BUYER’S GUIDE
Walking you through the process of home buying
A GUIDE TO PURCHASING YOUR HOME
CHOOSING YOUR AGENT
Whatever your reason for buying, know that finding the right home, in the perfect neighborhood and at a coast that is within your budget, is no small task.
Choosing the real estate agent that you’ll work alongside to buy your home is not a decision to take lightly.
Your agent should have a deep understanding of your goals, your market, and a track record for working diligently on behalf of you, their client.
Credentials, of course, are a plus- but what you can’t see behind the numbers are the intangibles of always going the extra mile and genuinely caring deeply for clients.
We look forward to the opportunity of representing you and sharing this life milestone with you and your family.
The Value of a Buyer’s Agent
Exclusive Representation for Your Interests
Unlike going through a listing agent who serves the seller's interests, a buyer's agent is committed solely to you. They ensure your needs and preferences are top priority, offering unbiased advice and support throughout the buying process. Your buyer’s agent will help navigate every step of the home buying process with you, to make what can be a complex operation as simple and clear as possible.
Access to Off-Market Listings
Your buyer's agent can tap into a network that goes beyond the usual listings, including off-market or "pocket" listings. This access can be crucial in finding your dream home in competitive markets.
In-Depth Market Insight
Buyer's agents offer specialized knowledge of the local real estate market, from pricing trends to neighborhood dynamics. This insight is invaluable for making educated decisions and spotting hidden gems.
Skilled Negotiation on Your Behalf
Having a seasoned negotiator on your side can save you thousands. Buyer's agents negotiate not just on price, but on terms and conditions that best serve your interests.
Coordination of the Buying Process
New ParagraphFrom arranging viewings to coordinating inspections and navigating closing procedures, your agent handles the logistics. This coordination is essential for a smooth journey from house hunting to homeownership.
Insider Advice on Property Potential and Pitfalls
A buyer's agent looks beyond the surface, advising you on the potential or pitfalls of properties. They help you see the full picture, including aspects like future resale value and necessary repairs
The Value of a Buyer’s Agent
29
Years of helping home buyers find the perfect home!
73
Number of home buyers we served last year.
3200+
Homes sold in the Greater Sacramento Area!
OUR COMPANY
Our company will earn your trust and sell your home with pride.
We have been proud residents of Placer and Sacramento Counties for the past 40 years. We love what this area has to offer and look forward to the opportunity to work with you.
This enclosed Marketing Proposal can never take theplace of a personal meeting, but it will give you a chance to know a little bit more about us and our team.
As GUIDE® agents, we are dedicated to helping our clients find the home of their dreams. Whether you are buying or selling a home or just curious about the local market, we would love to offer our support and services. We know the local community - as agents and neighbors - and can help guide you through the nuances of our local market. With access to top listings, a worldwide network, exceptional marketing strategies and cutting-edge technology, we work hard to make your real estate experience memorable and enjoyable.
the home buying process
From pre-approvals to the closing table!
Welcome to the exciting journey of finding your dream home! As your dedicated real estate agent, I am thrilled to guide you through every step of the home buying process.
This comprehensive guide was meticulously crafted to provide you with a detailed overview of what to expect on this adventure.
From demystifying the mortgage process to assisting you with a lender questionnaire, offering a handy showing checklist, explaining the intricacies of going under contract, navigating the inspection period, and finally, preparing you for the closing process – I’ve got you covered.
I am committed to ensuring that each step in this process is smooth, transparent, and tailored to your unique needs.
The Process
So you want to buy a home; here are the steps.
PREPARATION PHASE
Getting pre-approved for financing is the first step. Along with securing your down payment, you'll want to do this before viewing homes so that you can act quickly.
SEARCH & OFFER
Explore homes within your budget, select your ideal property, and make a competitive offer.
UNDER CONTRACT
Conduct a home inspection, negotiate any necessary repairs, and finalize your mortgage details.
INSPECTIONS BEGIN
These inspections may include termite, agent visual, home, and lender appraisal inspections the results may spark further negotiation.
repairs negotiated
All negotiations or requests surrounding inspection results take place in the second week after closing begins.
loan approval
The buyer must get the loan approved from the appraisal to ensure they will be able to secure the funds for closing.
Repairs begin
The seller will have the necessary repairs completed to ensure that the house is in the agreed upon state when the sale is complete.
FUNDING SECURED
The appraisal has been completed and the buyer can officially complete final securing of the funds for purchase.
FINAL WALK-THROUGH
An optional walk-through is offered to the buyer five days out from the close of the sale
CLOSE OF ESCROW
At this point in the timeline, the title passes from the seller to the buyer. The buyer gets the keys and the seller receives the money for the sale!
The Mortgage Process
Let’t talk finances
When you want to buy a home, one of the first things you need to do is get pre-approved. A pre-approval letter is good for 90 days and shows that you can secure a mortgage. As part of the pre-approval process, a lender looks at your overall credit profile to determine how much money you can borrow.
Getting pre-approved can make it easier when you set out to search for home. You will understand your overall numbers. And with higher mortgage rates impacting affordability for many buyers today, a solid understanding of your numbers is even more important.
A pre-approval can also help a seller feel more confident in your offer because it shows your serious about buying their house. And, with sellers seeing a slight increase in the number of offers, making a strong offer when you find the perfect house is key.
In the next section, we’ve outlined several questions to ask your lender to ensure they provide a full picture into the terms and conditions of your loan. If you don’t have one, we’d be happy to refer you to one of our referral partners. We don’t get paid for this referral but have sought out some of the bet in the business.
Understanding the ins-and-outs of the loan they offer is critical to ensuring long-term success in your new home!
