How
can Jacob Lawlor help you buy?
Jacob’s 5 steps to finding you the perfect home Doing what other agents won’t to find what other agents can’t 1. Set a plan
4. Bring homes to market
• Comprehensive consultation to discuss your needs and identify target markets to find your perfect home
• Utilizing “boots-on-the-ground” techniques to help find your ideal home, even if it hasn't been listed yet
• Learn the secrets of the Residential Purchase Agreement to get your offer accepted without paying the highest price
• Sending letters, knocking on doors, and more—doing what it takes to find you a home
• Discover what types of lenders are right for your specific situation
2. Immediate notifications • Get exclusive access to the industry’s premier search portal: Real Scout • Immediately get notified about new listings that match what you are looking for
• “Tell me where you want to live and I’ll find you a seller who wants to sell”
5. Expert negotiations • Utilizing local market knowledge and 3 separate valuation technologies to make sure you get the best value • Leaning on loopholes in the contract to make your offer stand out, while also making sure you’re safe and your money’s secure
3. Off-market properties • Get access to Orange County’s largest database of offmarket homes with Sneak Preview and First Look • Network with over 2,000 agents to get a jump on what's coming on the market
Utilizing professional transaction coordinators and closing assistants to make sure you are protected—through closing and beyond
Who you work with matters
As featured in Orange County Register First Team is proud to recognize Jacob Lawlor as an exemplary real estate agent with proven success in the field and a compassionate heart. Having been a member of the First Team family since 2011, Jacob understands that his honest and friendly approach accomplishes more than a sale: it inspires a lasting relationship with the people of Southern California. Ultimately, his clients become a part of his extended family, developing a lasting bond that goes beyond any transaction. While he is currently working with First Team’s Aliso Viejo office, Jacob explains that “he goes where people he connects with go.” As a husband and father of two young kids, he acknowledges that buying or selling a home can be an emotional and sentimental process. Throughout every step of the way, Jacob firmly stands by his clients’ sides and assures them that “he always goes out of his way to help people he cares about.” While his approach to real estate is primarily relationship-driven, Jacob asserts that clients deserve honesty and a realistic representation of their situation. “I want to help my clients,” Jacob clarifies, “by cutting through the veil of the industry to show them the reality of what will truly work for them.” This client-first mindset drives his career, even influencing him to seek advice and partnerships with the most prominent real estate agents in Southern California. Jacob Lawlor is truly a cut above the rest and will make sure that his clients always come first.
Jacob was able to get my family into our dream house at a reasonable price and in a more than reasonable amount of time.
Jacob’s knowledge, experience, and wisdom ensured that we stood out and got what we wanted.
He did not just list the house and wait for a sale; he developed a detailed plan.
We’re incredibly grateful for everything Jacob’s done for our family.
He really listened to our needs and interests, getting to know our family and style.
We definitely recommend him for anyone looking to buy or sell a home.
Check out Jacob’s YouTube introduction: JacobLawlor.com
Jacob Lawlor
IF YOU’RE NEW TO
HOME BUYING You might find it all a little overwhelming — here’s a few easy-to-follow steps on how to get started and what to expect.
1
Choose a First Team® Real Estate professional to help you through the process.
2
Set limits – what’s your budget?
3
Decide what area/neighborhoods you like best.
4
Compare properties and choose your favorite.
5
Make an offer! (Negotiate the price).
6
Sign the contract.
7
Make sure conditions are fulfilled.
8
Review settlement with a trusted and experienced agent.
9
Money, money, money – insurance and finance.
10
Settlement and move in!
Finding a home in your preferred neighborhood and within your budget is no small task. That’s why many buyers choose to work with a First Team® full-service real estate professional. There’s a reason why First Team® agents turn up as the consumers’ first choice in satisfaction surveys time and time again. Here’s what you can expect with a First Team® agent by your side: · A First Team® agent who knows the local market
· With access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS),
and can quickly identify the areas where you are
First Team® agents have access to thousands of
likely to find your home at the price you want.
homes for sale at their fingertips.
