For Buyers
Buying a home is an exciting time in one's life. Making the smart move of choosing a REALTOR® is your first step to ensuring that your new home and community meets your needs. My services and experience range from financial aid to helping you find the home that best suits you and your family. For your convenience, I also provide listings by email. I pride myself on repeat business and hope you'll come to understand why.
How I Can Help
Before you start looking
Closing Costs
- Assure that you see all the properties in the area that meet your criteria.
- Help you find the best financing. This may mean working with an existing lender you already have or introducing you to a new one.
- Complete a market analysis on all homes you concider offering on to obtain a fair market value (this will determine if the asking price is reasonable).
- Attempt initial contact with Listing Agent and seller when possible to obtain motivaing factors that may aide you in an offer.
- Assist you in writing your Purchase Agreement Contract answering all of your questions.
- Explain to you all forms required to submit an offer.
- Work closely with your lender of choice to obtain a "Committment Letter" to be included with your initial offer. Any good agent knows a Pre-qual letter is only worth the paper it is written on!
- Personally present your offer to the sellers when possible.
- Negotiate the absolute best terms and services for you "my principal".
- Articulate a counter offer when necessary.
- Facilitate your escrow keeping you informed of your timelines and contractural obligations.
- Manage all parties involved in the transaction including escrow, lender, title, agents, appraisers, inspectors etc. to ensure a successful close.
- Assist you in your due diligence making sure all of your questions about your purchase, including information on the home itself, local schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more.
- Intoduce you to a team of professional companies that are available to help make your process easier.
Before You Start Looking For Your New Home:
- Check your credit rating. Straighten out any errors before its too late.
- Determine a comfortable monthly budget for your new purchase, including down payment and monthly payment. When you factor a monthly payment make sure you are including the taxes and insurance. Often times when you are quoted a payment price these are left out and you are given only the principal and interest amount however, the total amount is going to be what is due each month!
- Find a loan program that meets your needs and get pre-qualified (preferably pre-approved). This is the difference between a good lender and a great one. You should always negotiate with a "Committment Letter" at a level of pre-approval or even underwritten approval. These levels of approval cannot ethically be provided if you have not signed a 1003 (loan application) and had your package submitted to an investor. It is in your best interest to work with an agent that understands the difference. Knowing the loan process is important. My prior experience with lending enables me to follow the lenders steps. I am able to offer any lender I work with support throughout the transaction giving you a better guarantee for a successful transaction.
- Choose a REALTOR® that you trust and who understands your needs. Know that you get what the seller pays for! When you purchase a home the seller almost always pays your agent's commission so it is in your best interest to find the absolute best REALTOR for you.
- Determine what neighborhood best matches your needs.
- Identify important features you need your new home to have.
- Pre-view homes on the internet, in several local publications and by driving around. I encourage my clients to do this. First of all because it is often enjoyable. Secondly because it enables you to give me information to most accurately search for your dream home. It also prepares us to work as a team. Trust is very important in
- Lender fees include charges for loan origination, loan processing, underwriting, preparation and establishing an impounded escrow account. These fees may vary drastically depending on the programs you qualify for. Read my mortgage suggestions before you committ to a program.
- Third-party fees include charges for insurance, title search, escrow, appraisal and other inspections you may want to do including a home inspection. Typically all state required inspections are paid for by the seller.
- Government fees include deed recording and state & local mortgage taxes. It is important to know that you almost always will receive a supplemental tax bill after close of escrow.
- Escrow and interest fees include homeowner's insurance, loan interest, real estate taxes, and occasionally private mortgage insurance.
