Joseph Houlihan: Eight Steps to Buying a Home
Joseph Houlihan, Managing Partner, Houlihan & O'Malley Real Estate Services
Mar. 30, 2016: Just making the decision that you're committed to buying a new home is exhilarating. It is a time brimming with possibility and the potential to find not just a new place in which to dwell, but a new quality of life. Buying a new home can mean new possibilities for your family, new rooms to decorate the way you like, and new scenery to enjoy.
The decision is just the beginning of an adventure that can be filled with discovery. However, it also can be frustrating, especially if you don't know what to expect from the actual process of purchasing a new home.
How do you decide what type of home you prefer--a Dutch Colonial, a Cotswold Tudor, something contemporary? And how much can you afford? Should you get pre-approved for a mortgage? What's involved in closing the deal?
Here's an eight-step guide to the process that can help you refine your choices and navigate the process.
Step 1: Define your goals. Take stock. Determine what type of home you want and where you want it to be. Make a wish list of items that you would like in your "dream home," including square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, style and age of house, and lot size.
Step 2: Go over your finances. Figure out what you can afford and how big a mortgage you can take on.
Step 3: Contact a real estate professional. Seek the assistance of a professional Realtor® who understands the local market and has an in-depth knowledge of the area's communities. They can help guide you through the property search, financing, negotiations, and transaction process. They can help you from the very beginning of your search through the day you close.
Step 4: Get pre-approved. The pre-approval process involves meeting with a lender and authorizing it to examine your current financial situation and credit history. On the basis of these findings, the lender will provide you with a document that details how much you need to borrow in order to buy your home. The mortgage pre-approval not only helps you plan, it also tells sellers that you're serious about buying when you make an offer.
Step 5: Do the search. It pays to start the search on a real estate website, where you can view as many homes as you like and zero in on what is of interest to you. You can also count on your Realtor® to save you time by diligently searching the market for homes that meet your criteria.
Step 6: Make an offer and negotiate. When you've found the home you want to buy, your Realtor® will make an offer on your behalf to the seller's Realtor®. Expect a counteroffer. You'll go back and forth until you and the seller agree upon the price, terms, and timing of the sale. After this is settled between you and the seller, you'll have an "accepted offer." It is at this point that you have inspections done--before you sign the contract of sale. Once the inspection items have been resolved, you'll meet with your attorney to sign the contract and provide a check for the contract deposit (usually 10 percent of the purchase price).
Step 7: Secure your financing. Once you have a fully executed contract of sale, you will have all the details you need to formally apply for a mortgage. Generally, there are two ways to go: a fixed-rate mortgage with an interest rate that remains the same for the life of the loan or an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) with a rate that adjusts up or down, depending on economic trends. Your Realtor® can refer you to some excellent mortgage professionals so you can make the best financial decision.
Step 8: Close the deal! Leading up to the closing, your attorney will order a title search. You will need to obtain a homeowner's insurance policy. On the closing date, you, your attorney, and your Realtor® will meet at the office of the lender's lawyer to pay the rest of the cash portion of the purchase price, sign all the mortgage documents, and pay the various closing costs. The sellers and their attorney will also attend. One last tip: Don't forget to get the keys. It's your home now.
Pictured here: Joseph Houlihan, managing partner at Houlihan & O'Malley Real Estate Services. His office is at 133 Parkway Road in Bronxville and he can be reached at 914-337-7888 or on his cell at 914-645-6640 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Photo courtesy Houlihan & O'Malley Real Estate Services
Real Estate Directory
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Houlihan Lawrence
4 Valley Road Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-0400
www.houlihanlawrence.com/offices/Bronxville
www.houlihanlawrence.com
Houlihan & O'Malley
133 Parkway Road Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-7888
Julia B Fee Sotheby's International Realty
2 Park Place
Bronxville, NY 10708
914-620-8682
Park Sterling Realty
17 1/2 Park Place Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-1234
Bertine, Hufnagel, Headley, Zeltner, Drummond & Dohn LLP
Established in 1929, Bertine, Hufnagel is "a general practice law firm, offering clients expertise in both individual and commercial matters." Their broad range of services include the following: Wills, Estate
Planning and Taxation, Probate and Estate Administration, Elder Law, Real Estate (commercial, residential, condominiums and cooperatives), Commercial Law and Transactions, Litigation and Banking Law.
