Buying a home is no small matter. Besides being the largest financial transaction you may ever undertake, it’s probably also the most complex and one of the biggest. There are many good reasons to work with a qualified real estate professional.

When you work with an REMAX Elite Team agent, you will be served, not sold. Your interests become our interests.

We will take the extra time to understand your specific needs and wants, and help you locate that perfect property. We research the area's of interest, review and compare similar properties, help advise you on formulating your offer. We take the time out to help explain the process in as much detail as possible. We make sure that our buyers are well informed and able to make decisions based off facts.

Not every agent is equal, when you work with an REMAX Elite Team Agent, you are working with an educated and experienced agent.

When writing an offer, what are things you should consider?

• Offer Price

Today's market is creating a lot of competition especially if you are in the price range of up to $250k. Have your agent pull comparable sales and see what homes are selling for. Also be sure to understand that sellers are looking at the net offer, not the gross. This means if you are asking for closing cost, repairs, home warranty, etc... it is the offer price minus those expenses to the seller.

• Terms of the Offer

Offer terms are items such as home warranty, time lines for contingencies and for closing, loan programs, termite, repairs, getting a home FHA ready, replacing missing items such as appliances, etc..

• Offer / Response time frames

When writing an offer on what is called a standard sale, can take up to 72 hours for a response. Writing an offer on a Bank Owned Foreclosure can take up to two weeks but is typically within 7 days. Writing an offer on a short sale is unique in that the seller may accept within days, but getting the lien holders (banks) approval can take several weeks to months pending upon if the seller has completed the paperwork and submitted it to the bank.

• Finance Help

Though REMAX Elite Team Agents is not in the mortgage business, we have excellent relationships with great banks and loan officers. We can help assist you in ensuring you are getting the best deal on the money you are borrowing. It is free and takes just minutes if you would like a second opinion.

• Reports

There are termite reports, apprisal reports, home inspection reports, title reports, home owner association reports, CC&R's, transfer disclosures, natural hazard, septic, perk, lead based paint and boundy survey reports that we will help you look over and answer your questions for. Pending upon the home and location, not all reports are required or always given. We will help you know which ones we request and how to read and review them.

• Offer Price

Today's market is creating a lot of competition especially if you are in the price range of up to $250k. Have your agent pull comparable sales and see what homes are selling for. Also be sure to understand that sellers are looking at the net offer, not the gross. This means if you are asking for closing cost, repairs, home warranty, etc... it is the offer price minus those expenses to the seller.

• Escrow instructions

Every purchase in California is typically handled by an escrow company. They are a mutual 3rd party which will excerise what is in the contracts. They generate escrow instructions and give them for review and signatures. They will also ask you for more information such as how do you want to take ownership (vesting) in your new home. We recommend contacting the escrow company but in the event you still have questions, we will help with you them as well.

• Good faith estimte / Estimated Hud

These are the approximate fees that you should be aware of. They vary from loan officer to loan officer, from company to company. We recommend you look these over carefully and make sure the loan officer is disclosing their yeild spread premimum. Banks are not required to do so, but I still recommend you ask. This is where you can see exactly what the loan officer is making from the bank. The higher the intrest rate, the higher the reward (YSP) is for the mortgage professional.

We go into detail and will explain any and all items that may concern you. We go the extra mile to ensure you have proper education to make a very detailed decision on your home purchase.