Home Buying Tips from Keller Williams
In our experience, a house is not a dream home because of its size or color. Its about how you feel when you walk through the front door - the way you can instantly see your life unfolding there. This about more than real estate. It's about your life and your dreams. Learn more
Location, location, location. You must’ve heard that before. But that’s because, much of the time, that’s what real estate is all about. And never is it more true than when you’re buying a home. As a certified Real Estate Agent, I have the local knowledge, skills and experience to help you through the buying process. From property hunting and price negotiations to mortgage offers and legal paperwork, I’ll help you meet your goals, whatever they may be. Your dream home is waiting and I can’t wait to help you find it.
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We'll arrange to visit the homes you've selected, together and in-person, to determine the best fit for you.
How can I make the most of my time when visiting homes?
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Get an accurate idea of your price range, an estimate of your monthly payments and a pre-approval letter, so sellers will take you seriously when you make an offer.
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Work with your KW agent to hone your “wants” and “needs” list. Think about what’s most important to you: the location or the house itself.
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Preview homes through the KW app to eliminate those you won’t need to visit in person.
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Plan an itinerary with your Keller Williams agent.
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What should I expect when visiting homes?
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You and your KW agent typically visit homes together
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Homeowners usually are not home, so you’re free to spend as little or as much time as you want.
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Buyers often have a gut reaction to a home. First impressions count, but you can also consult your agent to learn more about home values and possibly to reevaluate your priorities in the context of what’s available in your price range.
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How many homes should I visit?
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Sometimes buyers find their future home the first time out and others look at 50 homes before they see one that checks all their boxes. It’s a good idea to see at least a few alternatives so you have some points of comparison, but sometimes you just know a place is where you want to live.
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What should I look for when visiting homes?
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Look beyond the staging and decorative items to see the features and fixtures that convey with the house.
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Check the condition of the home.
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Keep track with photos and notes.
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Consider possible home improvements you might want to make so you can research costs later.
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Don’t forget to check out the outside of the property and the neighborhood. Your Keller Williams agent has access to neighborhood insights and data to help inform your decision.
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Locate your commuter route, schools, shops, restaurants, parks and other amenities.
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If the property is a condo or located in a homeowners association, find out the fees and rules to see if you can live with them.
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Your Keller Williams real estate agent will be your trusted partner for your home search.
Once you’ve narrowed down your list and have a clear favorite, collaborate with us to make an offer on a home.
What should I include with my offer?
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Your Keller Williams agent will have the most recent standard purchase offer forms that comply with state and local laws.
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The price
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Terms – such as a request for closing cost help or that the offer is subject to your obtaining financing and a home inspection
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Target date for closing
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Earnest money deposit – your KW agent can advise you about how big your deposit should be based on local customs and current conditions
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Request for final walk-through
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Time limit for the offer
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What are the most common contingencies?
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Financing. Unless you’re paying cash, it’s typical to write your offer with a contingency clause that lets you off the hook if you can’t finalize your mortgage within a certain number of days. Even though you have a pre-approval for a loan, it’s smart to protect yourself.
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Home inspection. Your offer can be made dependent on a satisfactory home inspection report within a certain number of days. This protects you if the inspection uncovers expensive necessary repairs.
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What happens if I face multiple offers?
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In a competitive housing market, you may find yourself competing against other buyers. In that case, your Keller Williams agent is your best ally in strategizing for your offer to be accepted. With access to real-time market data, your KW agent will know how to best position your offer. If there’s more than one offer, the sellers can:
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Accept the best offer
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Counter all the offers to get a better price and terms
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Counter one offer that’s close to what they want
You and your KW agent can work together to find out what’s important to the sellers, such as a specific moving date, and to discuss possibly waiving contingencies, adjusting your price or writing a “love letter” about the house.
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What is a counteroffer?
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Sellers can accept your offer as is or they can make a counteroffer with an adjustment to some or all of your terms. You can accept or reject the counteroffer and make your own counteroffer. The contract is final once you and the sellers have agreed to all the terms.
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Your Keller Williams agent is essential when negotiating the terms of your purchase.