Buying
Why Clients Choose Me to be Their Realtor®?
Welcome to the process of home buying, whether you are starting new or continuing to invest in yourself, it is worthwhile building equity through owning property.
“"Karen helped our little family to find a new home in 2019. Working with her was stress-free and fun. Meeting Karen during the viewings was like seeing a good old friend. If you are looking for caring, reliable agent who respects your needs, who knows the market, who is patient and always ready to help then Karen is the ONE. Thank you, Karen, we wish you many successful years to come!"
- David & Lenka Carruth
As member of the Calgary Real Estate Board, also known as CREB, I have access to the market, in terms of sales, pending and active listings. I am born and raised in Calgary, having lived, worked, studied in a wide variety of locales throughout the many years. As a result, I consider myself knowledgeable of Calgary as a city and her suburbs.
I am also very familiar with the schools’ catchments and what can be required to attend a desired school for your child/children. As your agent, I will conduct behind the scenes research on any property that you are interested in purchasing, to rule out any unexpected surprises or major concerns before writing an offer.
What about the paperwork? That is all taken care of. I will go through the various forms with you and answer your questions. I like to arrange for a meeting (in person or over ZOOM) together to talk about your buying goals prior to looking at homes, that way we can get to know one another, ask questions of each other, and I can answer any questions you have. I will talk with you in detail and depth as to what your criteria is in relation to what is on the market. With a good grasp of your criteria, I can then set you up on a home search.
Decisive negotiating is the art of the deal, whether this is over price, following up on a home inspection, or even down to getting the carpets cleaned by the seller before you move in on possession day.
If you are considering new homes, such as buying from a builder, no problem. I will accompany you to the showings and meetings with builders and represent your best interests at the show home sales center.
Finally, know that as your trusted and loyal real estate agent, I am paid from the seller’s brokerage (or builder if you are considering a brand-new home), so you will never be required to pay an upfront fee or retainer to work with me during your home buying journey.
Give me a call and let us start your buying journey together today!
Guide to Buying
1) Getting Pre-Approved
The most important step in the process is knowing how much you can spend, how much your payments will be, and what additional info the bank will need from you. This is key especially when it comes to writing an offer and getting an offer accepted. We want this process to be as streamline as possible. Sellers and seller agents are expecting buyers to be pre-approved prior to even viewing a property. So please contact your bank or mortgage broker as the very first step in this exciting journey to home ownership.
2) Viewing Properties
I will arrange private viewings, around your schedule, of any home for sale with any real estate company - even private sellers if they come into view.
As a rule of thumb, we can usually get through about three homes per hour! I will provide detailed sheets for you to take notes and whether we are looking at 12 homes or two, I will accompany you and represent your interests.
Before preparing your offer, I will research the history of the home and review all your concerns and questions. I will ask you what you feel about the home after we view, and for you to consider a top 2-3 if we see several in one day.
WHY USE A MORTGAGE BROKER?
A mortgage broker is like a personal shopper, they shop around for you. A mortgage broker is not tied to a specific bank, so, has access to more products for you, with over 40 different lenders - good for more choices! Pulling your credit score once, they will also find the right terms and conditions - not to mention rates - for your mortgage package. Like using a real estate agent, you do not pay out of pocket for the mortgage broker, they are paid by the lender. If you need some good, reputable names, let me know and I can provide you with some of the best.
3) Writing An Offer
Once you have decided on a property that you would like to purchase, I will pull sales data from the system to create a comparative market analysis on the property. This will assist us in getting the price right, I do not want you to be over-paying. All the while, I will go through the purchase contract, including what conditions should be included, and answer all your questions.
Negotiating will be forefront of getting the best price with the right terms and inclusions. If I have done the CMA correctly, we should expect a counteroffer!
4) Conditions/Firm Sale
The most common conditions are:
home inspection
financing approval
selling your current home
I will recommend suitable home inspection companies. If issues come up, I will help you solve them or re-negotiate your deal. You are in good hands.
5) Closing, Keys & Congratulations!
After all the conditions are waived, we officially have a firm sale. Time to choose a lawyer- do not know one? I can recommend one! I will stay with you during this time and make sure that all goes smoothly from firm sale to closing day, when you get the keys to your new home!
5) Beyond Possession
After you have moved and settled in, know that I am always available to help with any questions. Consider me to be beyond the sale as your personal real estate professional and concierge.