5 Terms Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Know
The process of buying your first home is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. You will likely hear a lot of new industry terms as you speak with real estate agents, lenders, and escrow and title officers. Knowing what they mean will help you know what to expect and have productive conversations with these professionals.
What Are the Basic Real Estate Terms to Know?
1. CMA
CMA, short for comparative market analysis, is conducted by your real estate agent. This report shows the prices of recently sold homes that are comparable in size, condition, and location to the home you're interested in. Your agent can run one of these before you submit an offer, so they can give you an accurate idea of the home's current market value.
2. Closing Costs
These are the fees associated with completing a real estate transaction. Common closing costs include title fees, mortgage insurance, property taxes, recording fees, homeowners insurance, and lender fees. The split of these fees between you and the seller will be outlined in your purchase contract, and the amount will depend on the property you buy and the type of loan you take out.
3. Down Payment
This is the money that you “put down” on the home, or how much you pay upfront. This is typically calculated as a percentage of the total purchase price. Your lender may require your down payment is a certain percentage, depending on your financial situation.
4. Escrow
When you submit your offer, you'll give earnest money up front to show you're serious about the purchase. This money may be sent to a third-party escrow account, which holds the earnest money until the transaction closes. At the completion of the transaction, that money will be applied to your down payment or deducted from the total amount you owe at closing, and it will be shown as a credit to the Seller.
5. Title Insurance
When you purchase a home, a title company searches the property records to look for any issues that would affect property ownership, such as mortgages, liens and levies. However, they may not find every problem. Issues such as filing errors or undisclosed heirs could create future problems. When purchased, title insurance protects the lender and you from issues that could come up later. These policies are usually paid for by the buyer, but can be negotiated in your purchase contract as to whether the buyer or seller pays for all, or a portion, of the policy or policies.
When you're buying your first home, it's important that you work with a trusted escrow and title company to navigate the closing process. All Points Title & Closing has been serving the homebuyers of Hamilton, OH, since 1986. Their experienced agents will guide you through every step of the closing process. Get started on their website or by calling (513) 863-7600.





