The Home Buying Process, Step by Step

1. Find the Right Real Estate Agent for You: Having an experienced and supportive agent by your side makes all the difference in Seattle's unique market. Look for someone who truly understands your needs and is ready to advocate for you.

2. Understand Buyer Agency Agreements: As of 2024, Washington state requires a Buyer Agency Agreement. This document clearly outlines what services your broker will provide and how compensation works. It's designed for transparency, so take the time to understand it before you sign.

3. Define Your Priorities/Collect Data: Seattle offers a diverse range of neighborhoods and home styles. To help narrow your search, think about what's most important to you. Let’s get out there and see every home that has potential. This is called the ‘Data Collecting Stage’. This stage is crucial and helps you determine your ‘dealbreakers’. In our experience, most buyers will choose 2 out of 3:

   1. House (condition, layout, size, etc..)

   2. Location

   3. Price

4. Complete a Home Buyer Intake: This isn't just about bedrooms and bathrooms! This is the part where we get a sense of your priorities setting the foundation for a successful search. It's also a great way to get educated on the entire buying process.

5. Get Pre-Approved for Financing: It’s perfectly normal to not know what you can afford at this stage. We will offer multiple reputable lender referrals to ensure you find a lender that offers the program you need. TIP: talk to more than 1 lender.

6. Home Search: With your priorities defined and financing in place, it's time to find homes that truly fit. We'll consider factors like potential seller contributions and how to navigate competitive situations to find your ideal home.

7. Submit a Winning Offer: Every offer is unique, tailored to the specific home, your financial needs, and the seller's preferences. We'll work together to create an offer strategy that gives you the best chance of success, whether it's for a single-family home, new construction, or a condo.

8. You're Under Contract! What's Next?: Congratulations! This is a big moment. The next steps will vary slightly depending on the type of property you're buying, and we'll guide you through each specific process, from new construction to condos and more.

9. Navigate Inspections and HOA Reviews: A thorough home inspection is non-negotiable for any property to ensure you're making a well-informed decision and to protect yourself. If you're buying a condo, a careful review of the Homeowners Association (HOA) documents is equally important.

10. Review the Title Report: Don't skip this step! The title report contains vital information about the property, including details about property lines, access, and any potential easements. Understanding it can prevent surprises down the road.

11. Final Lending Process: Your lender will be hard at work behind the scenes, ensuring your loan is approved. This stage includes the home appraisal and final loan approval. Be ready for some last-minute requests for financial details – it's all part of the process!

12. The Final Walkthrough: A few days before closing, we'll do a final walkthrough. This is your chance to confirm the home is in the expected condition and that any agreed-upon work has been completed. It's a critical step to ensure everything is as expected for move-in.

13. Signing Your Closing Documents: The last few days can feel a bit hectic, but flexibility is key! You'll fill out disclosures, schedule your signing appointment, transfer any remaining funds to escrow, and finally, sign all your closing documents. You made it!

14. Close on Your New Home: On closing day, escrow handles the final financial transfers and records the deed. Once you have legal possession, you can set up utilities, change locks, and begin your new adventure.

15. Welcome to the Family! Becoming a homeowner is a huge achievement! We'll be here for you even after you've moved in, offering advice and resources for everything from home improvements to local recommendations.