BuyerGuide
Presented by Mary Holmes
Mary Holmes, Your Real Estate Advisor
A realtor with strong communication skills is a necessity in today’s market. With a passion for real estate and a commitment to providing excellent service, Mary takes pride in offering her clients an unparalleled experience. Mary understands that buying or selling a home is one of the most significant decisions in your life. That is why she is committed to providing you with exceptional service, and being affiliated with a brokerage surrounded by agents with years of experience adds unmatched value to your real estate journey.
Mary has lived in Raleigh for 35 years, after first coming to attend North Carolina State University. Mary has owned a speech therapy practice in Raleigh for 20 years. Fueled by her passion for helping others and her understanding of the relocating, home-buying and home-selling processes, she enjoys using her experiences to help others with their real estate needs. In the fast-paced and dynamic world of real estate, communication is the cornerstone of successful transactions. You can be confident that your best interests are Mary’s top priority. She is dedicated to providing honest advice, guiding you with integrity and working diligently to achieve you real estate goals.
Kind Words from a Client
“Mary was an excellent resource throughout the process of finding a new house and selling our old house. She was attentive and interested in what we needed and listened to our thoughts as we searched for our ”just right fit.” She connected us with her experienced and reliable team of experts throughout each of our transactions. Our needs were at the forefront at every stage. On the selling side, she committed to finding us the perfect buyers and helped us all the way through our closing. She has been a joy to work with during a stressful time. “
Sally B.
“True professional who takes great pride in being caring and responsive and always communicating. She listens to client concerns and goals and strives to help you reach that end. Will proudly recommend her to others in need of a real estate professional.”
Bonnie H.
My Value Proposition to You
I will help you find the most desirable properties available, which are sometimes not listed on the market. Our deep and broad network of relationships will give us access to these homes and provide you with a substantial advantage in the competitive Raleigh real estate market.
Your Advantage
Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby's International Realty is committed to delivering the highest quality in every aspect of the real estate process. We pride ourselves on the personalized concierge level of service that our agents and staff provide to all of our clients. Our goal is to exceed expectations and we are dedicated to that commitment.
Luxury is more than a price point, it is a level of service.
We understand the intricacies of North Carolina’s Triangle area real estate market.
Our agents live, work and raise their families in the communities that we serve.
As local experts, we have earned the reputation of best in class in the Triangle Real Estate landscape
Established Local Experts
Our firm has extensive experience representing buyers in the Raleigh area. We understand the unique characteristics of the Raleigh market, the complex contract process, and how to negotiate on your behalf.
We are deeply committed to the community and have built our reputation on long-term relationships that go beyond one-time transactions.
TheHomeBuyingProcess
DetermineYourBudget+
GetPre-Approved
Assess your financial situation, including your income, expenses, savings, and credit score. Determine how much you can afford to spend on a home. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage will give you a clearer idea of your borrowing capacity and help you in your search.
StartYourHomeSearch
We'll set up an MLS search so that you are notified immediately of any properties that come to market. I'll work hard to find homes before they even come to the market. You'll attend open houses and together we'll tour properties.
UnderContract
Once we're under contract, it's crucial to conduct inspections and perform all due diligence. I'll coordinate the inspection process and we'll review the inspection report. I'll guide you through any necessary negotiations with the seller. We'll work through any contingencies stipulated in your contract and ensure financing and closing preparations are taken care of.
Settlement
Before the closing, we'll conduct a final walk-through to ensure the property is in the agreed-upon condition. At the closing, you'll sign the necessary documents, pay the closing costs, and officially take ownership of the property.
Once you find a property you love, I'll guide you in preparing a competitive offer. We'll consider market conditions, recent comparable sales, and the property's condition. I'll negotiate on your behalf to secure the best possible terms.
Beforeyoustartlookingforahome, you’llneedtoknowhowmuchyouwant tospend.Gettingpre-qualifiedwillhelp youtargetyoursearchwithintheright pricerange,andensurethatyouare readytomakeanofferwhentheright propertycomesalong.
Closingcoststypicallyrangefrom2.5% to3%offinalsalesprice.Thiscanvary dependingonsellerandlendercredits.If you’refinancingyourpurchase,you shouldbepreparedtohavethesefunds setasidetobringwithyoutotheclosing. DetermineYourBudget+
ChoosingTheRightLenderForYou
TypeofMortgages
Whattypesofmortgageloanprogramsdo theyoffer?Inquireaboutthespecificloan programsavailable,suchasconventionalloans, FHAloans,VAloans,USDAloans,orany otherspecialtyprograms.Understandthe eligibilityrequirements,downpayment options,andbenefitsassociatedwitheach program.
Whataretheclosingcostsandfeesassociated withtheloan?Requestanestimateofthe closingcostsandfeesinvolvedinobtainingthe loan.Thisincludesoriginationfees, applicationfees,appraisalfees,andanyother charges.Clarifywhichfeesarenegotiableand whicharenon-negotiable.
