(s) of the contract can be countered. You will then have to decide whether the new terms will be acceptable to you. It is not uncommon for negotiations to go back and forth several times before both parties agree to the terms.

Generally, you are in a stronger bargaining position if you have already been pre-approved for a mortgage, are not selling a house at the same time, and have not loaded your offer with contingencies. If we are experiencing a “seller’s market,” you may have to offer at least the list price and possibly more to come in at the top among multiple buyer offers.

Your offer will need to be accompanied by earnest money as well as a letter from your lender indicating your qualification to purchase. Earnest money typically equals between 1% and 3% of the purchase price. Not only does earnest money indicate your sincere interest in buying but also is often necessary for a contract to be legally binding. Buyers often ask if they are at risk of losing their earnest money, and, no, your earnest money cannot be lost as long as you do not default on your contract. Your earnest money will be credited to you at closing or returned to you if the contract is terminated in accordance with its terms.

When an agreement is reached on all the issues, and both the seller and you as the buyer have signed the offer, you are both under a legally binding contract. The search is over and now it’s time to take the necessary steps to ensure the smooth and successful closing: 1) order title insurance; 2) hire a professional home inspector; and 3) order an appraisal.

Simply explained, “title” is the right to own, possess, use, control, and dispose of property. When you buy a home, you are actually buying the seller’s title to the home. A deed is the written legal evidence that the seller has conveyed his or her ownership rights to you.

Before the closing meeting when the actual transfer of ownership occurs, an attorney or title specialist generally conducts a title examination. The purpose of the title examination is to discover any problems that might prevent you from getting clear title to the home. Generally, title problems can be cleared up before settlement. But in some cases, severe title problems can delay settlement, or even cause you to consider voiding your contract with the seller.

Some “clouds on title” can be corrected relatively easily, like most of the examples listed above, while others can become quite complicated to remove. You should insist on being kept informed of every step in the title examination process. If title problems are uncovered, it is important for you to understand your legal rights.