Kellyagent.com - For Buyers

Without An Agent, You Are On Your Own

Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest and complex financial investments most people experience in their lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $500,000. If you had a $500,000 income tax problem, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a CPA? But its more than just about business, it is about a home, and on both sides of the negotiating table it can be a very emotional roller coaster ride. If ever there was a transaction where "things that could go wrong, do go wrong" - its residential buying and selling. There are many horror stories, those with agents and those without. Its a fact, you avoid these large downside risks with highly qualified agents that are full service Realtors®. They build their reputation on providing exceptional service and care, provide you guidance based on many years of experience through the entire process. They help you avoid the myriad of mistakes often made during this unique transaction of mixing of business complexity and personal emotions. But be sure you Choose The Right Agent!

How I Help You

As your Realtor®, here is how I will guide you through the entire process, from viewing homes and financing, to making sure the final contract is in your best interests:

Before Looking

Know the Market

I will help you learn about market trends and current prices. If you understand current market conditions, you'll position yourself better as a buyer. It helps to know if you're in a seller's market (where housing demand is high and supply is low) or a buyer's market (where housing demand is low and supply is high). In a seller's market, you may have to make a full-price offer or higher just to beat the competition. In a buyer's market, you have more room to negotiate.

You can begin to educate yourself about your market of interest by using the Search MLS tool or try my advance MLS alert tool which I can also set up for you with out any effort on your part. Also understand these many Internet real estate services (if you have the time):

Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a regional organization that collects and distributes data about homes listed for sale through licensed professionals. The MLS in Silicon Valley provides selected information through a public site, and through many other internet search services which brand and present in different ways (e.g. Move.com collects data from all the regional MLSs in the country, a sort of "National MLS"). MLS is the most complete and reliable public information resource for local real estate. In the bay area start your own home search by using the Search MLS tool.

There are others...
Non MLS sites such as Craiglist, Ebay, Google, Yahoo, and real estate specific services such as Trulia and Zillow provide a free and easy way to advertise on the Internet without the MLS. However, either indirectly or directly most of the listings on these sites are just a subset of what is in the MLS. Even many For-Sale-By-Owners will start by listing on the MLS through discount brokers (e.g. Redfin and HelpUSell) because they cannot ignore the advantages of the market exposure MLS provides.

You Should Know searching the Internet (like driving neighborhoods, and pouring over newspapers) rarely results in acquiring the best home values. Either the information is overwhelming or not enough, certainly not timely, and sometimes misleading. By the time you get the facts you to make a decision, the desired property is sold (sometimes before the "for sale" sign goes up). In the bay area market especially, successful real estate hunting is done with an agent who has the experience, resources and methods for monitoring the market proactively and in realtime for your specific needs.

Get Pre-Approval

Buying a home should with determining your buying power; that is, your financial reserves plus your borrowing capacity. The first step is to obtain a loan pre-approval letter from your lender.

If you don't already have a lender I can, with some basic information, refer you to lenders best qualified to help you. Most lenders -- banks and mortgage companies -- offer limited choices. You should be aware, there is a law to protect consumers from referral and kickback fees (RESPA).

Regardless of the lender I can help oversee and monitor your loan to make certain the contigencies are met and the fees and charges are equitable.

Narrow It Down

Once you know how much you can and want to invest, the next step is to find the properties that most nearly fit your needs. This is the time to choose a real estate licensee. When picking a real estate agent look for one who is also a REALTOR®. A REALTOR® is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, a real estate trade association, and all members agree to abide by a 17 article Code of Ethics.

As a REALTOR® I have many resources to assist you in your search. I preview new listings constantly and often will email specifically requested photos immediately to my clients if they cannot immediately visit the home. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market. It often takes a lot of investigation to find all available properties.

Choosing a property

Your job is to make the final selection of the right property for you. This is when excitement and emotion run high. I assist you in the selection process by providing information about each property. No matter where I am i usually am connected directly to Multiple Listing Service, always ready to match your needs to affordable properties. I have access to a variety of informational resources, and can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, etc.

There are two things you'll want to know. First, will the property provide the environment I want for a home? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?

Negotiating

What is the true market value of the home you are interested in? Is it priced too high? Is it a bargain that you should jump on? I help buyers make decisions like this every day, and I'll make sure that YOU get the best value for your money, too.

There are many negotiating factors, including but not limited to price: financing, terms, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment. The purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. I will advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

Negotiating with sellers can be stressful! I will help you negotiate, so that the final contract includes your best possible terms and conditions.

Due diligence

This is a long process. With a negotiated agreement in hand, it is time to complete the evaluation of the property. You should know everything about the property you are buying! I will inspect the home that you are interested in, and prior to closing I will make you fully aware of any and all professional inspections available to you.

Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, mold, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few. I will assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written reports.

You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the property. Title indicates ownership of property. The title to most properties will have some limitations; for example, easements (access rights) for utilities. I, along with your title company will help you resolve issues that might cause problems at a later date. The list goes on and on depending on the circumstance.

Closing or settlement

Finally, there is the closing, or also known as the settlement. Once the closed is completed, the home is yours. Every area has its own unique customs, in Silicon Valley, the title or escrow company will handle this process. As your real estate agent, my duty is to guide through this process making sure everything flows together smoothly, and finally, accompany you on a final walk-through prior to the final signoff.

Then, its time to move, and here I can assist you with the phone numbers and information to transfer utilities, provide you with information regarding your special needs (child care, churches, and public transportation.)

After that I will staying touch and be always willing to assist you with real estate related questions and concerns.

I Am A Walking Office

In order to help my customers better meet their needs, I carry the most advance Wireless computer and phone technology everywhere I go. I am fully outfitted with the most up to date real estate software, constantly connected to the Internet and you.

Why do I help buyers and sellers in all these additional ways? Because I believe that doing so sets me distinctly apart from anyone who doesn't. I also believe it's the right way to serve people who put their trust in you.

Call me at (408) 674-4069 or e-mail me anytime for help, or to have your questions answered.