Earth Smart
Each home Bella Vista Homes builds is Earth Smart. Click on the button below to learn more our Earth Smart building process.
Home Buying Tips
Purchasing a new home instills a sense of self-accomplishment and worth, thus it is important to take your time to plan and organize your finances. Below are a few steps you should take to ease the process.
1. GET YOUR FINANCES IN ORDER.
Contact a preferred lender and get a Good Faith Estimate. Put together a budget and determine how much you can afford towards a mortgage loan each month.
2. DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
Figure out where you want to live and research the area. Consider factors such as schools, churches, shopping, dining, hospitals, and proximity to work.
3. MAKE A WISH LIST.
Prioritize what features are most important to you in a new home. What are your must-haves? What can you compromise on?
4. CONSIDER A SELECT HOME.
Many things can affect the time it takes to build your new home, such as weather and availability of labor and supplies. Purchasing a select home eliminates much of the variability in the homebuilding process and allows you to lock in to the current interest rates.
5. DON'T WAIT. HOMES SELL VERY QUICKLY.
The home you love today and think about tonight may be purchased today by the family who loved it yesterday and thought about it last night. If you see a house that meets your needs, act right away.
6. WATCH YOUR SPENDING.
Don't make any large purchases or take out any additional loans during the home buying process. Doing so may change your ability to qualify for the loan reflected in the Good Faith Estimate.
7. PLAN YOUR MOVE.
Create a timeline to avoid closing too early or too late. Plan when to pack, obtain your homeowner's insurance, and set up utilities, cable, phone, etc.
8. HAVE FUN!
Purchasing a new home is an exciting experience. Have fun with it!
Purchasing Process
Find the Right Home
Work with your Bella Vista Homes Sales Professional to find the home that is right for you, at which point you will complete a purchase agreement and leave an earnest money deposit. If you build from dirt, you will also choose your interior options at this point.
Submit a Loan Application
You have 30 days from the day you sign your purchase agreement to apply for a mortgage loan. You may have already pre-qualified for your home loan through the lender of your choice, if not, Bella Vista works with a preferred lender who will work with you to find the home loan that fits your needs.
New Home Orientation
A few days before closing on your home, you will meet with a construction superintendent who will show you the ins and outs of your new home.
Close On Your New Home
You will meet with a representative of our preferred title company to transfer the home's title to your name. Remember, you must secure a homeowner's insurance policy before coming to the closing table.
Move In!
Finally the day you've been dreaming about! As soon as your mortgage loan funds, we'll hand over the keys and you are free to move in! Don't wait another minute!
Contact Bella Vista Homes today at (210) 546-1275.
Terms To Know
When you're buying a new home, sometimes it can feel like everyone is speaking a foreign language. We have provided a list of key terms you should know before moving forward with your purchase. For more information, please ask your Bella Vista Homes Sales Professional.
Closing Costs
Costs in addition to the price of the home, which are paid at closing. These include taxes, title insurance, financing costs, and items that must be prepaid or "escrowed" and other costs.
Escrow
An account held by the mortgage lender into which a homeowner pays money at the time of the periodic mortgage payments to cover annual property taxes and insurance.
Earnest Money
The deposit money given to the seller by the potential buyer when signing the sales contract.
Good Faith Estimate
An estimate of charges which a home buyer is likely to incur in connection with their home purchase, including closing costs and monthly investment.
HOA (Homeowner's Association)
The governing body of a community, which enforces the covenants, conditions, and restrictions of managing the common amenities of the development.
Homestead Exemption
A concession made by local taxing authorities to provide a reduction in property taxes by exempting a portion of the valuation of the homeowner's principal residence from taxation.
Select Home
A home on which construction has already begun or is complete before a home buyer signs a contract on that home. Also known as a inventory or spec (speculative) home.
Mortgage
A pledge of real property given by the buyer to the lender as security for the repayment of money borrowed.
MUD (Municipal Utility District) Tax
A fee homeowners pay to provide water, sewage drainage, and other services to their area. MUD rates generally decline over time as the district is built out and operating and debt service costs are shared by more homeowners.
Owner's Title Policy
Insurance policy that protects the buyer/owner of real property from successful claims of ownership to the property by others.