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  Kimberly & Daryl Team
Georgetown Office
1206 30th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
Kimberly Casey - (202) 361-3228
Kimberly.Casey@sothebysrealty.com
Daryl Judy
- (202) 380-7219 Daryl.Judy@sothebysrealty.com
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BUYER PROCESS
Working with  Real Estate Agent
The quickest and easiest way to find a home is to work with an agent.  Nearly 90% of all homes offered for sale at any given time are listed with agents.  A real estate agent, like us, is the person who is best prepared to help you with your home finding needs.  Further, the agent will be of help through the real estate transaction.
We can…
1. We can help you determine your buying power -- that is, your financial reserves plus your borrowing capacity.
2. We have many resources to assist you in your home search. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your agent to find all available properties.
3. We can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property. Agents have access to a variety of informational resources. We 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 or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?
4. We can help you negotiate. There are myriad 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. We can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.
5. We provide due diligence during the evaluation of the property.
Depending on the property, this could include inspections for termites, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few. We can 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 and can be mired in confusing status of past owners or rights of access. The title to most properties will have some limitations; for example, easements (access rights) for utilities. Kimberly and Daryl  in conjunction with the title company or attorney can help you resolve issues that might cause problems at a later date.
6. We can help you in understanding different financing options and in identifying qualified lenders.
7. We can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.
Buying a home can be one of your most significant investments in life. Not only are you choosing the place that you will live, you are most likely investing a large portion of your assets into this venture.
The more prepared you are at the outset, the less overwhelming and chaotic the buying process will be. The goal of this page is to provide you with detailed information to assist you in making an intelligent and informed decision.
PRELIMINARY CONSULTATION TOP  
We should meet face-to-face to review your overall objectives in searching for a new home (i.e. time frame, desired features, etc.) and discuss the process.  We will narrow down neighborhoods and types of properties so we have an efficient search.  This is the time to ask ANY questions and determine if we have a good personality fit to work together. 
OBTAIN A LOAN PRE-APPROVAL TOP  
You must have a lender Approval letter to write a contract.  Therefore, it makes sense to start this process BEFORE looking at properties.  We can recommend a few reputable lenders or you can select your own.  But it is important that you discuss financing options and have a lender review your salary and credit to determine a comfortable loan amount.  Based on this information, the lender will provide a pre-approval letter, which shows your borrowing power. You can visit as many lenders as you like and get several pre-approvals.  Fortunately, the rules have changed so that you can shop lenders and have them pull multiple credit reports within a 30 day period, without the inquiries affecting your credit score. 
ESTABLISH YOUR HOME SEARCH CRITERIA TOP  
A home is more than just a collection of bedrooms and bathrooms.  It is important to consider things that are important to you (i.e. a love of cooking, or entertaining or art, etc.) which will help prioritize your house “wish list” (i.e. big kitchen for cooking, deck for entertaining, high ceilings for artwork, etc.).  There will definitely be trade-offs – but our goal is to find a home that meets the majority of your requirements within a comfortable price range.  
HOW DO YOU STAY UPDATED?
Once we establish the criteria for your search, an online account will be set up to keep you informed on your current properties and new listings. You will be emailed with updates on properties fitting your criteria. You will have the ability to look at pictures, property details, and other important information.
LOOK AT HOMES TOP  
Once we have completed a search and narrowed down the options, we will schedule a block of time to tour homes.  Prior to our visit, we will ask you to review the virtual tours and drive around the neighborhoods, to determine if some of the properties can be ruled out or solidify them on our “Must see” list.  Many properties will be on “lockbox” so we have flexibility visiting them—others may require an appointment, which we will arrange.
CHOOSE A HOME TOP  
As a buyer, here's what actually happens. A home has been placed on the market for which the seller has established an asking price as well as other terms. In effect, this is an offer. At this point, you have three choices: accept the seller's offer and create a contract; reject it and not make an offer; or suggest different terms and make a counter-offer. If you choose this last option, the seller may accept, reject or make a counter-offer.
No aspect of the home buying process is more complex or personal than bargaining between buyers and sellers. This is the point where the value our experience is clearly evident because he or she knows the community, has seen numerous homes for sale, knows local values and has spent time negotiating realty transactions.
MAKE AN OFFER TOP  
1. To create an offer we prepare and present the following information in writing to the seller
  a. Offer Price
b. Settlement Date
c. Earnest Money Deposit (typically 3-5% of the sales price)
d. Inspection Contingencies
e. Financing Contingencies
f. Title Company
2. Negotiate any terms and conditions
3. Signature of all parties on offer revisions
GET AN ACCEPTED OFFER TOP  
INSPECTION - CONDUCTED WITHIN 3-7 DAYS
  Buyer and agent present
  Buyer pays inspection company directly
RESPONSE TO INSPECTION - WITHIN 24 HOURS OF INSPECTION REPORT
  Provide notice of any issues needed to be addressed
  Insure your comfort level with property
OBTAIN ANY ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/INFORMATION
  Condominium documents & budgets
  Three days to review for resale properties
15 days to review for new developments
MORTGAGE APPLICATION
  Within a few days of accepted offer you should contact your mortgage lender and begin the full application process
OBTAIN HOME INSURANCE
ARRANGE TO CONNECT UTILITIES (PHONE, GAS, ELECTRIC, TELEPHONE & CABLE)
OBTAIN HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE
REVIEW HUD-1 PRIOR TO CLOSING
CONDUCT A WALK THROUGH OF THE PROPERTY
MOVE INTO YOUR NEW HOME!
TOP
 
 
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