01
Find an Agent
Connect with a licensed
Compass real estate agent with local knowledge of the neighborhoods you’re considering to help guide your search.
02
Buyer Representation Agreement
First, we will establish a mutual business agreement. This document is designed to increase transparency by laying out my obligations to you, in addition to details on term length, compensation, termination, exclusivity, representation, and property criteria. Once we are both aligned with the terms of the agreement, you will be asked to sign before I can show you or send you any properties.
03
Get Pre-Qualified
Getting a pre-approval letter from a lender before submitting an offer is important because it shows the seller and the listing agent that you already started the process and are more likely to meet the proposed settlement date. A pre-approval letter and a good faith estimate from a lender will also give you insight into the projected down payment, closing costs, and expected monthly payment.
04
Find Properties
Working together to identify your ideal home’s location and amenities, we will go to viewings and open houses to visit different property types in a range of areas. I will activate a collection or specialized search for properties as they hit the market.
05
Submit an Offer
Once you find a home you love, we will draft an offer, which is an agreement to pay a certain price for the home if accepted and may include other terms such as if you are waiving any contingencies or in how many days you are willing to close. The offer is typically packaged with a Proof of Funds (POF) and Pre-Approval Letter. Note that the seller can return with a counter-offer price or other terms – you can accept, reject, or make another counter-offer. I will be by your side to guide you through the decision-making process
06
Sign Contract
Your contract is the agreement between you and the seller to purchase the property for a specific price. Also defined in the contract of sale is the settlement company, date of settlement, and earnest money deposit amount.
If required, an Escrow Deposit is the amount of money that the buyer will put in an escrow in good faith to demonstrate to the Seller that they are serious about purchasing the property. The money will only be deposited if the contract is signed and agreed by both parties.
07
Home Inspection, Disclosures, Reports, and Repairs
It is my responsibility to coordinate all desired home inspections within the agreed timeline and contractual contingencies. We will also review and discuss the disclosures and preliminary title report. You may approve or negotiate credits and/or repairs. Prior to closing, remember to schedule a final walk-through of the property to verify property is still in acceptable condition and any negotiated repairs were done.
08
Loan Underwriting and Appraisal
If you are obtaining financing, your lender will let you know the list of financial documents necessary to provide to the lender, including a couple months of bank statements, tax records, pay stubs etc. Typically, you will have a mortgage contingency of the agreed upon length to obtain a mortgage commitment. Once your lender has all of your documents, they will review them and issue a Clear-to-
Close, which means your loan is complete and the file will be sent to the title company for closing. Your lender will have an appraisal done on the property.
09
Closing
Congratulations! You are now a homeowner. Welcome home!