Step by Step—The Buying Process

Find a REALTOR ® who you can trust
The First Step… Now that you have chosen a specialized buyer representative who you can trust, you have accomplished the first step in the home-buying process. We will make sure that all of your needs are met and will be representing you through the entire process of buying your new home.

Getting Pre-Approved
An Important Step… We feel an important aspect when starting the process of buying a home is to meet with a lender and get a pre-approval. Your buyer representative can put you in contact with a lender, if you desire, who can give you information about your approval and also explain some of the financing options available to you.

Consulting Session
Important Information… Your buyer representative will meet you one on one to discuss the features you desire in a home as well as to pin-point the area you wish to live in.

The Search Begins
The Next Step… Once you’ve established the type of home you’re searching for, it’s time to start looking. Your buyer representative is available, by appointment, to help you find your dream home.

Your Offer
Be Careful—This Is a Big Step… When you find your dream home, you should present a competitive offer immediately. Your buyer representative has extensive experience in contract negotiations; he or she will ensure that you get the home you want for a fair price—a transaction in your best interest.

The Accepted Offer
We’re Starting to Jog Now… When the seller accepts your offer, you will have what we call a pending offer. You want to make sure that every detail is handled accurately and immediately. We will ensure that your home closes properly and on time.

Inspections
You’re on the “Home” Stretch!… Final details are handled and inspections are performed to ensure that the property is “perfect” for you. Contract details are further negotiated and we head to closing!

Signing the Loan Documents
Finalizing the Lender’s Commitment… Be prepared to bring your cashier’s check, insurance binder, and driver’s license to the closing. The next steps you take will be into your new home!

Now the Home Is YOURS!
You are Finally Home… After the deed is recorded and a possession date is decided upon, pick up the keys and move into your new home!

Benefits of Working with Us

Acquiring real estate is a complex business. Mistakes can literally cost you thousands of dollars or the missed opportunity of owning the home of your dreams. As a buyer, you are always in competition with other buyers who also are looking to buy their dream homes. There is a vast difference in the level of expertise and quality of service provided by real estate agents. Give yourself the advantage of working with the very best—work with us and get these value-added services that will make a big difference for you!

A Highly Trained Buyer Representative:
who focuses on finding the ideal home for you. We are fully committed to you throughout the entire buying process; our sole career is real estate.

A Computerized Tracking System:
that instantly alerts us about properties that come on the market and meet your needs. Through our sophisticated computer search system, we will constantly alert you to properties that meet your requirements as they hit the market and before most other real estate agents and their buyers even know about them.

The Largest Inventory of Homes for Sale:
We give you access to ALL listings, not just those on the Multiple Listing Service. We research new construction, contact For Sale By Owners, explore potential relocation clients, and stay abreast of clients who may be considering selling their homes but haven’t put them on the market yet.

Expert Negotiation Skills:
Our level of success is a testimonial to the expertise and negotiating skills that give our clients a major advantage over buyers working with other agents.

A Highly Trained Team of Specialists:
who work together as a cohesive unit to make sure that all of the important details are handled perfectly—and all at no cost to you!

Our Buyer Notification System

Searching for properties that match your criteria.

Notification by mail or e-mail.

A systematized buyer process to save you time.

A team of trained professionals who work for and with you.

Once we have your criteria, we search the Multiple Listing Service daily to find properties that match that criteria. Once a match is found, we email the data sheets for that property to you.

This allows you to look at properties on your time and to review all of the details of each property.

You can easily send us an e-mail if you have any questions or would like to make an appointment to see a specific property with your buyer representative.

Purchasing New Construction

Why should I use an agent to purchase a new-construction home?
The advantages of having us help you purchase a new home are the same as those for purchasing a resale home. We can provide you with valuable insight into the new construction industry, help you find the perfect home quickly, and then provide you with expertise in contract writing, negotiation, and closing assistance. The builder has a professional real estate representative who watches out for his or her best interests, and you need and deserve the same expert representation watching out for yours.

Buying a new home is a little more difficult and time-consuming than buying a resale home. We can professionally guide you through this process. Having spent years working with builders, we has a rapport with them and a database of information about subdivisions, floor plans, etc. Our agents are also very familiar with new home warranties and the nuances of the builder’s purchase contracts and various home inspections.

It is very important that your interests be professionally represented when you are entering into a contract for a semi-custom or a build-to-suit home. These transactions are complex and the contract details must be exactly in order to protect you and to ensure that you get exactly the home you want!

And when it comes to the home inspection, we will explain to you why it is essential to hire an independent home inspector to thoroughly inspect a newly constructed home.

Are there advantages to not using an agent ?
There is no financial advantage for you to buy directly from the builder. Builders have a “single price” policy, meaning that you will be charged the same price whether your interests are represented by an agent or not. Just as in any resale, the seller pays your agent’s fee. Some builders will make you give up your right to representation if you visit their model homes without an agent on the first visit. Therefore, please call us if you would like to look at some model homes, so you are given the representation you deserve!

Who Pays for What at Closing

The buyer can normally be expected to pay for the following, but often the seller will pay them for the buyer:

• Lender’s title-policy premium—American Land Title Association (ALTA).
• Recording charges for all documents in buyers’ names.
• All new loan charges (except those required of the seller by the lender).
• Interest on a new loan from date of funding to 30 days prior to first payment date.
• Home warranty according to contract.
• Fire-insurance premium for the first year.
• Home inspection.
• Reserve account for taxes and insurance.
• Flood-certification fee.
• Termite inspection, according to the contract.

The seller can normally be expected to pay for the following:

• Real estate commission.
• Payoff of all loans in seller’s name.
• Fees, re-conveyance fees, and prepayment penalties.
• Home warranty according to the contract, if any.
• Any judgments, tax liens, etc., against the seller.
• Recording fees to clear all documents of record against the seller.
• Tax pro-ration. This is for any unpaid taxes at the time of transfer of title.
• Any unpaid homeowner-association dues.
• Any assessments according to the contract.
• Any and all delinquent taxes per the contract.