Buying
Buying a home can be an exciting and emotional process. Buying a second home away from where you live can seem complicated. As a local expert, you can rely on me to guide you through the process AND be your boots on the ground so you can feel confident each step of the way.
Get Pre-Approved
The first step to buying a home is to understand your buying power and establish a price range. A licensed lender can help evaluate your financial standing and provide a pre-approval. They will review your income and credit history as well as discuss different loan options depending on how you intend to use the home. Full time residence, vacation home, or investment property? All of these factors determine how much the bank will lend you, which will help you determine the price range for your search. Having a pre-approval letter in-hand BEFORE going on showings means we can act quickly when we find the right property. Some sellers even require a pre-approval before we can tour the home
Start Your Home Search
You can start your search for the perfect mountain home right HERE with up-to-date MLS listings in your favorite neighborhoods. Create your free account to save your favorite properties, request showings and more!
If you aren’t familiar with the area or have specific requirements, like the ability to short term rent, I recommend scheduling a buyer consultation with me. During our chat we’ll discuss everything you’re dreaming of and then I’ll use my local knowledge to build a custom search for you.
Tour Properties
When you find a home that you like we’ll set up a showing. That showing might be an in-person walkthrough, a live video walkthrough, or a recorded video tour. No matter where you are I’ll make sure that you get a full understanding of the layout, finishes, and amenities of the property. No need to miss out on the perfect property just because you aren’t in town.
Make An Offer
When you're ready to move forward with a purchase, I will advise you how to draft the strongest offer possible. There is a lot to consider when making an offer. We'll discuss the purchase price, the closing date, sale contingencies and any special stipulations for your particular purchase. Once an offer is submitted, the seller may accept, reject or counter the offer. If the seller returns a counter, we will enter a negotiation period until an agreement is reached, or the offer is rejected by either party.
Do Your Due Diligence
If your offer is accepted, you will be officially under contract. The purchase will not be complete until closing, but the home cannot be sold to anyone else while the contract remains in effect. You’ll submit your earnest money and get your loan approval process started. During this time you will review documents pertaining to any contingencies that we included in your offer. Documents could include any of the following: Title documents, HOA rules, land surveys, rental agreements. This is our time to make sure that everything about the property is satisfactory to you.
Home Inspection
Inspecting the physical condition of your next home is a vital part of the home-buying process. A licensed home inspector will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the entire property and report any problems with the condition of the home's structure or systems. In addition to the house itself, we’ll make sure that additional systems like the well and septic are working safely and properly. Depending on the purchase agreement, we may enter additional rounds of negotiation to resolve any problems discovered during the inspection.
Home Appraisal
Your lender will arrange a professional appraisal of the home. An appraisal is an unbiased estimate of the true (or fair market) value of a home and is conducted by an independent third party. The appraiser will confirm the appraisal value of the property for all parties involved. If the home appraises at less than the expected value, you may have the option to renegotiate the purchase agreement or terminate the contract.
The Final Walkthrough
Prior to closing, we will conduct a final walkthrough of the home to ensure that all negotiated repairs have been completed, and that the home is in the same (or better) condition as when the original offer was made. This is the final opportunity to call out any problems identified with the home before closing. If you are closing on the home remotely this tour can be done via live video chat or a recorded video tour.
Closing!
Time to celebrate! Your lender will provide a final closing disclosure that summarizes the loan terms, monthly payments, taxes, and other costs associated with the closing. Once the title company has received the money from the lender, or if you’re making a cash purchase, you will sign all of the paperwork. If you can’t attend closing in person you’ll sign with a notary a few days ahead to time then mail the documents back. Then you’ll receive the keys!
Resources For Buyers
Home Search
Find your new home with up-to-date listings. Save and rate your favorites!
Mortage Calculator
Know what you can afford? Estimate your payments using the mortgage calculator.
Market Analysis
Make smart decisions with local market reports. Subscribe today!
Communities
Browse communities in the area. Find the perfect fit for your new home!
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