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Learn about buying a home with Cliff. You’ll also find informative articles on real estate for buying a home too.

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Make An Offer That Wins Home

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Buy The Right Home 

Find it, See it, Own It

Updated: August 12, 2022
 

Yes IT’S a good time to buy a home

Home are sold in all markets. Long term ownership of homes has always been financially beneficial. The current seller’s market is changing with sellers no longer receiving multiple offers and with terms that most buyers found challenging. The rates for home loans are still good. If you feel comfortable about your current finances and want to own a home, for the first time in years the terms and conditions are favoring buyers.  Use the changing market to your advantage for owning a home.

Good homes sell quickly, you NEED TO BE SAVVY

Savvy buyers are winning the home they want and at the right price. It starts with a hyper focused plan with an agent that knows the market where you want to live.  I believe because of the improving market  you can buy the house you want.  I also believe the online estimates are questionable and my local knowledge of home values can help you not overpay for the house you want.  My experience as a hyper local expert is to help buyers determine the value of not only the home but the neighborhood they want to live in.  When there is a candidate house from the custom search we’ve created, make sure you see the home the first weekend of I can do a virtual tour (Facetime/Zoom/Google Meet/Skype/WhatsApp). Currently I’m not seeing seller’s discounting off the list price the first weekend on market but there is no reason to overbid or overpay to win the house.  Making a fair offer negotiated with terms that work for both seller and buyers can win the home you want and my goal for every buyer I work with. 
 

Get Experience that matters

I spend almost half my time buying homes and know how it works to make an offers appealing to the seller especially in this changing market.  Even in a market that is changing, sellers have more motivation than just the price to sell. Understanding the market for seller’s and understanding seller’s motivations and needs for you to be in the running to get the home you want is based on over 18 years of home buying.

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Let’s Connect and Discuss How I Can Help

  • Your Goals for Buying a Home

    Let’s discuss the house you want and your budget.  Using a loan to buy a home? Let’s talk to your lender about your financing. Need a lender. I can recommend several great local lending experts  if you need a home loan to buy a home.  

Contact Me
  • Finding the Right Home Starts Online

    Together we will understand your wants and need for home— Need to move for a job? Want a shorter commute? Getting married? Having a baby? Need to upgrade or downsize? At this stage in the process, I’ll send you notifications about the listings that you’re most likely to be excited about as soon as they are listed/for sale. You then can let me know if one (or more) jumps out at you so that we can take the next step and schedule a viewing.  

  • I'm Available To Tour and View Homes the Same Day

    Local real estate agents are moving quickly to provide online and virtual platforms so buyers can better view homes. Now most online listings are providing virtual tours, 3D walkthroughs, picture galleries, virtual open houses, seller videos, etc. in addition to the usual property details and descriptions and a few pictures.

    Once you find a home you want to view in-person or virtually. Contact me and we will get it scheduled.

  • Make a Good Offer

    Good homes sell quickly but there are fewer buyers right now. When we find your dream home you want to buy, we still need to make your offer more appealing to the seller than other offers they may receive. As I mentioned before there is more than price but often terms that make your offer stand out. My goal is to “sell” you and the offer you made to purchase as the best buyer to the seller and listing agent.  

  • Your Offer Is Accepted - The Next Steps

    Once the offer has been accepted. The home is pending.  Here are some but all of the next steps to buy the home.  We need to get Seller disclosures, any reports and disclosures to complete the purchase, perform any buyer’s investigations, complete the financing, etc.  

    1. We will open escrow and title online. Your deposit can be dropped off in-person, mailed or couriered to the title company.
    2. We will complete any documents for the purchase online or in person.
    3. Any inspections on the property are allowed with the only restriction being maks in the home while on the property.
    4. We are seeing that most home purchases are being completed within the typical 30 days time frame after an offer is accepted.
  • Close of Escrow - You Become A Homeowner

    Once all the contractual contingencies are met we will be able to complete the sale of the house. This is called the “Close of Escrow.” You will be signing documents to take ownership of the home according to the purchase agreement.

    Escrow companies are providing a safe process for the signing of all document related to completing the purchase. These documents that can be electronically signed will be done so. Any documents requiring an in-person signature will de done using safe practices at the title company. There are mobile notaries that can also provide signing services.