Lender Questionnaire
BUYER'S GUIDE
consider wants and needs
Get clear on non-negotiables
Before we hop into the home search, I like to advise my clients to create a "Needs" list and a "Wants" list. This will help us to really focus on the things that are most important in your future home. Needs are the non-negotiable. Wants are the ones you’d like to have, but you can add or change down the road. Remember you can’t change the lot, the location, or the price you paid.
Enough bedrooms for your family
First floor master bedroom
Needs might look like
Close proximity to work or school
Yard for children or pets
wants might look like
Specific paint or exterior color
Fenced-in backyard
Specific flooring
Walk-in shower or double vanity
HOME SEARCH WORKSHEET
Must Haves:
HOME SEARCH WORK SHEET
Get to know your GUIDE.
Best in the Nation.
Our agents have helped over 9,500 families buy and sell homes valued at over $5 billion, making us a top 1.5% in the nation brokerage.
Seven ideal locations to serve agents and their clients.
Community & Home
WHAT TYPE OF HOUSE?
A new build, a fixer upper, a newly renovated home? Knowing whether you would like and can afford a condo, townhouse, or single family home will help us to narrow the search to specific areas.
YOUR COMMUTE AND WALK SCORE
Will you drive to work? Are there good bike routes? Many options for transit? Is walking to school or a grocery store a must? Give some thought to how the commute in an area may or may not work for you.
COMMUNITY AND AMENITIES
Consider whether an area has recreation centres, good schools, libraries, restaurants and grocery stores. Are there vibrant coffee shops, boutique stores, or butchers? How about neighbourhood events? What is important to you in a community?
The Home Search Process
Finding “the one”
Now that you’ve got your wants vs. needs list in hand, the fun really begins! It’s time to start looking at listings online and choosing which houses to see in person. Keep this in mind:
Use the search filters, but don’t go crazy.
You don’t want to restrict your search so tightly that you only have a handful of homes to view.
Add $25k-$50k to your max price. There is sometimes wiggle room with negotiations.
Check out the Google street view. Online pictures can be deceiving so a virtual ‘walk down the street’ will give you a sense of the house and surrounding area.
Jot down the MLS number & address.
Send your list to me and I will call the listing agents to gather pertinent info.
The house is “pending”... now what?
Don’t panic! Pending contracts do fall through occasionally, so keep it on your list.
Look for some time in your calendar
to tour the homes on your shortlist. Hold more time than you think you’ll need.
mls at your fingertips
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Delete the corporate and use the only local real estate app.
It's privacy protected, user friendly and offers personalized updates on neighborhoods and community events.
It's Time For Showings
Get ready for the fun part
You’re SO READY to get inside those homes on your shortlist and see for yourself if one of them is soon-to-be your new address. Below are a few things to keep in mind.
Read over your wants vs. needs list and revisit your budget. Having this fresh on your mind will help you stay objective and focused.
Take pictures and videos to jog your memory later.
Consider the lot, lot size, and location, all of these things cannot be changed.
Look for signs of structural integrity. Water damage, cracks in walls or ceilings, sloping floors, and other potential issues.
Pay attention to noise levels from nearby roads, airports and railways.
Examine the roof for leaks, missing shingles, or other damage.
Inspect siding, windows, doors, and the overall exterior condition.
Consider layout & space. Does the property's layout suit your lifestyle? Check room sizes, storage space, and the flow between rooms.
Look past decor & staging. These things will soon be gone!
Consider the potential resale value by checking the historical appreciation rates.
Showing Checklist
showing checklist
Writing Your Offer
Let’s make it stand out
So you think you’ve found “the one” and you’re ready to put in an offer—one that will be simply irresistible to sellers. Let's talk about making an offer that truly stands out. Below are my tried and tested recommendations.
Include a pre-approval letter
that shows that you’re serious, qualified, and ready to purchase.
Lean on a trusted agent who can help you compose an offer that gives you every advantage in landing the home!
Put your best foot—and price—forward. You may only get one shot, so make it count. Lean on your agent and use comps as a guide.
Use a friendly tone.
Let the sellers know you want their home—and that you’ll be easy to work with all the way to closing.
Propose to close quickly. Include contingencies only if you must. If you need to sell your current home before purchasing, disclose it here.
Include a short hand-written note. Sometimes it’s the smallest gestures that have the most significant impact.
offer
You've found your dream home, let's make an offer.
PREPARE THE OFFER
Once you've found "the one," it is time to make an offer. We will provide you with an up to date Comparative Market Analysis, and will draft a concise enforceable contract that contains the following details:
PRICE
The price you are willing to pay for the property.
DEPOSIT
Generally 5-7% of the purchase price, due upon subject removal.
COMPLETION & POSSESSION
The day you receive the title to the home after the seller receives their money, and the day you move in.
ADJUSTMENT DATE
The date you start paying property taxes, utilities, etc. for the property.
EXPIRATION OF THE OFFER
The date and time the offer terminates.
SUBJECTS
the conditions that must be met to ensure the sale moves forward (home inspection, financing, review of strata minutes, etc.)
CHATTELS AND FIXTURES
Items that are included or excluded from the sale.
Emily was an excellent realtor, and I must say, she was absolutely phenomenal in helping me find my first home. Her efficiency and knowledge were truly impressive. Emily made the entire process incredibly easy and stress-free for me. She promptly responded to all my queries, promptly scheduled property viewings, and provided valuable insights and advice at every step. With her expertise and attention to detail, Emily helped me navigate the housing market with confidence. I am grateful for her dedication and exceptional service, as she helped find my family our first home.
