Meet with me to discuss your real estate goals and the logistics of your search. If you’d like to work with me we’ll sign the buyer/agent agreement and I will set up a custom collaborative search for you on the Compass dashboard. I highly recommend downloading the app as well.

Before you do anything else, if you’re not a cash buyer, get pre-approved for a loan. You can’t submit an offer without a pre-approval in hand and you also need it to inform the financial piece of your search. You can also ask them to run scenarios for monthly mortgage payments at different price points. I have some great lender recs if you want them.

Now it’s time to see some homes! There’s no substitute for seeing homes IN PERSON. Let’s set up some weekends to go together and process the homes in real-time. I like to do this at least the first few weekends. After that, I would love to continue to see homes with you as they come up, but if you’re the type that wants to see homes on your own that’s fine too! Just let me know when you see one you like, and then I’ll make sure to go see it and connect with the list agent.

Once you identify a home you like, you can submit an offer. I’ll advise you through my interactions with the listing agent and by reviewing comparable sales with you. Then I’ll write up and submit your offer along with your pre-approval and proof of funds. At this point, your offer will be accepted, rejected, or most likely countered, in which case we can determine what you’d like to do in response.

Congrats! Your offer was accepted. Here is a typical escrow timeline:

Day 1 : Offer accepted

Day 2: Schedule inspections

Day 3: Initial deposit due and work on homeowners’ insurance

Day 1-7: Review sellers’ disclosures and conduct inspections Appraiser is sent out by lender at this time.

Day 15: The loan should be approved by now

Day 17-30: Escrow closes, grant deed records and the home is yours!

You’ll review disclosures about the home provided by the seller and your inspection reports (don’t worry, I’ll help you set those up). Based on your investigations and review, you can move forward, negotiate repairs repairs or credits for issues previously unknown or cancel if the house is simply in too bad of shape.

Your lender will get started on approving your loan on Day 1 of escrow. You’ll also need to pay your lender for the appraisal so it can be ordered right away. Additionally, it is best to provide your lender with all the documentation they request asap so there is not a delay with loan approval. If the appraisal comes in at the purchase price or above it, you are good. If it comes in below we will have to negotiate with the sellers.

Once your loan is approved, final closing docs will be sent to escrow. You have to sit with these documents 3 days before you can sign them. Usually the next day, or the day before closing escrow, your lender will fund the loan and you’ll also pay the remainder of your downpayment (less the initial deposit from day 3). The next day escrow will record the sale with the county and the home is yours! Congrats you’re a homeowner!