· A First Team® agent who saves you time. By
· Did you know that a home does not have to be listed
knowing your needs, the agent can do a lot of
with a First Team® agent in order to get detailed
the legwork to eliminate homes that do not
information or an appointment to tour the home?
match your wish list. · A First Team® agent who makes appointments, previews homes with you and helps you determine the pluses and minuses of each home.
· When you have identified your dream home, you will be guided through the negotiation, legalities and paperwork of purchasing the home.
5 FINANCIAL REASONS TO BUY A HOME
Eric Belsky is Managing Director of the Joint Center of Housing Studies at Harvard University. He authored a paper on homeownership, “The Dream Lives On: the Future of Homeownership in America.” In his paper, Belsky reveals five financial reasons people should consider buying a home. Here are the five reasons, each followed by an excerpt from the study:
1. Housing is typically the one leveraged investment available Few households are interested in borrowing money to buy stocks and bonds and few lenders are willing to lend them the money. As a result, homeownership allows households to amplify any appreciation on the value of their homes by a leverage factor. Even a hefty 20 percent down payment results in a leverage factor of five so that every percentage point rise in the value of the home is a 5 percent return on their equity. With many buyers putting 10 percent or less down, their leverage factor is 10 or more.
2. You’re paying for housing whether you own or rent Homeowners pay debt service to pay down their own principal while households that rent pay down the principal of a landlord.
3. Owning is usually a form of “forced savings” Since many people have trouble saving and have to make a housing payment one way or the other, owning a home can overcome people’s tendency to defer savings to another day.
4. There are substantial tax benefits to owning Homeowners are able to deduct mortgage interest and property taxes from income. On top of all this, capital gains up to $250,000 are excluded from income for single filers and up to $500,000 for married couples if they sell their homes for a gain.
5. Owning is a hedge against inflation Housing costs and rents have tended over most time periods to go up at or higher than the rate of inflation, making owning an attractive proposition.
BO T TO M LINE We realize that homeownership makes sense for many Americans for many social and family reasons. It also makes sense financially.
M O R T G A G E A P P L I C AT I O N
CHECKLIST DO C UMENTATION
When starting a loan application, be prepared to furnish the following documentation: I NC O ME Salaried Employees: · Paycheck stubs for the last 30 days · W-2 Statements for the previous two years · Proof of rent or mortgage payments
Salaried Employees with additional income: · Paycheck stubs for the last 60 days (commissions, self-employed in a second job, etc.) · Statements for the previous two years · Personal tax returns for the previous two years · K-1 form if partnership is indicated on Schedule E · Most current federal business tax returns (if borrower owns more than 25% of the business) · If tax returns have not been filed for the most current year, and it’s after April 15th: 12-month profit and loss statement for that year or 1099 forms. · List of assets, including bank statements, mutual fund statements, real estate and automobile titles, brokerage statements and records of other investments or assets. · Proof of rent or mortgage payments
All of the above documents tell the lender how much you earn. The list of debts (including mortgages, student loans, auto loans, minimum credit card payments and child support) tells the lender how much you owe each month. The lender then calculates your debt-toincome ratio, which is vital to the loan decision. Example: Jim and Sue together earn $5,000 a month. Their total debt payments are $2,000 a month. Their debt-to-income ratio is 40 percent ($2,000 divided by $5,000 = 0.4). Loan documentation tips: When you provide documents, never cross out, white out or alter any information on a document, if you do then it’s not a valid document for the lender to use. Also, always provide every page of every document – even the pages that say ‘This page is blank.’ Be prepared to supply updated documents – documents expire after 60 days.
EXCLUSIVE
SNEAKPREVIEW SYSTEM SM
WOULD HAVING ACCESS TO HO M E S N O T Y E T L I S T E D O N TH E MLS HELP YOU FIND YOUR D RE AM HOM E ? With their exclusive SNEAKPREVIEW SM system, First Team® agents have access to hundreds of homes not yet posted on the MLS, Zillow.com or Realtor.com.
H O W IT W ORKS: First Team® Sales Associates have access to a proprietary software program where they can post properties coming to the market within the next 30 days. First Team® members have access to this list of homes not yet available to the buying public. Once the First Team® agent receives the information, they forward the details to their clients if it meets their criteria. It’s that simple.
