Buying a Home
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Buying a home is an exciting and complex adventure. It can also be a very time-consuming and costly one if you're not familiar with all aspects of the process, and don't have all the best information and resources at hand. One of my specialties is representing the best interests of Pasadena area buyers throughout the home buying process. My comprehensive, high-quality services can save you time and money, as well as make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful. If you're like most people, buying a home is the biggest investment you will ever make. So whether you're buying a starter home, your dream home or an investment property, why not take advantage of my experience as a local market expert for Pasadena to make the most informed decisions you can, every step of the way? Your Home Finders As a Buyer, why is "The Home Finders" team concept for me?
We realize that the decision to purchase a home is one of the most stressful, yet exciting times in your life. During this process, you should select a real estate agent who specializes in buyer representation. As you invest careful thought when choosing an attorney, physician or accountant, you should take the same care when selecting a Realtor. As a team, we pride ourselves on the level of service we deliver to our clients. By sharing the needs of each of our clients among all team members, we are able to research a broad range of inventory. As a client you will be working directly with one or two agents and, as an added benefit, there will also be four agents looking on your behalf. Do The Home Finders represent sellers too? Yes! We aggressively market our listings through agent networking, the Multiple Listing Service and high impact advertising and marketing. Team Leader, Susan Ratliff meets with all sellers to assess their particular needs and make recommendations for improvements prior to listing. We go well beyond the "norm" to market our listings with newspaper and Internet marketing, professional photography, glossy brochures, virtual tours and websites. We specialize in coordinating the seller's purchase with the sale of their existing property. By having one agent representing both transactions, it assures the client of a smooth transition to their new home. How will The Home Finders help me find my dream home? In addition to the Multiple Listing Service, networking with other Realtors is one of the most crucial vehicles we use in successfully finding your dream home. REO's, foreclosures, for-sale-by-owner properties and in-house unlisted properties are also readily available to us. During the home search process, our team will keep you informed daily of any new listings. Similar to a team of physicians, one or more of us is always "on call" to respond to your real estate needs. How do I learn about the contract and negotiating? After identifying your dream home, we will provide a written market analysis to help you determine the value of the property. The contract, or "purchase agreement" can be intimidating and often confusing. It is important that you have a full understanding of the contract's meaning and the interpretation of its ramifications. Our job is to assist you in understanding the contract, explaining disclosure procedures and presenting your offer to the seller. Following acceptance by the seller, we will guide you through the physical inspection and escrow processes. The Home Finders is a team concept masterminded by Susan Ratliff and her business partners. The team specializes in buyer representation, and its members, Susan Ratliff, Alison Voors, Traci Locke and Melissa Reisbeck work seven days a week to provide quality service to all their clients. How Does the Buying Process with "The Home Finders" work? We begin the process with a comprehensive interview to determine the specific wants and needs of the buyer. Following the interview, we require that each client obtain a pre-approval letter from a reputable lender. This assures that the lending institution has verified the buyer's ability to purchase a home based on their credit scores and other important criteria subject to the appraisal on the property they identify to purchase. In addition, it gives the buyers credibility and strength when negotiating. We have found that some buyers prefer to "just look" before committing to the home purchase process. For these buyers, we provide property tours that identify the homes currently available, as well as daily updates on new listings. Who helps with the escrow process? In addition to the escrow company that handles the transaction, Keller Williams offers an escrow service. Our escrow coordinator will assist us by monitoring your file to ensure that; all of the documents have been properly signed, you receive all the necessary reports and disclosures and that all the contingency time frames are met. A smooth escrow is vital to the completion of any real estate transaction. As members of "The Home Finders Team," it is our goal to make your transaction as positive and efficient as possible. Whether you are a buyer in search of your first home, or a Seller moving on to your next... "With great pride and professionalism, our Team will find you the home of your dreams!" |
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The following articles provide useful information and are a great place to start if you're considering buying a home.