Use this as a checklist of what to confirm before you make an offer, the paperwork you'll run into, and the right moment to bring in licensed help. It's the prep work — not the paperwork.
Go back through your report and confirm the items with the biggest dollar or risk impact: the taxes after reset, any open permits, the flood zone, and the recorded documents and title status.
Where a figure says “verify manually,” follow the official link in that section before you rely on it.
A licensed real-estate agent can run comparable sales, advise on price, and structure an offer. A real-estate attorney reviews the contract, title, and closing documents and protects your interests on anything binding. If the property has title questions, liens, an estate sale, or an HOA/condo with heavy documents, involve an attorney early.
A residential purchase is typically captured in a written agreement that covers the parties, the price, the deposit / earnest money, any contingencies, the timeline, and the closing. Your agent or attorney will prepare and explain the actual document with you. HomeIQ shows you what to expect; it doesn't draft or fill out purchase paperwork for you.
If you're financing, get a lender pre-approval so you know your budget and can act quickly. If you're paying cash, have your proof of funds ready. Either way, factor in the taxes-after-reset and any flood-insurance estimate from your report — not just the asking price.
Budget time and money for a professional home inspection and any specialist checks the report flags (for example roof, septic or well, or elevation in a flood zone). This is your window to learn what the public record can't tell you about the building's condition.
Once an agreement is in place, contingency and inspection periods run on tight, often calendar-day, clocks. Note every deadline with your agent or attorney so a right you've paid for doesn't lapse. If you're buying your primary residence, ask whether your state offers a homestead or owner-occupancy property-tax exemption — many do, and they often have a filing deadline that isn't automatic.