Buyer's Guide

Do you already know where you want to buy? If you want a condo, townhome, single-family, or multi-family home? Which features do you like and dislike? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to start researching. It’s also a good time to consider your budget. In some cases, a mortgage company will pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why it’s helpful to think about the monthly payment you feel comfortable with. Of course, part of our process is guiding you through these steps, so don’t worry if you don’t have definitive answers yet.

If you are not purchasing with cash, the next step for you is to connect with a lender and get pre-approved. We can provide you with recommendations of a few of the best lenders In the area, or you're free to shop around on your own. A letter of pre-approval from a lender shows that they have checked all your documentation and have qualified you for a loan. Getting pre-approved prior to starting your home search saves you time by: Keeping you focused on viewing only the homes that are within your budget, and helping you obtain financing more quickly when we find the home you want to buy.

Once you’ve found the one, it’s time to put things in motion. We'll start by putting together a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to help determine a competitive offer price, and ensure you don't overpay. Together, the next step is to compose our offer. We'll walk you through the contract forms to ensure you understand the contract language so you know what you're signing. When it comes to making an offer, we pride ourselves in maximizing our clients investment. In order to present a strong, clean offer that gives us the best chance at acceptance, there's a few ways to make our offer stand out that we explain during this process. Upon acceptance, the house will go into escrow.

In most cases, your lender will arrange for an independent appraiser to provide an estimate of the house you are purchasing. The appraiser decides if the agreed cost is a fair price for the property. When purchasing a home, it’s required by most lenders to have an appraisal done to ensure the value of the property is consistent with what you are paying for it. Once approved, expect to receive a letter confirming your loan terms and final rate selection.

Once all loan documents have been sent to escrow, you will meet with the escrow officer typically 2-3 days prior to the closing day to sign all documents. Everything will be arranged by your lender and title company and, when you’re finished with the paperwork, you’ll know you are the legal owner of your new home.