700 White Plains Road
Suite 237
Scarsdale, New York 10583
(914) 472 7700
(914) 472 1946 (fax)
www.bertinehufnagel.com
Suzanne M. Bloomer
Wills, Trusts, Estates and Real Estate
85 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-0142
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
George R. Mayer, Esq.
65 Pondfield Road #6 Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3033 (tel)
914-337-1038 (fax)
www.bronxvillelaw.com
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Griffin, Coogan, Sulzer & Horgan, P.C.
Attorneys and Counselors at Law
Located in Bronxville, New York, Griffin, Coogan, Sulzer & Horgan, P.C. takes great pride in providing our clients with comprehensive, high quality legal services in a responsive manner. The firm concentrates its practice in real estate law with a primary focus on issues relating to real estate tax litigation (also known as tax certiorari), real estate transactions, valuation law, real property taxation and tax planning and real property tax exemption matters throughout New York State.
The firm serves as general counsel for several local cooperatives and represents clients in various issues relating to wills, trusts and estate planning.
51 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
(914) 961-1300
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Kim O'Toole, Esq.
80 Sagamore Road
914-961-6175 (tel)
914-337-3292 (fax)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mary Anne O'Callahan, Esq.
32 Gramatan Court Bronxville, New York 10708
914-779-3558 (tel)
914-779-5182 (fax)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nobile, Magarian & DiSalvo
We are hardworking and dedicated attorneys who, combined, have more than 150 years of experience delivering quality legal advice. Our cutting edge is our ability to enter both the conference room and the courtroom with strength. Our law firm provides legal representation and counsel for both individual and business clients on issues related to estate planning and administration, real estate law, litigation, and business law. Our practice areas include: Commercial Litigation, Business Law, Real Estate, Wills, Estate Planning, Trusts, Estate Administration, Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, Powers of Attorney, Not For Profits, and Employment Law.
111 Kraft Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708
914-337-6300
Veneruso, Curto, Schwartz & Curto, LLP
Veneruso, Curto, Schwartz & Curto is dedicated to providing businesses and individuals with exceptional legal services customized to each client's needs and objectives. Practice areas include litigation, real estate, not for profit, wills and estate planning, land use and zoning, business and corporate, cooperative and condominium and real estate tax assessment litigation.
The Hudson Valley Bank Building
35 East Grassy Sprain Road, Suite 400
Yonkers, New York 10710
914-779-1100
Leslie Homer
71 North Avenue New Rochelle, New York 10801
914-632-8989
www.homerinsurance.com
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
John L. Vorbach Company, Inc. Insurance Brokers
Manhattan Media & Technology Center
65 Broadway, 9th Floor
New York, New York 10006
212-294-4900 x 112
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.vorbach.com
Linda Graef Jones, Private Client Sales Executive
Personal Risk Management Solutions
Focuses solely on personal insurance and
provides unique, customized solutions that save
money and time and create peace of mind.
6 East 43rd Street
New York, New York 10017
914-645-3951
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Palmer-Tanno Agency, Inc.
Independent Insurance Agents since 1948
Greg Tanno
141 Parkway Road, Suite #11
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-6603
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ranieri Insurance Agency
Auto, Home, Business & Life
Over 50 Years' Experience
Paul D. Ranieri, CPCU
457 Palmer Road
Yonkers, NY
914-376-2560
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rollins
Insurance and Risk Management Solutions
Since 1910
65 Main Street
Tuckahoe, New York 10707
914-337-1833
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.rollinsinsurance.com
Edwin Gemes, Ltd.
Bronxville
914-779-7580
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Madeline Eckett Oden Interiors
61 Beechmont Avenue
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-779-3935
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jane Mitchell
9 The Byway
914-337-1216
Samuel Botero Associates, Inc.
215 East 58th Street
Suite 6B
New York, New York 10022
212-935-5155
www.botero.com
Sandra Steele Schneider Interiors
70 Burkewood Road
Mount Vernon, New York 10552
914-668-4468
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Serendipity Interior Design, LLC
Catherine Wyner
203-846-0809 or 203-637-9266
Shannon Interiors LTD.