InterestRates
Askaboutthecurrentinterestratesand whethertheycanbelockedin.Inquireabout thedurationoftheratelockandany associatedfeesorrequirements.
DownPayment
Whatarethedownpaymentrequirements? Discusstheminimumdownpaymentrequired fortheloanprogramyouareconsidering Inquireaboutanyavailabledownpayment assistanceprogramsthatmaybeapplicableto yoursituation.
StartYourHomeSearch
We’llsetupanautomatedsearchfor newlistings,tailoredtoyourparameters andpreferences.Theautomatedsearch willprovideyouwiththemostaccurate andup-to-dateinformationforactive listingsassoonastheyhitthemarket. We’llalsoresearchoff-market opportunities.
Touringpropertiesisthebestwayfor youtogetafeelforwhatyoulike,both onyourownandwithyouragent.
HELPFUL TIP
PrioritizeNeeds
SearchingForAHome
Beforeyougetstarted,Irecommendnailing downyourtoplistofneeds,thenonnegotiablefeaturesinahomesuchas bedroom/bathcount,proximitytoworkor school,backyardsize,etc.Then,determine yourwants,thingsthatwouldbenicetohave inahomebutcanbeaccomplishedlateron, suchaskitchenstyle,paintcolors,bathroom features,etc.
HELPFUL TIP
HaveAQuestion?
Ifyoufindahomeyou'reinterestedinand haveanyquestionsaboutit,sendmethe addressandquestionandI'llfindoutthe answerforyou!
HELPFUL TIP
LookBeyondTheDecor
Trytostayfocusedonthebarebonesofthe home.Don'tgettoodistractedbydecoror staging.
GlanceAhead
Thismaynotbeyourforeverhomesearch,but pictureyourself5or10yearsfromnow.Thisis animportantconsiderationifyou'reonthe cuspofabigchangelikehavingchildrenor majorjobchanges.Makesurethefeatures, locationandpriceofyourhomeserveyouin thelongterm.
HELPFUL TIP
Oncewe’vefoundahomeyouwantto buy,it’simportanttobeprepared,both financiallyandemotionally.TheRaleigh realestatemarketisoneofthemost competitiveinthecountry,soyou’ll needtobereadytotakeactionandmake awinningofferonceyou’vefoundthe rightproperty.
HELPFUL TIPS FOR
WritingAnOfferThatWins
IncludeA
Pre-ApprovalLetter
Including a pre-approval letter shows that you are serious and qualified to buy the home. Most sellers won't consider an offer without one.
StartWith AStrongOffer
I'll research recent comparable sales for you and help you determine the right price. In a competitive market, it's important to start with your best offer.
Contingencies can protect your interests, but they can also make your offer less appealing to sellers. Consider being flexible with contingencies such as appraisal, inspection, or financing, but only if you are comfortable doing so.
Minimize
SellerConcessions
Limiting the number of seller concessions, such as repair requests or closing cost assistance, can make your offer more attractive. Sellers tend to prefer offers that require fewer demands and potential complications.
UnderContract
Atthisstage,youandthesellerhave agreedonthetermsofthesaleand committedtotakingspecificactionsto finalizeit.
Iwillguideyouthrougheverystepofthe processwithcomprehensivechecklists andremindersinplacesonoonedrops theballalongtheway.
From Contract to Closing
Themomentyouratifythecontract, I startschedulingtheinspection, determiningallthedeadlinesand handlingallthesmalldetailsthatneed tobeconsideredtogetyoutothe closingtable.
TheHomeInspection
Assoonasyou'reundercontractandifyouhaveahomeinspectioncontingency,theclock begins.We'llhelpyouchooseahomeinspectorandgettheinspectionscheduled.
HOW IT WORKS
Perthecontract,you'llbegivenaperiodoftimetohireaprofessionalhomeinspectorto inspecttheconditionofthehome.Thespiritofthiscontingencyistoallowbuyersa periodoftimetotakeadeeperlookatthepropertyandhaveaprofessionaluncoverany issuestheymaynothaveotherwiseseen.Thehomeinspectorwillwalkyouthroughthe propertyandpointoutvariousthingsaboutthepropertyincludingageandconditionof systemsandanyneededrepairsorissues.Aftertheinspection,thehomeinspectorwill produceareport.Together,wewillreviewthereportanddetermineifthereareany issueswewanttoaddress. You'llhavetherighttoaskthesellertomakerepairs,provideacredittocoverthecostsor reducethesalesprice.However,yourDueDiligencefundsareNON-REFUNDABLE.
Settlement
Closing(alsocalled“settlement”)isthe finalstepinthehomepurchaseprocess. Theclosingdateissetduringthe negotiationphaseandusuallytakesplace severalweeksaftertheofferisformally accepted.Ontheclosingdate,ownership ofthepropertyistransferredtoyou,the buyer.
