If you've purchased a home in the past, chances are you did so through an in-person buying process. You visited the actual property, made an offer, had an inspection done and then finalized everything by filling out a bunch of paper forms at a designated site during the closing process.
Alternatively, you might have done some or all of these tasks virtually, especially if you began your home search during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as many sectors of the U.S. economy were hard-hit by the virus, home sales rebounded relatively quickly, and the availability of convenient virtual homebuying services may have boosted this trend.
Redfin reported that sales of new construction homes exceed pre-coronavirus levels in July 2020. The National Association of Realtors also reported that the 24.7% surge in overall home sales from June to July was the biggest on record since 1968. With many buyers scaling back their in-person activities, virtual homebuying has become a pivotal fallback option.
WHAT IS VIRTUAL HOMEBUYING?
Virtual homebuying services typically include the following components:
VIRTUAL CONSULTATION AND OPEN HOUSE
A real estate agent connects with you via a video conferencing platform like Zoom or FaceTime to discuss the process and then gives you a full showing of the property. A virtual open house is a great way to see lots of homes without leaving yours, but make sure to dress appropriately and try out your video setup beforehand.
FULL INSPECTION REPORT AND APPRAISAL
Traditional home inspections often involve the prospective buyer touring the property to hear about any issues the inspector has identified. In a virtual process, a detailed report fills the same role. The inspector includes descriptions, photos and videos of the home, describing and showing what they found during the inspection. Similarly, you'll get to see the results of the appraisal process without any person-to-person contact.
COMPLETELY ONLINE CLOSING
Sitting in an office or conference room with a lot of other people for a long period of time, as in the conventional home closing process, is not ideal in light of ongoing public health risks. An online closing process eliminates these issues while letting you conveniently fill out all forms from the comfort of your home. SNAP E-CLOSE from The Federal Savings Bank lets you:
- Electronically sign and submit documents using our remote online notary.
- Ask questions of an online banker during the closing, if you need to.
- Complete the entire process from your kitchen table, with no interpersonal contact.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF VIRTUAL HOMEBUYING?
First and foremost, virtual homebuying lets you reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 or any other illness due to contact with other people.
But its benefits extend beyond that, setting virtual homebuying up to be serious competition for in-person buying going forward. Virtual homebuying is:
- Convenient – no trips to and from to the property and closing site.
- Simple – just a few clicks and you're ready to start filling out forms.
- Secure – sensitive data is encrypted and documents are safely stored by the bank.
No matter how you ultimately decide to approach your homebuying process, The Federal Savings Bank can help. Get started with our online mortgage tools today or connect with a member of our team!
This information is intended for educational purposes only. Products and interest rates subject to change without notice. Loan products are subject to credit approval and include terms and conditions, fees and other costs. Terms and conditions may apply. Property insurance is required on all loans secured by property. VA loan products are subject to VA eligibility requirements. Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) interest rates and monthly payment are subject to adjustment. Upon submission of a full application, a mortgage banker will review and provide you with the terms, conditions, disclosures, and additional details on the interest rates that apply to you individual situation.
