Let’s find a place you’ll love. Wherever that may be.
As a “Good Life” REALTOR®, in Susie you have an experienced, right-hand trusted advisor, fiduciary, and local food fanatic striving to make you don’t miss any houses. Whether buying a home or investment, we’ll take time to be sure you’re happy with your decision and that you don’t over-pay.
Plus, with the power of Compass’ network and tech, we’ll have access into properties you can’t find anywhere else.
My clients enjoy guidance through every twist and turn of the buying process, from ideas to keys and beyond. Whether buying in Berkeley, Rockridge, or Barcelona, you’ll be in the hands of a team that fits with your particular needs and style. It’s all about your dreams, style, and goals.
Not ready to meet? Send me your top 5 must-haves and I’ll help you get started.
Life in an urban Victorian?
Or a place with four seasons and simple living?
8 Steps to Home Buying Like a Pro
Whether buying a home or an investment property, a proven process leads to success. Yes, you can definitely pop into open houses, decide to make an offer, and find an agent all within a couple of days. But engaging early with a trusted agent, who’s working for you, makes a difference, especially in competitive East Bay markets like Berkeley, Rockridge, Kensington and Alameda.
AN EAST BAY-CENTRIC GUIDE
Here’s How We’ll Connect Your Dots
Get Pre-Approved (Or Line Up Cash)
When you’re ready to get serious, start by knowing your budget to buy and over time. Ask Susie about lenders and experts to help you with financials.
Need to buy before selling or use hard money for a fixer? There are plenty of programs to do that!
2. Figure Out What You Want and Where
Our Home Buying Consultation sets you up for success. We review the steps to buy and you refine what you’re looking for. We sign a Buyer – Broker Agreement. This turns an agent into your Trusted Fiduciary. Yet unlike with most professionals, you pay nothing until you buy!
3. Search with Susie
There’s a saying that you “can’t move a house’s location.” Taking time to be sure a house is in a location you love, whether to live in or as an investment, is so important. Helping buyers who are relocating and don’t know the East Bay are my speciality. We’ll take time to help you get to know the different neighborhoods and cities. As your “must have” and “nice to haves” get refined, we’ll home in on home!
4. Analyze Properties
Most agents put together online “disclosure packages.” We review these together before putting an offer together. Having access to advisories, reports, and seller disclosures help buyers be informed about a property. Making inspection reports performed by reputable vendors increases the chance that a house will get multiple offers from serious buyers. (It’s a smart strategy for sellers!)
5. Submit Offers
When you want a property, we strategize an offer, based on the reports, market data, house popularity, and other factors such as the seller’s motivations. You review a draft, pull the financial information together. Then I submit your offer.
Will a seller counter-offer? Every deal is different. If a house hasn’t been selling, you may find yourself offering under asking and asking for credits.
6. Escrow! (Or Keep Searching)
A seller will either accept, reject or counter your offer. When countered, it’s for you to decide if you would like to sweeten the offer in money and / or offer terms. Or not! When an offer is accepted, your earnest money deposit (EMD) is wired based on instructions from the Title / Escrow company. The lender gets to work approving your loan (if applicable). And we work on inspections, if your offer had an Investigation Contingency.
7. Closing
The “Close of Escrow” date is usually set based on a lender’s timeframe to approve your loan along with if you prefer a certain day. A few days before closing, the final docs signing takes place, and we’ll do a final walkthrough of the property to verify all is well. You’ll wire the your downpayment funds (minus your EMD) or cash, per the Escrow instructions. Utilities are changed in your name. (Here’s a handy guide to Title & Escrow terminology.)
8. Move In & Celebrate!
Before closing, I’m happy to connect you with vendors who can work on estimates so you can make any repairs right away. I love toasting your big milestone and the handover of the home to its new owner: YOU! While our relationship technically ends after closing, you can count on me to be your right-hand resources, from contractors, to cleaners, as you step into home ownership.
★★★★★
Susie’s exceptional service deserves the highest praise!
Over 525 days of house hunting across the Bay Area, her unique blend of quirkiness, patience, and professionalism transformed a potentially stressful process into an enjoyable journey.
Al & Dan
Wonderful Seller / Buyer Clients
5 Things Successful Home Buyers Do
1
Know yourself: Are you ready to buy and own a home? Will you regret not having bought sooner and spending your money on rent? Or will you love the freedom of paying your monthly and not having to be responsible for a place? Some of my clients take years beofre buying. And that is just fine!
2
Find out early what you can afford and what you want to invest. Will you need someone else to co-sign or help out with the downpayment? These are all things that can slow down a deal and should be all figured out ahead of time.
3
Know your home ownership style. No-maintenance or a cosmetic fixer that will appreciate with your sweat equity? Do you belong in a Home Owner Association (HOA) or do you want the freedom to paint your house and landscape however you like — with no monthly fee?
4
Be available and make time for the house hunt and offers! As your agent, I’m more than happy to share what I learn about a property and offer video tours as well as summarize issues and opportunities a property might offer. But you’ll want
5
Know your “must not haves” as much as your must haves. Want to be able to play the drums without neighbors banging on the ceiling? Or live life without ever having to pick a weed? Or park without the neighbor having to move their car out of the shared driveway? Those “deal killer” features are maybe more important than knowing what you do want.
Not sure if I’m a fit? Get in touch to tell me what you’re looking for in a real estate agent or team so I can connect you.
LIKE THIS PELICAN AT ALAMEDA’S BAY FARM FERRY TERMINAL…