The Buying Experience

The housing market is improving but some customers need help in getting the best loan possible. There are many banks and mortgage lenders who want your business so I will help you find the right one. Different loan programs have different features and benefits. All Services Real Estate sorts them out to get you great interest rates and loan servicing.

Once I create a list of properties that you are interested in, I’ll start looking at them in person. I will go with you to any open house to speak with the realtor showing the property. I can also call ahead and visit properties at your convenience – in the evenings or on the weekend.

My experience and connections help to find homes that are both on and off the market. That means that you have the widest possible number of properties to choose from. I use MLS listing searches and other internet sites to find the most active listings and to know when a new property comes on the market. My office has many social connections on popular networks such as Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates on available homes.

Once you are approved for a loan, I’ll list the things you want and don’t want in your new home. I am very familiar with cities of Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Fairhaven, Ferndale and Lynden as well as the wider Whatcom County area so I can give you background information about various locations.

• Type of neighborhood
• Schools in the area
• Ease of transportation
• Size of property
• Size of house and number of bedrooms
• Average taxes and utility costs

Since you have already visited the neighborhood, you know looking inside will be worthwhile. Plus, you have already checked to ensure the price is within your budget. When walking the home, you want to make sure it has no deal breakers, but you will want to be flexible enough on the items that are not deal breakers. Such things as the number of rooms, the layout of the house, and the size of the kitchen should be considered deal breakers. Items such as the color of the cabinets, flooring, and wall colors are often changeable and should be considered ‘soft asks’ of a house or non-deal breakers. If you feel comfortable after touring the house, take a day or so to think about it. Then revisit the house again to ensure you really like it, and then submit an offer if you think it’s ‘the one’.

Now that you are certain you want the home, the contract needs to be written. If you are in a competitive market for homes, you will want to offer near full price or full price. However, if it is a buyer’s market that is in your favor, you will want to consider a steeper discount. For the best price, consider how long the property has been on the market. If more than 45 days, you should be able to secure a deeper discount than if on the market for only 21 days. If your offer is accepted, a whole host of items will need to be done to close. I recommend tuning into our e-learning portion of the site to learn more. This section will tell you the components of the contract, the timelines, and the steps to close. To visit our e-learning portal, please CLICK HERE.