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Welcome Packet
ABOUT WORKING WITH US ELLIE GEORGE CREW HOME QUEST REALTY SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THOSE YOU LOVE, RESPECT AND LAUGH WITH
Nice To Meet You WE'RE EXCITED TO WORK TOGETHER
Welcome! JUST A FEW THINGS WE WANT YOU TO KNOW... Real estate can be overwhelming and stressful. There are many milestones and numerous parties are involved with buying and selling. Timing and communication are the keys to our success. We will design a personalized action plan for your needs. So, let's get started.
WE ARE EXCITED TO
guide you through this journey With our knowledge of the local market, we've helped over 1400 families in the Southern Oregon area find their dream home - and we're confident we can help you find yours, too.
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About Your Realtors YOUR LOCAL AREA PROFESSIONALS We understand that selling a home in today's market can be challenging, and we are excited to have the opportunity to help you navigate your way through the home buying process. First, let us introduce ourselves.
Ellie, Cailly & Katia ABOUT US Ellie George has been in the valley since 1986 and practicing real estate since 2005. She has created a small, yet efficient team that focuses on serving our clients and creating lasting relationships. She enjoys dogs, reading books and playing with her grandkids! Cailly has been on the Crew since 2021 and loves working with buyers!! She is also an animal lover, loves her gardening and her husband. Katia is our dual lingual Expert. She is an entrepreneur at heart. Her and her husband have owned many businesses, she has a thriving heart to help.
CONTACT DETAILS EllieGeorge.com
541.601.9582 Ellie
Ellie@EllieGeorge.com
541.816.6232 Cailly
Cailly@EllieGeorge.com
541.622.4833
Katia@EllieGeorge.com
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What To Expect OUR COMMITMENTS AS YOUR REALTORS
01
DISCLOSURE & HONESTY We always follow the code of ethics and standards of practice. We believe in full disclosure, so you are welcome to ask for the contact information from past clients we've represented.
FINANCING & CLOSING COST PREP If you aren't already working with a lender, we will offer you different mortgage broker options so you can get your pre-approval completed and start shopping for a home with confidence. Knowing what you're approved for and what your financing will look like after the sale will be a big relief.
03
02
FREQUENT COMMUNICATION Maintaining good communication with all parties involved in a real estate transaction makes the process smoother and faster. We make sure to coordinate with different players to achieve a successful transaction.
HELP WITH HOME SEARCH & SHOWINGS We have a system in place to help you find a property easily and quickly, and we will help you look for properties, find new listings, notify you of price adjustments, and provide you with information about what is going on in the market.
04
As your realtors IT'S OUR TOP PRIORITY TO GIVE YOU AN
EXCEPTIONAL CLIENT EXPERIENCE
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TIMELINE
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AND WHEN Here is a typical timeline in the home buying journey, but every home process is different. These points are just a guideline to help you prepare.
WELCOME M E E T I N G Meet for your buyer consultation, set expectations, connect with a local lender, and personalize a plan.
HOME S H O P P I N G This is where we begin house hunting. Search online for your new home & schedule home tours
MAKE AN O F F E R We will sit down and review the home you are interested in, write the offer after analyzing the comparables, and negotiate for the best price.
HOME I N S P E C T I O N S Once accepted, we will schedule an inspection and negotiate any repairs needed. Once we are through the inspection period and repairs are negotiated, we will have your lender schedule your home appraisal.
CLOSING D A Y We will meet you at the closing table so you can sign your closing documents and give you the KEYS to YOUR NEW HOME. Congratulations!
MOVE I N ! We made it! Time to celebrate AND move into your new home. Welcome Home!! NEW CLIENT WELCOME PACKET
About Yourself QUESTIONS TO HELP US GET TO KNOW YOU Let us get to know by answering the following questions:
SECTION 1
BUYERS INFORMATION
Your Name: Current Address: Phone Number: Email: Do you currently:
Own
Rent
Do you have to sell before you buy?
