Here are some of the steps I will take to find your new home:

Conduct Buyer Interview to Determine Your Wants and Needs
This is the single most important step. By asking you a series of questions we can establish what you are looking for. My goal is to not waste your time by looking at properties that are not in your price range or homes that don't meet your needs. Throughout the buying process I will maintain your confidentiality and represent your best interests.

Assistance in contacting a lender to Get Pre-Approved
This step will show you how much you can afford.  This is accomplished by speaking with your financial institution and establishing what monthly payments you will be comfortable with.

Search MLS and provide listings on a daily basis to locate properties                                                                               
I will use every available method to locate a property that matches your criteria. This will include properties listed with our office, offered through other real estate companies, as well as unlisted properties. We will disclose all known facts about the property that are likely to affect your decision.

Provide buyer access to MLS.

Provide daily market and property updates via email.

Coordinate appointments with sellers to view their home.

Set up tour of selected properties and a accompany buyer

Complete all necessary forms.

Contract negotiation on buyer’s behalf

Coordinate and accompany buyer on home inspection.

Accompany buyer on final walk through

Coordinate lender appraisal.

Representation at Settlement.When we find the home that meets your criteria, I will assist  you in writing an offer and act as a liaison between you and the seller.

You have done everything that your agent recommended to make your home look wonderful--and, you have cut the price to the bone. Then an offer comes in which is so low that you are offended! Is it possible to reconcile your differences and reach a meeting of the minds when faced with such an offer?
      It may not take many concessions from you to make it work if the people who love your house also love to bargain. Even though it seems that you are very far apart in dollars or terms, the real distance may not be all that great. Your Realtor can help you determine if the buyers are ready, willing and able to carry through with the transaction. If they are qualified, the next step involves looking at your differences. Make a list of the discrepancies, and then begin to look for areas where you have some flexibility. You may have to go back and forth several times in order to make the transaction work. The trick is to be patient and to not take the process personally!                                                                 Top

Finding A Loan
Now that you have found the perfect home and negotiated the price and terms with the sellers, you come to the most difficult part of the transaction--finding the perfect loan.
      You should do some comparison shopping among lenders. Your Realtor can refer you to several reputable lending institutions which should be able to complete the loan process before your proposed financial approval date. The loan officer will take your application and have you sign all the necessary papers to authorize credit and employment verifications. You and the Realtor should get periodic progress reports to make sure that all of the details are taken care of. Such reports will help to ensure that any potential problems are discovered and addressed before they can threaten the transaction.
                                                                                                                        Top

First Time Buyer
Most first-time buyers can qualify for a mortgage loan, but they may need help from parents to make the down payment or closing costs on their home. There are loan programs that minimize the down payment and closing costs for first-time buyers. These programs usually require that 3 to 5 percent of the purchase price come from the buyers funds, not from a loan or gift. Most lenders ask for the last three months' bank records, and the borrower will be asked to reveal the origin of any large deposits. If the money comes from the parents, the lender may not consider those funds when qualifying the buyers. If you are planning to help your children finance a home, you should transfer any funds several months before they begin their house-hunting. If it is a loan, you should draw up a formal re-payment agreement with your children to eliminate potential misunderstandings between you, your children, and any siblings.                                                   Top

Getting Organized
Looking at houses can become overwhelming for many prospective buyers. They start to run together, and you have trouble remembering which homes you liked a lot and which ones you didn't. Realtors use a few good tricks that you can use to help you remember what you have seen.
      Usually the Realtor will give you a copy of the listing with all the pertinent information. Write down one distinctive feature on the listing sheet that will help you remember the house. Maybe the house had unusual moldings in the dining room, a red door, or unusual wallpaper. If the house was particularly interesting to you, put a big star on the top of the page to remind yourself that you would like to see it again or even perhaps make an offer on it. If there are features for which you have a strong preference, or if you eliminate a house from consideration for any reason, be sure to tell the agent why. Communication between you and the Realtor is key. This will save you a lot of time and effort in your search because the agent will show only the homes that meet your special needs.                                                                                                                    Top 

Good Faith Estimate
Several years ago the U.S. Congress tried to protect consumers from a few unscrupulous lenders by requiring all lenders to calculate and disclose the annual percentage rate (APR) you pay on your mortgage loan. Do yourself a favor. Forget about APR and instead direct your attention to the Good Faith Estimate of Settlement Costs (GFE). Though Congress meant well, in practice the APR is not helpful and is confusing. If you are looking for a good way to understand your costs of borrowing and/or to compare one lender's costs to another, the GFE is your best bet. Get your lender(s) to provide a written GFE before you commit your mortgage business. When reviewing a GFE, keep in mind that the lender actually controls only a handful of the disclosed costs. Other parties typically control costs of appraisal, settlement, title insurance, recording fees and taxes, survey, and the "prepaid" expenses of homeowner's insurance, mortgage insurance, real estate taxes, etc. Most of the remaining costs are controlled by your lender. Review these origination fees, discount points, etc. and you will have the ability to understand the full costs of your proposed mortgage loan.                          Top

