Making an Offer
Once you have found the property you want, we will write a purchase agreement.
While much of the agreement is standard, there are a several areas that we can negotiate:
Purchase Price
The right price to offer must fairly reflect the true market value of the home you want to buy. Our expert market knowledge and research will guide this decision.
Settlement Date
If you can be flexible on the closing date, the seller may be more apt to choose your offer over others.
Additional Property
Often, the seller plans on leaving major appliances in the home; however, which items stay or go is often a matter of negotiation.
What is required to make an offer?
In order to write an offer, we will need the following information:
CONTACT INFORMATION
full names of buyer(s) + mailing address
MORTGAGE PREAPPROVAL
or proof of funds for cash purchases
OFFER PRICE
we will help you determine the property's fair market value
ESCROW DEPOSIT
typically 1-3% of purchase price
TYPE OF LOAN + FINANCE AMOUNT
conventional, FHA or VA Loan + what % of the loan is being financed & how much you are putting down
SETTLEMENT DATE
the day all paperwork is signed + the keys are handed over
Escrow Deposit
The escrow deposit is also known as the "good faith deposit" or Earnest Money Deposit (EMD). It is typically 1-3% of the purchase price that you put down upon submitting an offer. This deposit shows the seller you are serious about the purchase. The higher the escrow, the more attractive the offer is to a seller. You also have the choice of splitting the deposit into two payments.
As soon as you have an executed contract, you have approximately 3-5 days to get the escrow deposit to the office where it will be held—typically the office of the listing agent. The deposit is held in escrow until closing, where it is then counted towards your closing costs.