If renting, when is your lease up? Yes
SECTION 2
No
ABOUT YOUR LOAN
Lender / Bank Name: Loan Officer Name: Type of Loan: What is the timeframe you're looking at to close on a property? 30 Days or less
30 - 60 Days
60 Days - 1 Year
I Am Not Working with a Lender
S E C T I O N 3 PREFERENCE
OF COMMUNICATION Phone Calls
Text Messages
Messenger
Social Media Screen Name
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1 Year +
Hiring Us WE AREN’T PAID UNTIL YOU CLOSE ON YOUR HOME! WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES: We will be working tirelessly for you behind the scenes -- until you close on your home. There will be times where we are searching for homes on the MLS, For Sale By Owners and even Off-Market properties, including using our unique technology to find home owners that are most likely to sell soon. RESEARCH: Once we find a home that might fit the bill, and likely after you’ve seen in once, twice or more, we will begin the research process on the property itself. Whether that is county records, well, septic, or previous inspections, sales, We’ll be researching to make sure you enter into escrow for a price and terms that work for you. As your independent Broker Representative it is our duty to represent your fiduciary interests and help protect you. OFFERS: When you’ve found that home that you want to offer on, we will create a market analysis ,speak with the other agent regarding what will help you win the offer (while protecting your negotiating position), and guide you with advice on how to create the best offer both in dollars and terms. ESCROW: This is when things start to get real. It’s our job to help you through the escrow process, remind you of deadlines, make sure you’re earnest money is protected, your timelines with inspections, appraisal ordering, reading the preliminary title reportis fully explained to you so you are going into this purchase with eyes wide open. FIDUCIARY INTEREST: Our duty is to protect you first and foremost in regards to protecting you before and during the process. In order to do that, it’s important to understand that we are on the same side. Please do not speak with family and friends about homes that you may be placing an offer on. Purchasing a home can be all about negotiations both up front, as well as during an inspection period, and really until the end. If you have any concerns that may come up during the process, communication is KEY to making this a great experience. NEW CLIENT WELCOME PACKET
Hiring Us WE AREN’T PAID UNTIL YOU CLOSE ON YOUR HOME!
BUYER REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT Your Buyer Agent will present to you the Buyer Representation Agreement, which is an Oregon Realtors Form. On this form it will outline the commitment between you and your buyer agent. Realtors do not get compensated until close of escrow. Currently, Realtors fees are pre-negotiated within the MLS system. The seller has agreed with his/her agent how much is to be paid to the listing agent and how much to the buyer agent. This allows a Buyer Agent to receive payment for their services, for all the services during this process: the buyer consultation, the research on market, performing market analysis on specific properties, opening and showing properties whether it is in the evenings, weekends or daytime hours, answering detailed questions regarding the home itself, video walkthroughs, offer preparation and negotiation, escrow services, inspection and appraisal representation, helping with questions regarding financing, inspection repair negotiations, move in/move out timelines, connecting you with vendors, among many other action items. In order for us to treat you with the highest level of care, protection and attention that you deserve, to make sure you have a GREAT experience, we ask for a commitment from you. The commitment is that we will be compensated should you purchase a home in our service area for a certain time frame. We ask that in compensation for the time we spend making sure you see homes both on and off market (including For Sale By Owners, MLS properties and properties that may not even be on anyone’s radar that we discover with our technology and connections, that you commit your loyalty to us as we will with you. The buyer representation agreement will be presented and signed by all parties in order to hire our services.
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Your Ideal Home WHERE ARE YOU ARE IN YOUR HOME SEARCH Please answer the following questions to help us understand where you are at in your home search.
SECTION 1
WHY OWN A HOME?
WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BUYING A HOME? My dream is to own a home
To have a place to raise a family
I'm getting married
To have an investment property
Tired of paying rent
Other, please specify
I need more space To be in a specific school district
SECTION 2
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR NEW HOME
Have you ever purchased a home before? Are you pre-approved? What part of town (or country) do you want to live in? What is your ideal price range?