     

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first time home buyers guide

First Time Home Buyers

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Buying a home for the first time is not hard or complicated. What matter is finding the right agent to help guide you through the process. Let’s chat and meet to discuss how I can help you buy that first home faster and without the drama. Check out the buyer’s guide I’ve put together for buying your first home.

My First Time Home Buyers Guide

Step 1 Take a Hard Look at Your Finances and Establish a Budget:

Determine your current expenses and income. In addition to obvious items like rent, utilities, loan payments don’t forget to include the miscellaneous like haircuts, eating out, dry-cleaning, fuel for vehicles and any other expenses you usually incur during the course of a month. Also add in the possible new expenses of owning a home such as lawn maintenance, cost of water for watering trees, shrubs and lawn, Homeowner Association dues and increased utility costs. I can recommend a lender who works with first time buyers who can help you with this.

Step 2 Ask for help finding a lender or ask me for a recommendation

No one should “google” a lender for buying their first home. Ask family or friends for a recommendation. I can also help you out with a recommendation. The next step is  to meet with your lender to “Run the numbers.” The lender will help determine what your comfort level is on how much payment for a mortgage each month. The lender should be able to make recommendations about which loans are best for your buying situation too. Once a loan and monthly payment is determined, the lender will also figure out down payment and closing costs too. When your finished you should have a pre-approval to share and give me to buy your home. In a seller’s market we need a pre-approval to be successful with an offer

A pre-approval will place you in a stronger negotiating position when you place an offer on a property. You are letting the sellers know that you are serious and that you can afford that dream house. In addition, by having secured financing, the time period from offer to closing can be shortened.

Step 3 When Do I Need Money?

Your earnest money check will accompany your Purchase Offer Contract (normally 1% of the offering price). At the time of loan application, your lender will usually require some funds to be collected for the appraisal and credit report (approximately $400). In the case of new construction, the builder will require anywhere from 50% to 100% of the upgrade costs to be paid at the time the upgrade is selected.

When the mechanical/structural inspection (home inspection) is completed, the inspector will require payment (approximately $350). All other monies (including down payment, termite inspection, proration of taxes and others) will be collected at closing.

 

Step 4 Setting Up the Search for Home 

Determine a geographical area that suits your needs for commute time, proximity to shopping, schools and recreation. Decide whether a townhouse, condo or a single-family home fits your lifestyle. Determine amenities you would like to have in your new home – number of bedrooms, number of baths, garage, fireplace, garden tub, square footage, size of lot, fenced yard, one story or multi-story.

Step 5 Making an Offer, and Completing the Purchase

Once we find the right home, we will make an offer quickly. We will make our best offer to win the home. Once we are in contract, I will work closely with your lender to make sure the home can be financed. I will work closely with you to get seller disclosures and reports, schedule and perform inspections on your behalf, and negotiate any issues that occur during the escrow. If everything is acceptable to you, and there is no issue with the financing we will typically close within 30 days of the offer being accepted.

Step 6 Close of Escrow and Moving

Approximately after 21 days in contract we should be getting loan documents and going to the escrow company to sign documents in the next week or so. I will accompany you to the signing to make sure everything is correct to the purchase contract, and to help answer any last-minute concerns. You most likely will be moving after the home is recorded into your name. I will contact the listing agent and make sure the owner transfers important information about the home (utilities, ongoing maintenance, service contracts, etc.). I will also deliver the keys to your new home as well after the deed is transferred to you and the contract says you can take possession. Congratulations you’ve bought your first home!

Why Buy With Cliff Stanwick

Why Your First Offer is Always Your Best Offer

This is really a real estate “truth” because the only thing that matters to a Seller is an offer and there is nothing more influential than the first offer a Seller receives.  Real estate professionals are driven to put a sale together, we are in the business of selling homes so the first offer that a seller receives on their home is usually with a lot of energy from all parties to make it work:

“The first offer is always your best offer.”

Of course, this isn’t true in every situation, but there are reasons why agents believe this, and why they often suggest that sellers either accept the first offer or at least give it serious consideration.

