4 Steps in the Honolulu County Home Buying Process You Might Not Know About

The checklist of tasks that needs to be done before you can close on your Honolulu County home is a lengthy one. And, only a few of those tasks are optional. This is why it is important that you understand the process and know what’s coming so as to not lose out on buying the house of your dreams.

1. Obtain title insurance

As the owner, title insurance is optional. If you are obtaining a mortgage your lender will require title insurance to protect their interest in the property while you have your mortgage.

However, their insurance will not do anything to help you if someone should try to stake claim to your property. Having your own insurance will protect you in the event that this happens, and your lender loses the fight. Title insurance is a one-time fee and you pay it at closing.

2. Review any HOA or condo rules

If you are purchasing a Honolulu County home that is part of a homeowner’s association or that has a condo board that runs it, you need to make sure you read the rules and restrictions that they have. Some of these communities have strict guidelines and you need to make sure that you understand what they are and that they are things that you can agree with.

For example, some will not allow certain breeds of dogs, or any dogs at all, while others will not allow you to keep your garage door open. Carefully review all documentation and make sure you can live with it.

3. Read the property disclosures

Most people are used to skimming over legal documents before signing them. Some people don’t read them at all and simply sign.

You don’t want to do that with a Honolulu County property disclosure. This document is where the seller shares any of the issues that the house has had in the past or that it currently has that you need to know about.

You don’t want to skim this document. You need to know what it says. Review the information, being on the lookout for things like leaks, mold, pests, and HVAC problems. Make a list of any questions that you have for the seller after looking over the disclosure.

4. Get involved in the home inspection

There is a good chance that your offer is going to be contingent on a Honolulu County home inspection – especially, if you are obtaining a mortgage. Don’t just hire an inspector and leave it at that. Get involved in the process.

You want to thoroughly look at the Honolulu County house before the inspector shows up to make note of any questions or areas that you want the inspector to look over. Then, make sure you look at the report to see what the findings are.

Remember that inspectors will usually find something. From there, it becomes your job to decipher if they are problems that are big enough for you to renegotiate with the seller because of.

There are many areas that are going to need your attention as you work towards purchasing a Honolulu County home. But the more prepared and informed you are, the smoother the overall process will be.