No less than:
No more than:
Are schools a factor and, if so what do you need to take into consideration? (e.g specific school system, wanting your kids to be able to walk to school, etc)
What types of houses are you wanting to see? One Story
Two Story
Split Level
Open Floor Plan
Townhouse
Condo
Ranch
New Construction
Farmhouse
Craftsman
What style of home appeals to you the most? Contemporary
Traditional
How much renovation would you be willing to do?
A little
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A lot
None!
HOME MUST HAVES CHECKLIST OF ESSENTIAL HOME FEATURES
Check off any aspect that you consider a must-have in your new home. We will take this into consideration when searching for your new home, prioritizing listings we think match up with your ideal home.
KITCHEN
BEDROOM
Open Floor Plan
Walk in Closet
Island Counter
Ensuite
Breakfast Table
Fireplace
Walk in Pantry
Balcony
Gourmet Kitchen
OUTSIDE
GENERAL INTERIOR
RV Parking
Laundry Room
2 Car Garage
Family Room
3+ Car Garage
Office / 4th Bedroom
Front Porch
Open Floorplan
Fenced Yard
Formal Dining Room
Sprinkler System
Split Floorplan
Pool
Loft / Attic
Backyard Deck
Gym / Spa
Play Area
Large Yard Small Yard
BATHROOM
Hardwood Floors Wall to Wall Carpet
Walk in Shower
Large Windows
Bathtub
Ceiling Fans
Double Vanities
Air Conditioning
Modern Bathroom
Storage Space
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Questionnaire INFORMATION TO HELP IN YOUR HOME SEARCH
What other factors will influence your decision to buy? (e.g school zones, distance to work, specific neighborhoods, etc)
What are deal breakers in your new home?
What features are important in your new home?
What are must haves in your new home?
Any specifics not mentioned above?
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Client Testimonials WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING
We are out of state purchasers of a rental home. Ellie and team were fantastic to work with and went above and beyond to work around our tight schedules. They also did an excellent job with communications as much was done remotely. I highly recommend them. This was the most stress free purchase thanks to them quickly responding to our queries and providing local insite to accomplish our needs. Jon Le Roi
Purchased in Ashland, OR
Ellie George came by a recommendation from our real estate attorney for the sale of our property . Excellent referral! Hands down, 10 stars, personable , professionalism, and performance. Ellie's expertise, efficacy and energy is a rare find in the industry. Refreshing all around to work with her and her team, wow!
-RETA & TIM Sold in Jacksonville, OR
Ellie and her team were the best Realtors I have ever worked with. They showed us homes that weren’t on the market yet, they listened and understood what we were looking for. In the end, they helped us get a house which had multiple offers. They knew what to write into the offer and we got it! I cannot recommend these guys enough. They make other Realtors seem like amateur hour.
- JAMES GARNER Purchased in Medford, OR
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FAQ'S Q1
WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP IN BUYING A HOME? The absolute first step is to get approved for a mortgage. Without being approved for a mortgage it will be quite difficult, if not impossible, to purchase a new home.
HOW MANY HOUSES SHOULD I VIEW BEFORE BUYING? There is no right or wrong answer here and it is really more dependent on personal preference. The good news is, it's much easier to connect virtually. You can now see houses by taking virtual tours or see detailed photographs online. And, when you find the "buy me" home, you'll just know. So whether you look at 1 or 100, will depend on your personal taste and style.
Q3
SHOULD I BUY MY NEW HOME BEFORE SELLING MY CURRENT HOME? Again, there is no 'correct' answer. There are pros and cons to buying a home before selling your current home and the same can be said about selling your current home before buying another. We are happy to sit down with you over what will be the perfect process for you.
HOW MUCH MONEY DO I NEED FOR A DOWN PAYMENT? The answer may surprise you but, in most instances, you no longer need 20% down. All loan options are different, but the average down payment is now 3% to 5%. In today's market, a smarter approach is to work backwards from where you want your payment to comfortably be and then arrive at the downpayment amount.
