Step 1: Our First Meeting

Having a clear understanding and vision of your goals, needs, and financial capacity when it comes to buying a home is a great way to start your journey. Whether you’re sick of paying rent or are in a place to settle down and have more control of your living space, homeownership is also a great investment that also allows you to build equity over time. In addition, the tax benefits of homeownership can provide a considerable advantage over renting. Choosing the right home starts with you, but I will be right by your side the entire process.

Step 2: Financial Preparation

Build your ‘Green File’. A green file contains all your important financial documents. You’ll need it to secure financing for your home. It’s also important to know what your credit rating is and to be careful not to make any big purchases or hard credit checks during the home buying process. You want to present your best financial self in order to ensure maximum opportunity for the loan approval amount you need and want.

Step 3: Determining Where to Live

Let’s take a moment to start narrowing down the area you want to live in. Start voicing what’s important to you as far as proximity goes. Every neighborhood has its own vibe and personality that can help make the essence of your home complete. I have both personal and professional experience with countless neighborhoods on the West Coast, giving you the best possible recommendations and matching your needs with the perfect community.

Step 4: Finding the Perfect Home

For every home you tour, make sure to also pay attention to the neighborhood. Imagine yourself walking around the neighborhood and getting a sense of what it would be like to live there every day. Ensuring you are in close proximity to whatever is important for you to live a happy and healthy lifestyle.

Step 5: Making an Offer

Building a rapport and staying organized allowed me to create a reliable reputation with other agents who look forward to working with us. After reviewing and comparing home sales in the area, the next step of the process will be discussing enticing offer strategies. Being able to confidently present an offer in a competitive market may seem intimidating, however, giving yourself a bit of wiggle room opens up your opportunity to negotiate further and give you an advantage. Work closely with me to figure out how you can present the strongest offer to get your dream home.

Step 6: Title Company & Escrow Holder

The true waiting game. Opening an escrow account means you are putting down any deposits and fees necessary to purchase the home, showing you are serious about the purchase and have the funds. The funds stay in escrow and will not be transferred to the seller until all documents and negotiations have been settled and the transaction closes. This can be a lengthy and confusing process, but that’s what I am there for. They’ll be there to explain what’s happening on the back end as well as there to keep you accountable to maximize your chance of getting that approval.

Step 7: Inspection of the Property

You definitely want to know what you’re getting yourself into. Make sure you take the time to complete any necessary inspections to understand the condition of the home before purchasing. Being able to know if there are any challenges with the property ahead of time will allow you to remedy the situation, whether it be through negotiating with the seller or adding to your to-do list.

Step 8: Closing - Almost There!

You’re at the finish line at this point and luckily you haven’t had to complete this process on your own. I will continue to be there for the final inspection, to keep you accountable to pay all necessary fees and to understand what fees the seller is required to pay. Once you receive the closing statements and sign the final documents, including loan documents, the transaction is closed and the house is yours.

Step 9: Moving In

It doesn’t end there. I can help you with any of the details of your move and settling in. We have a large network of trusted experts to provide everything from movers, home designers, painters, electricians, etc.

Have a checklist created to ensure all utilities are in your name and any necessary vendors are contacted. We can assist and provide phone numbers of preferred vendors for whatever is needed.