There can be a lot of work involved in finding and successfully purchasing a home. But with our guidance, process is as efficient as possible, and very likely, fun to boot! We work with each client to stay on track with their particular needs and priorities so they don't waste time on unrealistic expectations or dead-end browsing.
Scouting for Your Home
Thanks to the Internet, a homebuyer can efficiently find homes that fit the initial criteria. But, for this search process to yield helpful results, buyers need to do some homework and a lot of clear thinking about what's truly important to them. Realty Advocates sets you up for success from the very beginning and helps you use your time effectively. Once you sign on as a client, you'll have access to the full array of our talents and tools. Here's a quick look at the process:
- How much house? Determine how much space you'd like (size, number of bedrooms, etc.) and how much you can afford to pay in down-payment, mortgage and closing costs.
- Where? Determine the towns and neighborhoods you'd like to live in (defined by city, zip code or Thomas Brothers Map Coordinates). We make it easy to preview top East Bay neighborhoods right online but there's no substitute for spending actual time in the neighborhoods you're considering.
- Search the available homes online based on your criteria through our online search tool. You can specify location(s), price, size and type (single-family detached homes, condos and/or multi-unit properties). You can also sign up for our custom email service to receive an email alert any time a new listing meets your criteria (without any obligation). We strongly encourage you to sign up for this service even if you're not quite ready to make offers so you can get to know the market for the types of homes you're considering.
- Check them out in person. Drive by the interesting houses and/or attend Sunday open houses or weekday brokers' tours.
- Dig deeper with our help. When you find one or more homes worthy of more serious consideration, give us a call or email and we'll arrange a private showing. We'll walk through the house with you, discussing its pros and cons relative to your objectives. We'll analyze the structural condition as well as possible cosmetic upgrades and remodeling considerations. With our extensive background in residential remodeling (especially Green approaches), we'll help you budget for simple fixes or major remodels. If, after this visit, the house is still an offer-candidate, we'll obtain and provide you with the seller's disclosure packet for review.
- Making an Offer. Taking into account all the disclosed conditions, as well as other factors such as similar homes that have sold recently and competitive interest, we will map out a recommended offer strategy. With your approval, we will present your offer, along with your loan pre-approval letter, and wait for news from the seller. Most often, the news will be either outright acceptance, or a counter-offer. In fact, there may be a series of counter-offers back and forth between you and the seller, until a mutual agreement is reached — or you agree to disagree, and we go back looking for another home, with helpful lessons learned for next time
- Closing. If the seller accepts your offer, we guide you through the process of inspections, loan contingencies and other important details all the way through closing — when you get the keys.
Throughout the process, all decisions are up to you — the client. We will consistently give you our best information and recommendations, and we will never pressure you to over-ride your own concerns and judgment. With us, you always have the last word.
What's Available?
Here on our website, we offer several easy ways to find properties that meet your criteria:
- Realty Advocates featured listings
- Custom MLS search
- Email updates
- Open houses
- Brokers' tours
- National MLS search
Once you register as a client, you can save properties of interest and can notify us about properties you want to pursue in more detail.
Foreclosed Properties and Short Sales
We have successfully represented buyers in both bank-owned foreclosed homes (REO) and short-sale transactions. Please call and talk with Brett or Hal about the opportunities — as well as challenges — of these types of transactions.