Angela Cutter

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Relocating If you are relocating to another area of the country please email me or call for a referral to a top notch professional in the area you're moving to. We have connections in every city big or small in all 50 states. Understand Earnest Money Earnest money is money that is included with your offer. It is typically 1% of the purchase price, but is negotiable. It's in your best interests to put down as little earnest money as possible but still be taken seriously by the seller and seller's agent. Generally speaking the money is held by an escrow agent, like a title co. and not directly by the seller. The money is usually refundable if the inspections are unsatisfactory, if the seller backs out of the contract, or your financing falls through. However, this money is not refundable if you simply "change your mind" so it's important to realize after you sign off on the inspections and negotiated on repairs, you have purchased a home and are part of a legally binding contract. This is even more important if you are building a new home (see the section "Building a New Home") as the earnest money required is typically much higher and not refundable. Sell your house first This is a biggie! If you are not a first time buyer and you have a house to sell, I can't more strongly recommend that you sell your home first. First of all, in this market sellers are often unwilling to accept a contract that is contingent upon the sale of your home. You may also become emotionally attatched to your "dream home" and end up selling your current home in a panic at a lower price than you normally would have found acceptable. This is a very stressful situation to put yourself in and really unnecessary. Some people choose to get a "bridge loan" and sometimes this works, but I would still advise you not to move out of your current home until it's sold. Know the Neighborhood Make sure your Realtor pulls all of the comparable homes in the neighborhood and their sale prices prior to making an offer. Having this knowledge is essential to getting the best deal on your new home. Don't assume that because you got a certain % off the list price that you got a great deal. If the house was overpriced to begin with you may have just bought it at market vaule! The opposite is also true; you can pay full price for a home and still get a great deal on it, if it's underpriced for the market. This is why having "comps" for the neighborhood is so essential. What's a Buyer's Agent and do I need one? Some Buyer's Agents have gotten a bad name out there. Here's the scoop. A Buyer's Agent represents exclusively your interests. If you call the listing agent of a property (either from an ad or off of the sign) they represent the interests of the seller and by law must present all things in the light that would most benefit the seller, not you the buyer. The seller actually pays all of the commission for a Buyer's Agent so it costs you nothing to work with an agent on your behalf. Your Buyer's Agent is bound by law to represent you to the best of their ability, they have to make every effort to get you the best terms and price on your new home! Why wouldn't you have one? Well, some sellers are happy when you don't have your own agent. They know that if you have a Buyer's Agent we encourage negotiations that get YOU the best deal. Sellers (and their agents) like it when you show up without an agent and don't even bother with pesky inspections. They love it! They don't have to worry about repairs and essentially leave you holding the bag. Bottom line: get your own agent and buy your home for thousands less and get thorough inspections and get the items you request fixed. Consider Resale Value Even if you don't plan on moving for awhile, knowing the resale appeal of your home can help you make important decisions about your home purchase. Some areas are more popular and will always be easier to sell a home in. In addition, consider negatives like backing to a street or other undesirable locations and what effect that will have on your resale value. I can show you any listed property! Did you know that agents that are members of our area MLS can show ANY listed property? I have a lockbox key that opens the door to every listed property in our area regardless of who the listing agent is. So, if you see a house that's listed with another company you can call me to show it to you. All of the agents cooperate so that you can select the most highly qualified agent and be assured that you have access to ALL of the listed homes through that agent. Even if it's not a Keller Williams listing, I will be more than happy to show it to you and represent you in that transaction. Be aware that several of the large real estate companies in town pay their agent's a bonus for selling their own company's listings. If you wind up with an agent from one of those companies they may try to steer you towards their companies

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