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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!

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.

Make offers that win

How To Make An Offer That Wins In A Seller’s Market

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It’s Not Just The Price…

Buyers are facing an uphill battle to buy a home in this current market. Having a plan to succeed is critical and knowing what to do to create an offer that makes you the early favorite in the current multiple offer market.

Its really important  to understand that the best offer is a combination of things and not necessarily the highest price. Also your offer can be amended after its is sent to make it more appealing as you understand more about what the seller needs to sell are.

How To Make A Winning Offer:

Here are steps that help.

  • Learn the market.  It’s important to understand the inventory of the homes you want to buy. What are the recent sales? How many offers were made? Did the sales price over the list price?.  Your agent should be able to guide you about the local sales.
  • Find out the seller’s motivations. This is key and really important. If you’re working with an agent, you can request that they try to find out why the seller is looking to move from the seller’s agent. If the seller’s agent is facing a lot of time pressure and needs to get the place sold ASAP, that puts you in a much better position to push for a better price. Don;t be afraid to pick up the phone and call if you don’t know.
  • Make a good, strong offer. Even when you’re making a winning offer, you want your offer as appealing and reasonable as it can be. The information you found out from the seller or seller’s agent can help. Use that information in your offer  to make your offer better. For example, you might waive certain repairs, or shorten the contingency period. Quick Tip for a Seller’s Market: A quick close (21 days) and a seller can remain in possession for a period of time at no cost can often save you money or get a favorable counter offer.
  • Don’t count on a “Multiple Buyer” counter offer. Your first offer is highly unlikely to be accepted by the seller in a Seller’s market but may be accepted by modifying the terms of your initial offer or more importantly trying to convince the seller’s agent to make an acceptable offer work with your offer. Make sure you work closely with your agent to again understand the issue with your offer when you receive a counter offer from the seller. From my experience little things that are not necessarily related to the offer price can be worked out when time is taken to understand the counter offer or addendum. Time isn’t your friend when negotiating so you should try to complete any negotiation within 24 hours if possible.
  • The Listing Agent is the Key.  If you have hired the right agent, he should be able to understand the seller’s motivations, get the information on the pricing the selling agent recommended for the house   Bottomline, the  listing agent is the gateway for your offer to be accepted. In the end selling your offer to the listing agent.  Do your homework on the Listing agent for success.

Making an Winning Offer: What is effective and works

  • Having a pre-approval letter that is 10% more than your offer price. If the home comes down to negotiating a higher price and your approval letter can;t support the higher price, you won’t win the house.
  • Buying the home as-is, and not requesting repairs. If the seller knows that their bottomline isn;t going to change after they are in contract that is helpful for them to decide to choose your offer..
  • “Clean Offer” Making the deal more complicated isn;t helpful. Stick within the current time periods for getting things done. Unless you have information that the seller wants inspection times shortened or, keep the offer “clean.”

One Last Thought

A winning offer is more than the price. More importantly make sure you have an agent who will aggressively sell you as the best buyer and is equally focused on helping buyers as well as sellers.