First Offers Make a Big Impact on Sellers

Are there buyers but are they ready to buy? Sellers are basically operating in a zone of fear, uncertainty, and doubt. The listing agent has done their best to get the house on market, but is there a buyer? This in a nutshell is the power of the first offer, an offer from an active buyer is very powerful. The online real estate websites like realtor.com, zillow.com, trulia, etc. Have made today’s buyer very knowledgeable about the local real estate market. Sellers just don’t know the local market like a buyer who has been touring homes for a while. Sellers have serious doubt or uncertainty after the home is listed.

Sellers are hoping after every call or showing Will they make an offer?

Ready Buyers are often the ones who write the first offer a seller receives on a property. And that’s why their offers should be taken seriously.

Ready Buyers are finding the home first, touring it first, and making the first offer. Listing agents know the strength and commitment of these Ready Buyers. I work diligently to help my buyers became the Ready Buyer

Listing Agents will educate their Sellers about how strong the Ready buyer is for their home. The listing agent will tell the seller how this buyer will want to get in and see the property ASAP. Since they’re so familiar with the market, they’ll be able to tell once they step foot inside if it will work for them, if it’s priced right, if it shows well, and if it’s in line with present or past comparable sales. If the property meets their criteria, the Ready Buyer, armed with all their knowledge and motivation, will make an offer.

The Ready Buyer has the Advantage

The first offer from a Ready Buyer may not come in within days of a property going on the market. Again, the Listing Agent knows the Ready Buyer is an informed buyer who is knowledgeable of the market. If a home is priced too high and a month or two goes by without an offer, it will be the Ready Buyer who has been watching the market and listing. I work closely with my Buyers to watch homes they feel are overpriced. If we learn that there aren’t any offers on it and there is no activity after some time, the offer from my Buyer will come in with an aggressive or below list price offer, which I will sell to the listing agent as a good strong offer, on the seller’s home.

The role of a buyer’s agent is to sell the Ready Buyer as the best buyer for the property. I strive to present my buyers as the strongest and best buyer. I answer the questions before they are asked. The Seller is going to look closely at any offer especially the first offer. I want the Listing Agent and Sellers to known about your interest in buying the home: Who is the buyer? How long have they been looking? Have they written other offers nearby? Are they working with a good local agent? Does the offer come with a pre–approval letter? Is this offer actually a number that is close to the number your real estate agent initially suggested?

Serious sellers want to sell, and my goal is to always promote my Buyers as committed and ready to buy.  As your buyer’s agent I work hard to earn your trust and confidence. However, as a buyer, trust the phrase that the seller is ready to look hard at the first offer. It’s really one of the real truths in real estate, “The first offer is always your best offer.”

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BuyaHomewithCliff

How It Works Buying With Cliff

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From the search for home to the day you get the keys, I’m here to help you get your dream home.

Step 1. Contact Cliff about being your Realtor to buy your next home

Tell me about the house you want and how much you want to spend on home.  Using a loan to buy a home?   Let’s talk to your lender about your budget for buying or recommend a great local lending expert if you need a home loan.  

Its super easy to contact Cliff, just click the message, call, or email button/link to get started

Step 2. Finding, Seeing, and Offering on the Right Home

Most likely before you contacted Cliff you were searching online for home. I’ll work with your choice of using your go to real estate website. Don’t have a favorite? Check out my personal real estate website, Click the link StanwickRE MLS Website. Cliff will show you the houses you want to tour ASAP or the same day. When you find a home you want to make an offer on, I will make an offer in less than 30 minutes to win the home you want. 

Fact or Myth

Is the first offer the best offer?
Fact - Learn More

Step 3: Offer to Getting the Keys

Once I make an offer for you, I will promote you as the best buyer for the home. I will use my 15+ years of experience to successfully negotiate the offer. Once the offer is accepted, I have a team of home professionals to help get everything done from inspections to quotes for any repairs that might be found during the inspections. I am driven to make the completion of the home purchase as simple as possible. 

Learn more about buying a move up home

Move Up Buyers

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You are thinking about a “Move-Up” home. Here is how I can help.

Whether it be that you need or desire a larger home, or you would like more amenities, or your commute time needs to be adjusted, there are decisions that affect your current home where I can help. Should you be putting your home on the market and selling it or opt for keeping it and renting it out. What are your options and how we can make it happen is something you can explore with me. But let’s assume the plan is to sell your home, what do you need to do?