Don’t let another great home you don’t even know about slip through your fingers.
NEGOTIATING
FOR THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS
C O UNT ER OFFERS Offers and counter offers are common in many transactions and this is where having a skilled First Team® real estate agent on your team is invaluable. An experienced agent will know all of the key points in a contract and related addendums and help you avoid or resolve any issues – before they cause a problem. Negotiating for a home can be an emotional and sometimes highly charged process, and it’s preferable to have a competent First Team® agent who can serve as a buffer between the buyer and the seller/sellers’ agent. FRO M O PEN CONTRACT TO CLO SE D CONTRACT Between signing the contract and closing the sale, there are tons of loose ends to tie up. This is when your First Team® agent’s attention to detail is of vital importance. During this important phase, your First Team® agent is trained to synchronize and facilitate the following steps:
1
Deposit earnest money with the seller or seller’s agent
2
Recommend and schedule a home inspector (and accompany the buyer on the inspection)
3
Procure important documents such as property disclosure forms, condominium documents (eg. budget, declaration, association minutes, codes, covenants & restrictions) and deliver them to the buyer
4
Recommend a mortgage broker and help expedite the loan-application process
5
Make sure all contingencies have been met
6
Schedule a walk-through – preferably with both buyer and buyer’s agent present
7
Coordinate your closing
Tip: If you have an existing home to sell, choose a First Team® agent who will customize a comprehensive marketing proposal to help you receive the highest possible sales prices in the quickest time.
Testimonials “
““ “
Jacob made our home buying experience so comfortable and enjoyable. House hunting can be a pretty emotional and grueling process but Jacob did an amazing job of being incredibly attentive and committed to us through the entire process. You can tell he genuinely cares about his clients - he would go out of his way to make sure we had all the information we needed to make our decisions. My husband and I are so thankful to have met him.
Ashley & Chris L. Ladera Ranch This was the best house finding experience I’ve ever had. We were lucky enough to find Jacob; he jumped in right when my family when I needed him and made our very stressful circumstances great. Jacob is friendly, responsive, invested, and professional. I plan to use him again and wouldn’t hesitate to refer my closest friends and family to him.
Deven & Shelley S. Laguna Niguel
My wife and I were recently looking to relocate from Wisconsin to Orange County. We’ve visited various pockets within Orange County countless times, but knew little about the nuances and idiosyncrasies of day-to-day living between the various cities. We found Jacob Lawlor online, and he was an absolute godsend. He was somehow able to take this daunting, confusing relocation process and pivot it into an entertaining lifetime memory and milestone.
View more reviews on
Jake & Anna O. San Clemente
When is the best time to buy? WHETHER YOU PURCHASE A HOME TWO DAYS FROM NOW OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW, I’M HERE TO HELP
However
TIMING DOES MATTER According to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, MBA, and NAR:
Interest rates are going up
Those that delay to purchase could lose 12% in buying power
IF YOU BUY NOW
IF YOU WAIT
$2,865 monthly payment / 20% down payment
$2,865 monthly payment / 20% down payment
at
4%
at
interest rate
5.125%
interest rate
You can afford a home worth
Your buying power decreases to
$750,000
$658,000
In Orange County, that difference in purchase price can be the difference between:
SINGLE-FAMILY HOME VS. CONDO 3-BEDROOM VS. 2-BEDROOM “TURNKEY” VS. “FIXER” YOUR DREAM HOME VS. A HOME YOU “SETTLE” FOR
CALL TODAY TO FIND OUT HOW JACOB WILL DO WHAT OTHER AGENTS WON’T—TO FIND WHAT OTHER AGENTS CAN’T
JACOB LAWLOR REALTOR® |
Lic# 01899247
949.201.0899
JacobLawlor@FirstTeam.com OCjacob.com An Affiliate of LUXURY PORTFOLIO INTERNATIONAL® © First Team® Real Estate. All rights reserved. This is not intended to solicit a listed property. If your property is currently listed for sale with a broker, please disregard.
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