Are you going to be the sole owner, or are you buying the home jointly, either with your spouse or with one or more other partners? The name or names on the deed normally must be the same as those who are responsible for the mortgage.

Type of ownership

In the sales contract, you may already have specified the type of ownership interest. This is something you may wish to discuss with your real estate professional. The chief options are these:

  • Sole ownership: You're the only owner.
  • Tenancy by the entirety: Available only to married couples, both owners have to agree before the house can be sold or even refinanced. When one spouse dies, the house automatically goes to the surviving spouse without going through probate, the legal process by which property is distributed after someone's death.
  • Joint tenancy: During their lifetimes, any of the owners may sell their interest to whomever they choose. When one owner dies, the surviving owner automatically gets the deceased owner's share in the property.
  • Tenancy in common: The property is owned jointly, but if one owner dies, the deceased owner's share goes to the heirs rather than the surviving owner.

Homeowner's warranty

If you're buying a new house, you should receive a homeowner's warranty that protects you against certain defects in your home. Both the homeowner's warranty and a certificate of occupancy should be provided at closing. Without a certificate of occupancy, it's illegal to live in a newly constructed home. Recently, homeowner's warranties have become available for older homes as well, typically covering a repair of the major systems during the first year of ownership. If you are considering buying such a policy provided by the seller, look carefully to see which potential problems are covered and which are excluded.

Final walk-though inspection

Your contract should have included a clause allowing you to examine the property within 24 hours prior to closing. This allows you to make sure that the seller has vacated the house and left behind whatever property (such as appliances) you agreed upon. You can also make sure all conditions in the contract have been satisfied. Typically, the real estate professional (often both the selling and buying agents) will accompany you through your final inspection.

If the sales contract made the seller responsible for ensuring that the plumbing, heating, mechanical, and electrical systems are in working order at the time of the settlement, this is your last chance to make sure that everything works. During the walk-through, all remaining deficiencies should be noted. If they cannot be corrected before settlement, funds may be withheld from the seller by the settlement attorney for payment of the agreed-upon repairs. If during the walk-through you observe major problems or violations of the purchase contract, you have the right to hold-up the closing until they are corrected.

House tour with seller
It is wise, if at all possible, to make an appointment to tour the house room by room with the seller — either before or shortly after the closing. Come prepared with questions and a note pad. Undoubtedly, you'll want to find out the location for the following:

  • Main cutoff valves for water and gas
  • Emergency switch on the furnace
  • Hot water heater thermostat
  • Main electrical switch
  • Fuse box or circuit breaker box

Bring along some sticky labels, so you can label the switches and cut-off valves.

Get familiar with the home

Does the seller know something about the history of the house? Are there old photographs you might copy? Are there wiring diagrams or plans for renovations that were never carried out? Who supplies the fuel oil? What day is the garbage picked up? Try to get the names and phone numbers of contractors and other professionals (electricians, plumbers, roofers, carpenters) who may have worked on the house and find out what they did and when.

What kinds of seasonal maintenance did the seller do? Are there trees that require pruning, or plants that require special care? Be sure to find out where the cutoff valve is for any outside faucets. If you're lucky, the seller will remember to tell you that the outside faucet may freeze if you don't drain it before winter. (And yes, it may actually freeze briefly during the night in parts of Pinellas County during January and February).

Final estimate of closing costs

Real Estate Agent  Keep in mind

The loan origination fee is typically 1 to 2 percent of the loan amount.

A credit report fee costs anywhere between $16 to $50.

In times past, buyers dreaded closing day because they were frequently hit with hundreds or even thousands of dollars in unexpected closing costs. Today, the situation has changed for the better. You will know in advance exactly what costs you will be responsible for and approximately how much they will add up to.

The lender is required to give you an estimate of closing costs soon after you have filed your application for a loan. Since these estimates are subject to change, you have the right to inspect the settlement form (called the HUD-1 Statement) one business day before settlement. It is useful to do so because you will probably be required to pay the remainder of the down payment (minus the amount of your earnest money deposit) and closing costs with a certified or cashier's check. A personal check may not be accepted.

If you need help with closing costs
For many prospective home buyers, coming up with the required closing or settlement costs can be difficult. For this reason it's important to consider your potential settlement fees before you make your purchase offer. As we discussed here, it also pays to shop for competitive pricing for as many services as possible and to negotiate with the seller as to who will pay what costs.

Local. Experienced.

Advantages of Home Ownership Advantages of Home Ownership Owning your own home can be a first-rate investment for a number of reasons, and there are also some advantages specific to Florida, too.

The Costs of Owning a Home The Costs of Owning a Home Your American Dream can come true with realistic goals, careful planning, and a clear understanding of the costs that will be involved.

Determining Your Price Range Determining Your Price Range How much home can you afford? There are more factors involved than just comparing your paychecks to your expenses.

Prequalifying for a Home Mortgage Prequalifying for a Home Mortgage The first step in the home search is home financing. Getting pre-qualified for a mortgage loan is necessary in today's market.

More Home for Your Money More Home for Your Money There are creative ways to make your money work for you when buying a home, and a little research can go a long way.

Deciding What You Really Want Deciding What You Really Want There are some simple things to consider before you start calling Realtors, and your final choices may surprise you.

Finding <em>Who</em> Finds Your Home Finding Who Finds Your Home Working with one real estate agent who has your confidence is better than stringing along several who question whether you are serious.

What to Look For When Looking What to Look For When Looking Not all homes are created equal. There are ways to assess the quality of a home in the same way appraisers look at homes.

Shopping for a Home Loan Shopping for a Home Loan With so many lenders advertising mortgage rates in Florida, how do you know which ones are good, and which ones are teasers?

Comparing Loan Terms Comparing Loan Terms So how do you know which mortgage offer is the one for you? Hint: take a look at more than just the interest rate.

Applying for the Loan Applying for a Home Loan You have the information the bank wants, but do you know how to present it to them in a way that will get you approved for the mortgage?

Mortgage Loan Processing Mortgage Loan Processing What is happening behind the scenes after you submit your application? A lot. Here's an inside look from the lender's perspective.

If Your Application is Rejected If Your Application is Rejected Getting turned down is not the end of the world, and it doesn't mean you have to give up looking. It just means you need a little help.

Negotiating the Purchase Price Negotiating the Purchase Price How do you negotiate the purchase price when you do find the right house? Hint: it's really more than about the price.

Contingencies in the Offer Contingencies in the Offer You've made the offer on a home, and now it feels like a tug-of-war. How do you move forward, and how do you get out of a bad deal?

Preparing for the Closing Preparing for the Closing What comes next, who does it, and how do you know it's being done in time? Preventing surprises at closing, and protecting your interests.

As Closing Day Approaches As Closing Day Approaches In the final weeks before your closing, there will be the title search, the survey of the property, and your final walk-though inspection.

The Day of Closing The Day of Closing The day of closing is finally here. So what you can expect? Here is an explanation of the documents and the closing costs you may encounter.