Buying a Home
Buying a home is an exciting and complex adventure. It can also be a very time-consuming and costly one if you're not familiar with the process.
Our specialty is representing the best interests of our buyers throughout the home buying process. Our comprehensive, high-quality services can save you time and money, as well as make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful.
Take a look at our step-by-step process of what you, the buyer, can expect with our team.
1. Apply for your mortgage (unless you pay cash of course)
Would you ever go shopping without knowing how much you can spend? Unless you plan to purchase with cash, contacting a qualified lender will ensure that you can make an offer right away.
Our team will get you in contact with our preferred lender to get pre-qualified for your loan. It’s important to know what your buying power is before we start looking.
2. Explore your options
Now that you are pre-qualified, think about what you would like to spend on your new home and the features you just can’t live without.
With this information, our team will work with you to set up an interactive search tool, refined to your needs and available for immediate use.
Find what you want? Let us know and we’ll tour the home right away.
3. Write an offer - now it gets exciting
Once we find your perfect home, our Real Estate-specific negotiating skills will work to your advantage. We have an extensive tool kit we employ to WIN THE BID to your new home.
4. Contract acceptance
Once your contract is accepted, we will collect and deliver your earnest money. Earnest money is a deposit, from you (also mentioned on the purchase contract) showing that you are promising to proceed to the next step. This earnest money is given to your escrow officer at our preferred title company to ‘open escrow’. 'Open escrow' is just a name that is used to say that we have opened a file with the title company to get your file started. The title company plays an integral part of purchasing your home.
5. Book the moving truck, on us!
Our preferred title company provides a FREE moving truck (when available) for you when you use our services. We can provide boxes and packing material if needed; we are in this together! Another worry gone!
6. Inspections
You now have a limited amount of time to do inspections. We have many qualified, preferred inspectors that conduct inspections on the entire property including the roof, pool, termites, etc. We also have a couple of great research ideas that we will recommend to make sure your new home is a place you want to live.
7. Appraisal
After your inspections an appraisal is ordered (unless you pay cash), an appraisal is required and completed by your lender to confirm the value. In most cases, the appraisal comes in at either purchase price or higher for our clients.
8. Loan and escrow document prep
The title company/lender will need time to create your documents for you to sign. This process usually takes 7-10 days. In the meantime, you can pack and get ready for your move.
9. Signing aka “bringing your funds”
A deed signing will be scheduled where funds will be wired to correct parties, and not to worry, we’ll be right by your side. Unfortunately this is not so common. On average, only 2% of Real Estate agents attend their clients' signings.
We want you to feel comfortable with your documents from beginning to end. No exceptions.
10. Recording
The deed that you signed at your signing appointment will be ‘recorded’ at the county recorder’s office. This changes the ownership from the seller to YOU!
11. Delivery of the keys
We personally deliver keys to you wherever you are after we record (time is unknown until day of closing). And congrats! You deserve it!
12. Continued support
Even after closing, we are here to assist you with any other vendors you might need, keep you updated on the market in your new neighborhood or any other post-closing items you may need help with.
If you're like most people, buying a home is the biggest investment you will ever make. So whether you're buying a starter home, your dream home or an investment property, why not take advantage of our experience as a local market expert for the Valley to make the most informed decisions you can, every step of the way?
Call us today. You’ll be glad you did!