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As your buyer's agent specialist, I'm committed to helping educate, guide, and protect you every step of the way. When you embark on your home search and work with me, I'm proud to provide the following services to you:
Do you already know where you want to buy? If you want a condo, townhome, or single-family home? Which features do you like and dislike? What’s available on the market now? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to start researching. In addition to looking for homes that interest you, also take note of any changes in asking prices. This could give you valuable insight into housing trends in specific neighborhoods and help you when the time comes to make an offer.
Notice I said to decide on your budget—not determine how much the mortgage company will give you. In many cases, a mortgage company will pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why you need to determine the monthly payment you feel comfortable with before talking to a lender. This likely includes doing a full household budget and taking into consideration what changes other than a mortgage payment will occur once you move into your new home. If you’ve lived in an apartment or with roommates, you may overlook new expenses like garbage, water, or HOA fees that could easily blow your budget.
Just because you think you can afford a certain payment every month doesn’t mean the mortgage company will agree. Just as they may approve you for too large of an amount, they may also approve you for a lesser amount or deny you a mortgage altogether. Lack of time at a job, insufficient credit, past bankruptcies, or other financial issues can cause major problems when trying to secure a mortgage. Before you get your heart set on a home, talk to a mortgage professional to find out what amount you can qualify for. This will also be an advantage when you make an offer on a home, as some sellers won’t entertain offers from those who aren’t already prequalified for a loan.
• Schedule Time To Meet Buyers
• Prepare Buyers Guide & Presentation
• Meet Buyers and Discuss Their Goals
• Explain Buyer & Seller Agency Relationships
• Discuss Different Financing Options
• Help Buyers Find a Mortgage Lender
• Obtain Pre-Approval Letter
• Overview of Current Market Conditions
• Discuss Earnest Money Deposits
• Explain Home Inspection Process
• Educate Buyers About Local Neighborhoods & School Districts
• Discuss Foreclosures & Short Sales
• Establish Must-Haves For Future Home
• Register Buyers for Zenlist
• Send Buyers Homes Within Their Criteria
• Show Buyers Requested Homes
• Schedule & Organize All Showings
• Gather Showing Instructions for Each Home
• Send Showing Schedule to Buyers
• Show Up Early and Prepare First Showing
• Gather Buyer Feedback After Each Showing
• Update Buyers When New Homes Hit the Market
• Share Knowledge & Insight About Homes
• Guide Buyers Through Their Emotional Journey
• Keep Records of All Showings
• Update Listing Agents with Buyer’s Feedback
• Discuss Home Owner’s Associations
• Estimate Expected Utility Usage Costs
• Confirm Water Source and Status
• Discuss Transferable Warranties
• Explain Property Appraisal Process
• Discuss Multiple Offer Situations
• Provide Updated Housing Market Data to Buyers
• Update Buyers On Any Price Drops
• Discuss MLS Data With Buyers At Showings
• Find the Right Home for Buyers
• Prepare Sales Contract
• Educate Buyer’s On Sales Contract Options
• Discuss Disclosures
• Explain Home Warranty Options
• Update Buyer’s Pre-Approval Letter
• Discuss Loan Objection Deadlines
• Choose a Closing Date
• Verify Listing Data Is Correct
• Review Comps With Buyers To Determine Value
• Prepare & Submit Buyer’s Offer to Listing Agent
• Negotiate Buyers Offer
• Execute A Sales Contract & Disclosures
• Coordinate Earnest Money Drop Off
• Deliver Copies to Mortgage Lender
• Deliver Copies of Contract/Addendum/ Disclosures to Buyers
• Coordinate Inspections with Buyers
• Meet Inspector At The Property
• Review Home Inspection with Buyers
• Negotiate Inspection Objections
• Get All Agreed Upon Repair Items in Writing
• Check In With Lender To Verify Loan Status
• Check on the Appraisal Date
• Negotiate Any Unsatisfactory Appraisals
• Remind Buyers to Schedule Utilities
• Final Walk-Through with Buyers
• Resolve Any Last Minute Issues
• Attend Closing with Buyers
• Provide Home Warranty Paperwork
• Give Keys and Accessories to Buyers
This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). I will arrange showings of homes you’re interested in that are within your price range. Take notes about what you like and don’t like, and make sure to pay attention to details. Don’t limit your inspection to the home itself. Make sure to take time to explore the neighborhood and keep an eye on traffic at certain times of the day, the parking situation, and how close it is to necessities like schools and grocery stores.
Once you have selected the perfect home, work with your agent to craft a fair offer based on the value of comparable homes on the market. Depending on what the home is listed at and whether the current environment is a buyer’s or seller’s market, your offer may be below, at, or even above the asking price. I will be able to help you negotiate if you receive a counteroffer and reach an agreement. At this point, the house will go into escrow.
In most cases, your offer will be contingent on having the home inspected to ensure there is no major structural damage or large repairs needed. I can help you arrange this, and you can schedule it within days of making an offer. If there are no major issues, the process goes to step eight. If there is, you can renegotiate your offer based on what needs to be fixed, or you can withdraw it.
Now is the time to go back to the mortgage lender who pre-approved or pre-qualified you and choose your mortgage. You will be presented with various options based on your unique financial situation, including fixed-rate, variable-rate, 15-year, 30-year, or special programs such as VA loans or FHA loans. Work with your mortgage lender to select the option you feel the most comfortable with.
Your lender will have your new home appraised so they have their independent value of it. The appraisal is to ensure that all parties involved are paying a fair price for the house.
No one looks forward to all the paperwork involved in buying a home, but it’s a necessary part of the process. Fortunately, everything will be arranged by your lender and title company and, when you’re finished, you’ll know you are the legal owner of your new home.
After signing the final paperwork to complete the purchase, you are now the owner of a new house. It may take a few days for your loan to be funded once the paperwork has been returned to the lender, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams.
I bring over 17 years of experience, over $100M+ in career sales, and am a top 10 broker in my office since 2012.
What really goes into working as a real estate agent?
Realtors® do not get paid an hourly wage or salary. I am on call for my clients at all times - I do not work a regular 9-5 job. My time is only paid if and when I sell a home. So I may spend days, weeks, months, or even years working with my clients to find them the perfect home, sale, or relocation before ever receiving commission or entering into a transaction.
My commission has additional break downs including usually being split 4 ways between the listing brokerage, the selling brokerage, the listing agent, and the buyer's agent.
When Maria is your listing & buyer's agent, she works with you, for you, and only you. She guides you, informs you, and protects you through every step of your transaction paying attention to every single detail for you. She is your problem solver. Contact her!
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