Step 1 Call me to determine the market value of your present home

Online home values are a good baseline, but they are not taking into the account the beauty, quality, and condition of your home.  I can help adjust the value of the home based upon the demand, the condition of your home, the upgrades and improvements you’ve made. I will start with a comparison of online and MLS data plus make adjustment based upon the market to sell your home in 30 days.

Step 2 Determine the best options to purchase the Move-Up Home

I recommend using your current lender or financial advisor to see the best option to finance and purchase the “move-up” home. Running the numbers whether it makes sense to “sell and buy” another home. You might be able to keep your current home and purchase the move-up. Either way you should talk to the people you rely on for guidance to make the decision. There are many scenarios that need to be explored and discussed once you know the market value of your current home.

Step 3 Search for the Right Move-Up Home

Discuss the criteria for the move-up and start browsing and viewing homes. Depending on your situation and plans, you should be previewing and looking at real estate to make sure the move-up home is out there. Market conditions dictate how you can make an offer and if a contingent offer to sell your home is possible. In a hot seller’s market, it’s completely doable to list, sell, and buy a home. It’s not difficult, it’s the teamwork on all sides to get it done which believe it or not happens quite often. Previewing homes before listing to sell your home, and finding the move-up is a lot less stressful if you think the move-up home is available to own.

Final Thoughts

Buying a move-up home isn’t difficult, the larger homes in general are not the “hottest” part of a seller’s market. There is often more inventory in a seller’s market for a larger home because these homes typically are in a higher price range with fewer buyers. You might be surprised to find that you even in a ‘seller’s market” can negotiate on your move-up home where selling your current home will often sell quickly with multiple offers. Please reach out to me to discuss your plans for buying a move-up home.

Empty nester buyer

Empty Nest Buyers and/or Sellers

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Your house is too big, too old, or in the wrong location—or climate. You’re ready for fewer stairs, a more walkable community, access to outdoor recreation, a unique selection of cultural amenities—pick one or all. Is this you?

If you’ve answered “yes” faster than a run down one of Auburn State Recreation Area trails, you may be among the many empty nesters looking for a new home.

Step 1: Assessing Housing Needs

Now what? Do we sell, do we rent, do we stay?

To answer any or all of the above questions, you need to determine what are your plans for the future are. Is your present residence too large and you feel you would like to scale down? Do you plan to travel a lot and have no desire to continue to maintain a large residence? Perhaps a townhouse or a condominium is the answer.

If you sell your present home, do you desire to purchase another home or rent either a home or apartment? What are your tax consequences?

If you decide to sell, take a careful look at any deferred maintenance problems and how they will be remedied. A look at time frames needs to be addressed. – within 6 months, a year, two years?

I can help you navigate and explore the best options for your situation. Let’s meet and talk.

Step 2: Call, Text, eMail or Schedule a Meeting with Cliff

Even if you have purchased and sold many homes, wouldn’t some expertise help? I can help you determine the value on your present home is more that the “house down the street sold for $xxx, xxx”. I’ll offer a realistic approach as to what is the best listing price to market your present home, what you can realistically expect for marketing time and what is the competition from other homes currently on the market.

The real estate market changes quickly. Purchasing a new home is more than just finding that perfect house. Return on your investment and money in your pocket should be a large consideration.

Step 3: Determine Your Financing Options

“Run the numbers.” Your housing needs have changed, and your comfort level of mortgage payment may have changed. You may want to travel more, put more of your funds into retirement funds, increase expendable dollars or increase the percentage of your income for housing. You may want to explore a bridge loan to buy your next home and pay it off with the proceeds of your current home. I can help you move on your terms getting you the right home at the right price.

Step 4: Look for a New Home

Determine a geographical area that suits your needs for commute time, proximity to shopping, schools and recreation. Decide whether a townhouse, condo or single-family detached property fits your lifestyle. What amenities would you like to see in your new home –number of bedrooms, number of baths, garage, fireplace, garden tub, square footage, size of lot, etc.

I’ll help you make a checklist for the right home. Relocating out of the area? I can help you find a great agent to help you buy out of state too.

Final Thoughts

Even the savviest homeowner can use the help and expertise of a good agent making what is more often the last home they will buy. I’m a hyper local agent in South Placer and have over 15 years of experience that matters when it comes to making the best decision for your situation. Please reach out to me and let me earn your business and trust.