Inspection Contingencies
Many purchase offers today have a contingency clause which allows the buyers to have an inspector or professional expert to inspect the property. If there is a significant defect in the property, the buyer can cancel the contract without losing the earnest money deposit. Such contingencies may make a seller nervous, but they are an excellent procedure for both the buyer and the seller.
      The time period for inspection contingencies is negotiable. In most parts of the country, the buyers have about a week in which to cancel the contract if the structural inspection reveals a serious and consequential defect.
      The positive side to such contingencies--the inspection usually addresses--and overcomes--the buyers' misgivings and confirms their decision to move ahead with the purchase                                                                                 Top

Inspections
Your Realtor's job is to find the perfect home, in the right location and with all of the amenities you want--and at the right price. It is the home inspector's job to find any skeletons in the closet, or more likely in the plumbing, wiring, roof, basement and beams.
      The inspector won't pass or flunk a house based on what he finds, but will go over the house thoroughly to help you understand what it is you are buying. If there are any serious problems, and if they are reflected in the price, your inspector can give you a realistic idea of how much the repairs will cost. If there are surprises, you will have the opportunity to re-open negotiations with your sellers before you commit to the purchase. A good inspector will also explain how some of the basic emergency systems work, such as the main water cut off valve and the circuit breaker box, and go over the items that will need routine maintenance. If you are buying a house, we recommend that you make a professional home inspector part of your home purchase team.                       Top

Low Interest Rates
When you are buying a new home or refinancing your present one, it is smart to do some comparison shopping among lenders. A low interest rate isn't the only criterion by which to judge a loan. You should also consider the terms of the mortgage, what your closing costs will be and the reputation of the lender.
      Realtors are a good source of information about loans and lenders, whether you are buying a home or just refinancing your present home. We routinely assist buyers when they need a mortgage in order to purchase a home. We know what loan packages are available and the qualifying requirements. The companies with the lowest rates sometimes have very conservative underwriting guidelines, and may not be willing to make loans on certain types of property or to buyers who are marginally qualified. We can tell you which companies and loan officers will go the extra mile to provide excellent service to make sure that the transaction closes.                                                                                                 Top

Making An Offer
You have found the perfect house and are thinking about making an offer. Even though you trust your Realtor, you are feeling some pressure just when you feel that you need time to consider the matter. The agent tells you that another party is thinking about making an offer, so you shouldn't waste time if you really want the house. What should you do? Trust your agent!
      It is natural to feel some pressure from even the most easy-going Realtor--and some uncertainty about making an offer. If you really like a house, there is always the possibility that someone else will share your same enthusiasm for it. Sometimes you can "sleep on it" and it won't matter. Whether the market is good or sluggish, it is a good idea to assume that another offer is likely to come in, and move as quickly as possible to minimizes the possibility of another buyer materializing                                                                                          Top

Making Your Dreams Come True
Your first child is on the way, and you are outgrowing your small apartment. The time seems right to seriously consider buying a house, but you are afraid you don't you have enough cash.
Don't worry! Realtors are experienced in helping first-time buyers locate the financial resources to make such a move. The first step is to sit down with an agent who is familiar with available loan programs. You will need money for the down payment and your income must be high enough to meet the lender's qualifying standards. We may be able to minimize the amount of cash needed with a little help from either the sellers or the loan company. You may be able to include some of the closing costs in your mortgage or the sellers might consider a lease/purchase agreement which would allow you to rent for a few months while accumulating the funds you need. If you are ready to buy your first home, let your Realtor assist you in making your dream a reality.                                        Top

More Down Payment Help
Perhaps the most common deterrent to first-time home buyers is the lack of a down payment. The home loan industry has practically re-created itself in the last ten years, making it easier than ever to obtain a mortgage, and new mortgage programs are always cropping up.
Some states have a state-sponsored loan program which allows buyers to purchase a home without putting any money down. A parent or other relative can guarantee repayment of ten percent of the loan if the buyer defaults. The only cash needed is for the closing costs, which typically run about three percent of the loan.
Parents can also give their children down payment help through a personal note or second trust deed. The terms could be set up for monthly payments or annual payments amortized over a period of time. You could pay the interest only, and have the payoff due when the property is sold.
With so many alternatives, doesn't it make sense to call your Realtor for a free consultation? You may be closer to the end of the rent trap than you think.     Top