• HOME
  • BUYING
  • SELLING
  • CONTACT
  • More
    • HOME
    • BUYING
    • SELLING
    • CONTACT
  • HOME
  • BUYING
  • SELLING
  • CONTACT

Buying Your Home

Knowledge and experience are the keys to a successful real  estate transaction. I have all of the tools necessary to  help make your home-buying process easier and more understandable. My goal is to provide you with the most informative and  professional services available, so I have included an overview of what  you can expect throughout the home-buying process.


You  have already made the smart move by considering met to assist you with the process of purchasing a property. Your next step is  to speak with a lender and complete a loan application. This will allow the lender to issue a pre-approval letter, which must be submitted with all offers to purchase.


Most transactions  require financing to assist in the purchase. A lender can be a mortgage company, a bank, private financing, as well as other options. Whichever you choose, the lender plays an extremely significant role in the  transaction. You will be asked to complete an application, provide  documentation and verify your income. You may also be asked to give  permission for your credit score to be checked and for your assets to be  verified. There are numerous steps to take to secure financing, and  your cooperation with the lender is a key ingredient to experiencing an  on-time, relatively stress-free closing! 


Choosing the Right Home

The choice is yours
A home is more than just a collection of rooms and walls. A home is where  you live, raise your family, entertain friends and relax after a hard  day’s work. Since so much of your life is spent in your home, choosing  the right one for you is an enormous decision.


It  is important to consider your priorities and the list of features you  are looking for in a home. I will help you define  your search parameters and target the ideal properties for you to consider.
Some things you should consider while  creating your list include price, location, and your future needs.  Everyone is different, and some of us may trade four bedrooms for a big kitchen! A larger backyard may make up for a longer commute to the  office, the number of bathrooms may be more important to a growing  family, or a single story home might be necessary for someone who has  difficulty climbing stairs.


With over six  million new and existing homes sold each year in the United States, the  options can be staggering. I will help you narrow  down the choices and find the property that best suits your needs. It  may be the very first home you look at or the very last one; in either case, we will help you find the place you can call home! 


Inspection

Professional home inspection
In  general, buyers are entitled to conduct a series of inspections on the  property they are about to purchase. After your offer has been accepted,  I will assist you in hiring a professional home  inspector to conduct an inspection of the property. I  recommend you choose a home inspector that is certified by a trade  association.


Some of the items typically  investigated during an inspection are appliances, plumbing, A/C,  heating, electrical, structure, foundation, roof, and attic. If any of  the previous are areas of concern, you can ask your inspector to address  concerns regarding indoor air quality, expansive soil conditions,  previous fire or flood, pests, and mold. If you are obtaining a loan,  your lender may require specific inspections, such as an inspection to  certify that the home is free of wood-destroying organisms.


It  is around this time you can expect to be provided with a Property  Disclosure Statement from the seller, which contains all information  related to the sale of the property. I will ask you  to read through it carefully and ask any questions you might have during  your inspection period.


Additional inspections  you may want to consider are a survey to determine where property lines  are located and a claims report, which gives buyers the past insurance  claim history on the property (a factor which can affect the cost of  your homeowner's insurance).


In addition to  formal inspections, buyers should consider other methods of obtaining  information about the property. For example, talk to your potential  neighbors and drive around the neighborhood during different times of  the day. While touring the neighborhood, consider things such as  proximity to freeways, airports, and schools.


I can also provide you with resources for obtaining  information on crime statistics, city planning and zoning, school  information and environmental concerns which may affect your decision to purchase. 


The Offer

Get the guidance you need
You  have probably gone through quite a bit of searching and preparation in  trying to find the home you wish to purchase. I been there for you, showed you properties based on your initial list of  desirable features and helped narrow down your options. At this point,  you will have found the home you want and will be commencing the process  of making an offer on the property.


There are a  number of factors that will affect your decision on what to offer on  the property. Market conditions are always a factor. For instance, if it  is a “buyer’s market,” you will have more negotiating room for the  property. In a “seller’s market,” you may want to place your best offer upfront in order to be the one chosen by the seller.


The  values of the properties around the one you want are also factors that  should be considered. These figures are typically called the “comps” or  “comparables.” Your agent will show you all of the properties on a list  that have closed or are for sale in the vicinity of the property you are  making an offer on. These comps must be analyzed and a realistic value  for the property can be established. There will be an appraisal on the  property after you open escrow, and often what you are willing to pay  for a property and what an appraiser determines as its value are two  different numbers!
You will also want to  establish the close of escrow date, or date you will actually become the  owner, before writing an offer. If you are obtaining a loan, a lender  will generally need about 30 days to complete your loan, order and  evaluate the appraisal and furnish the closing documents. If you have  been pre-approved, this time frame may shorten. You will want to give  yourself ample time to conduct any inspections on the property prior to  your closing date.


There are other terms to be  considered when placing an offer that may affect whether or not the  seller is willing to accept the offer or whether you are willing to  accept the seller’s terms. Some of the factors to consider are if a pre-  or post-possession of the property has been requested, if a home  warranty will be included and, as stated previously, what market  conditions currently are.


I want  you to enter into an agreement equipped with as much information as  possible. My commitment to providing you with superior customer service  is demonstrated by our training and support programs, which are  designed to assist your agent and in turn help you be the most informed  buyer you can be.


An offer to purchase property  is a legally binding document that should be explained to you in detail  as you are filling it out with your agent. You should always feel free to consult an attorney or tax advisor to obtain further information you  deem necessary. We want you to be prepared but also enjoy this exciting  experience. Anything I can do to help, just ask! 

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