Your Step-by-Step Guide to Buying a Home Buying a home is one of the most important investments you’ll make and Mona and Raven will
guide you through the process to make sure you get the home that’s right for you.
For Mona and Raven, real estate isn’t a transactional business, but one based on good long-term relationships. So they put their clients’ needs first, managing the entire home buying process so that it’s as stress-free as possible.
You’re not just buying home; you’re buying a lifestyle. So it’s important to choose a neighborhood that has the amenities that are important to you. Mona and Raven will review your criteria and provide you with information on local schools, restaurants and nearby recreation to ensure they’re targeting the areas that fit your needs.
Getting preapproved for a mortgage is an essential part of the home-buying process as most sellers will want to see your bank’s preapproval letter before considering your offer. Knowing the loan you’re likely to receive will also help you determine a reasonable budget.
You will receive automatic emails any time a home that meets your criteria enters their database, they will scour the market, including their wide network, looking for prospective properties, and when you find homes you’d like to see, Mona and Raven will arrange the tours. While touring the properties, they will point out selling for the home and neighborhood.
Once you’ve found a home on which you’d like to make an offer, Mona and Raven will carefully review the seller’s disclosures and the title report with you. They will guide you through any red flags they see.
Because it’s Mona and Raven’s job to negotiate the best price possible for their clients, they will help you present the appropriate offer given the neighborhood and state of the market. They’ll give you instruction on how to complete the purchase documents and provide guidance on standard real estate procedures, regulations and contingencies.
After you submit an offer, the seller can choose to accept it, reject it or make a counter offer. If they make a counter offer, you can choose to accept it, reject it, or make a counter offer of your own. Sometimes there are multiple rounds of counter offers before a buyer and seller can agree to the conditions of the sale, but don’t worry, Mona and Raven will be with you every step of the way.
Once both buyer and seller agree to the purchase conditions, they enter into a binding purchase contract and the escrow period begins. Escrow typically lasts between 15 and 45 days and is the time during which Mona and Raven will order inspections if the purchase contract contains contingencies. Mona and Raven will manage the inspectors and interpret the results for you, helping you navigate any issues that are brought to light. If repairs are required before closing, Mona and Raven will ensure they are completed.
Mona and Raven will coordinate with the seller and seller’s agent, the escrow officer, title officer, insurance agent and any other relevant party to ensure a timely closing of your purchase. On the day of closing, the escrow officer will transfer your money to the sellers and record the deed to the home in your name. Once the deed is recorded, Mona and Raven will deliver you the keys, garage opener and any access codes that are necessary. The county should send you the official deed to your home within three months of closing.