The first step in the purchase of a new home is the selection of a real estate agent. A real estate professional will help guide you through the entire contract and settlement process.

If you elect to contract with a builder for the purchase of a new home by yourself, you will need to follow some simple guidelines to help ensure that the transaction runs smoothly.

You will need to contact a Lending Institution. Most builders have several that they prefer to do business with.

After you have selected the lender and have agreed to all terms and conditions of the sale, it will be necessary to write a purchase contract and sign all the disclosure and disclaimer forms. You may choose to make your builder contract contingent for five business days for the purpose of attorney review.

Robin Mathis can review the contract and prepare an addendum with recommended changes to neutralize the ordinarily one-sided builder contract. As with lenders, most builders have a specific title company that does their settlements; however, the staff of Fairfax Title Group can advise you and provide guidance through every step of the transaction.