When you have selected the house you want to buy, your next step is to submit a signed real estate offer to purchase. Your Semonin sales associate will take you through a step-by-step process in order to prepare your real estate offer.

Below are the highlight points in a real estate offer. Your Semonin associate will help you through the details not shown here.

• You know the seller's asking price, but you need to decide how much you will offer.
• Decide how much earnest money to offer. This deposit shows your true interest and desire to purchase the property for sale.  Your earnest money is usually held by the listing or selling company until the sale is closed or the contract is broken. When the sale is closed, it is applied to the down payment or closing costs. But, if you fail to buy the house after the seller has accepted your offer, the seller has the right to keep this earnest money.
• Specify your desired closing date and possession date. Allow yourself enough time to obtain financing.
• Determine which items you may want to negotiate in the price you are offering. Items the seller may not necessarily be leaving behind may include any of the following: appliances, light fixtures, chandeliers, gas logs, fireplace tools, window coverings and swing sets.

Your Semonin sales associate will present the offer to the seller's agent. The seller will accept, reject, or counter your offer with changes in the terms. If the seller submits a counteroffer, you may sign it as acceptance of the agreement, make another counteroffer, or withdraw your offer.  When both the seller and buyer agree to the terms and sign the document, it becomes a valid contract.