Kelly Shannon Jelensperger, President
81 Pondfield Road #344
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-1629 (O)
914-953-7584 (C)
914-793-2195 (F)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Architects
Dean Davis
2 Park Place
Bronxville, New York
914-961-5953
Michael Davis
435 Hudson Street, 8th Floor
New York, New York 10014
212-645-6066
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.michaeldavisarchitects.com
Charles Hilton
Hilton Vanderhorn Associates
31 East Elm Street
Greenwich, Ct. 06830
203-862-9011 (tel) 203-862-9196 (fax)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.hilton-vanderhorn.com
Scott Koniecko Architects
80 8th Avenue
Suite 1600
New York, New York 10011
212-620-3924 (tel)
212-620-7640 (fax)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Maggie Marrone Architects
914-771-6750
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Peter Pennoyer Architects
432 Park Avenue South, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10016
212-779-9765
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.ppapc.com
Radoslav Opacic Architects
24 N. Astor
Irvington, New York 10533
914-591-4306 (tel)914-591-4308 (fax)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.opacicarchitects.com
Landscape Architects
Renee Byers, Landscape Architect P.C.
10 Avon Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3103
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.reneebyers.com
Engineers
Civil Engineer
Brett Auerhahn P.E.
914-961-2242
Chimney Sweep
Egan Chimney Sweeps
845-628-8515
Electric
Keating Electric & Technologies
115 Wall Street
Valhalla, New York 10595
914-747-9294
www.keatingelectric.com
Lippolis Electric
445 5th Avenue
Pelham, New York 10803
914-738-3550
James A. Stone
96 Congress Street
Harrison, New York 10528
914-835-0447
White Electric, Inc.
128 Fulton Street
White Plains, New York
914-946-5566
www.whiteelectric.com
General Contractors
Vincent Franco
R-Men Contracting
179 Summerfield Street
Scarsdale, New York 10583
914-472-7007 (tel) 914-472-0451 (fax)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Arthur Lange Inc.
841 Tuckahoe Road
P.O. Box 993
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-4422 (tel) 914-395-0471 (fax)
www.arthurlangeinc.com
Heating & Cooling
Absolute Comfort & Temperature Control Inc.
Mr. Paul Gomprecht, President
914-761-0529
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.Absolutecomfortcontrol.com
Richards Conditioning Corp.
70 Marbledale Road
Tuckahoe, New York 10707
914-337-0300
Besson Oil Inc.
140 Marbledale Road
Tuckahoe, New York 10707
914-779-0008
Iron Work
Debra Coddington
Arrowsmith Forge
3788 Rte 44
Millbrook, New York
845-677-5687
www.arrowsmithforge.com
Locksmith
LMC Safe, Lock & Key
Luigi M. Cattzia II
914-241-1583
Painters
All Colors Painting Co.
69 Delaware Road
Yonkers, New York 10710
(Johnnie & Joey)
914-964-9148
Mateus Neto Painting Co.
95 Chase Avenue
Yonkers, New York 10703
914-965-9561
Pick up and take away
Robert Rabsey
914-954-4366
Technical Help
Computer, Network & Internet Services
Gerry McLoughlin
914-337-7084
www.GerryMcL.com
Computer Tutor @ PCI
914-337-1700
www.computertutorpci.com
Geeks on Wheels
Dylan Hall
Harrison, New York
914-562-1800
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.geeks-on-wheels.net
The Computer Nerds, Inc.
PO Box 31
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-779-7952
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.thecomputernerdsinc.com
TV & Steroes
AV Design
130 East Main Street
Elmsford, New York 10523
Design
Maureen Hackett
Hackett Landscape Design Inc.
212-768-4242 and 917-494-8084
Renee Byers, Landscape Architech P.C.
10 Avon Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3103
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.reneebyers.com
Maintenance
Frank Bulfamonte & Sons, Inc.
914-235-1835
26 Circuit Road
New Rochelle, New York 10805
914-235-1835
Land Productions Inc.
360 Adams Street
Bedford Hills, New York
914-666-8214
Lieb's Nursery & Garden Center
1 Askins Place
New Rochelle, New York 10801
914-632-5599
Florists
Tryforos and Pernice
73 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York
914-337-2525
Plants & Nurseries
Lieb's Nursery & Garden Center
1 Askins Place
New Rochelle, New York 10801
914-632-5599
Rosedale Nurseries
51 Saw Mill River Road, Route 9A
Hawthorne, New York 10532-1598
914-769-1300
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.rosedalenurseries.com
Sprainbrook Nursery, Inc.
448 Underhill Road
Scarsdale, New York 10583
914-723-2382
www.sprainbrook.com
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