Q5
Q2
Q4
WHO PAYS FOR THE HOME INSPECTION? In Southern Oregon, the home inspections are paid for by the buyer. You want to know that inspector is working for you, not the seller. A whole house inspection can range between $350-$550, depending on the size and age of the home. Also, if you are buying a rural property, expect to pay for a septic inspection (around $2-300) and the well inspection ($2-400), depending on if you want simply a 4 hr well flow or a Top 30 test.
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FAQ'S HOW LONG DOES A HOME INSPECTION TAKE?? A home inspection usually takes 2-3 hours., on average. Buyers and their realtor are encouraged to attend the summary at the end of the inspection and ask questions at that time from the home inspector. Our Transaction Coordinator will schedule the inspections for you as soon as we get into escrow and coordinate the details and times. If you can’t be at the summary, the home inspector will be happy to answer any questions via phone as well.
Q7
Q6
WHAT FIXES ARE MANDATORY AFTER A HOME INSPECTION? Assuming a standard purchase agreement is in effect, the seller isn’t legally obligated to fix any of the defects that come back in the report(s). However, there is typically a contingency on the agreement that the buyer can walk away from the deal if issues are found on the inspection. So, although a seller isn’t legally required to cover the cost or do repairs, sellers run the risk of losing the buyer if they refuse to pay for some of the repairs. We typically advise buyers that we are doing inspections to be aware of what we are and aren’t willing to take on. Sometimes we negotiate repairs, and sometimes credits so repairs can be done after closing.
WHAT OTHER COSTS SHOULD I EXPECT? You should expect to have enough money for your Earnest Money, which can range from $1,000-1% of the purchase price. This check is written out to the Title company, cashed and held until close of escrow or termination. It is credited to your sales price at the close of escrow. If termination happens ALL parties must agree who has rights to the earnest money. Appraisal fees, Inspections, and your Closing Costs are all costs that you will incur during the process. It’s important to talk with your lender for full understanding of the fees to expect on a house by house basis.
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Q8
FAQ'S Q9
QUESTION FOR YOUR LENDER....CAN YOU TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT I’M GOING TO PAY EVERY MONTH? Once you’ve found a home that you want to buy and have a preapproval for a home loan, your lender can give you an estimated monthly payment called PITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance). Basically your lender will break down everything you’ll pay toward your mortgage each month.
LENDER QUESTION: HOW MUCH HOUSE CAN I AFFORD? Just because the lender would loan you $500,000 doesn’t mean you should buy a $500,000 home. Your lender is your best financial advisor throughout this process. They want you to work with a reasonable loan amount because it’s less risky for them...they don’t want you to default! Sit down with them and talk about your PITI, your long terms plans, what happens if your financial situation changes and how your Debt to Income ratio (DTI) will affect you. Let us know where your ‘comfort’ and your ‘stretch’ levels are so we can make sure to stay in alignment with your goals.
Q11
Q10
LENDER QUESTION: WHAT TYPE OF HOME LOAN WORKS BEST FOR ME? Your lender will work with you to figure out which loan type will get you into your dream home while staying within your financial means. Whether it’s Conventional (3,5,10, or 20% down), Jumbo, FHA, VA or USDA will be between you and your lender. Many times they are looking at how much you do or do not have saved, closing costs, and credit scores to help you determine what is going to be right for you. It’s important to understand the limitations that some loans may have on the type and area in which you can purchase.
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Additional Notes
WE'RE SO EXCITED TO WORK TOGETHER
& WE CAN'T WAIT TO GET STARTED -ELLIE, CAILLY & KATIA ELLIE GEORGE CREW
STRIVING TO BE YOUR LOCAL KNOWLEDGE BROKERS THANK YOU For choosing us to be your real estate partners. We will work hard to be your advocates and to make sure you get the best deal available. And, we will also make sure this whole transaction is as stress free and enjoyable an experience as possible.
CONTACT DETAI LS (541) 612.4626
(541) 774.5503
Ellie@EllieGeorge.com Cailly@EllieGeorge.com Katia@EllieGeorge.com www.EllieGeorge.com
ELLIE GEORGE CREW HOME QUEST REALTY 1575 E. MCANDREWS RD #200 MEDFORD, OR 97504