Home Buying with Lori Christensen by Lori Reece

Home Buying with Lori Christensen RE/MAX Whatcom County

www.4thcornerhomes.com

THINKING OF BUYING A HOME? • Are you tired of making someone else’s mortgage payment? • Have you outgrown your current living space? • Will you go another year with little or no tax write-offs? • Did you know there are over 50 ways you can buy a home? • Would you like to build your financial future? • Why should I work with a REALTOR®?

CONTINUE READING To find out the facts about owning a home and what The 4th Corner Homes Team can do for you!

Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net

WELCOME TO THE TEAM! The 4th Corner Homes Team of RE/MAX Whatcom County is committed to providing you with the best service and a home buying experience that instills trust and guidance in a personable and professional manner. We pride ourselves on the level of service we provide, and our testimonials from past clients prove that. In addition to earning rave reviews, we back up our commitment with a service guarantee that few in the industry can match. In short, we make promises to our clients, and deliver! Shouldn’t you work with real estate professionals that have the experience and dedication to achieving your goals, and, are willing to put their service guarantee in writing? We think you should…

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The 4th Corner Homes Team L to R: David Vandette, Lori Christensen, Lindsay Sager, Brad Hanks

CONGRATULATIONS! In choosing to interview one of the best real estate service teams in Washington, you’ve made a smart first step toward purchasing your biggest asset! We understand what a huge decision purchasing a home can be, and we’re honored you’ve selected us to interview for the job as your real estate brokers. As you move through the purchase process, you’ll come to appreciate the level of trust instilled in your real estate broker, and we’ll work hard to earn that trust. Finding you the right house is only part of the service we provide. In addition to analyzing and presenting all the choices in the marketplace, we’ll provide financing options, inspection recommendations, and guide your transaction through multiple steps to a successful close. Our goal is to provide you with a stress-free and enjoyable experience when purchasing your home, and we can't wait to hand you the keys at the finish line! 4

Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net

Your Home Buying Expert, Lori Christensen Being a native Skagit County resident and enjoying Bellingham for the last decade, I have etched out a rewarding career as an Associate Broker and Realtor, working on a residential level at RE/MAX Whatcom County INC. and earning the Executive Club Award for 2018. Working as an active, full time broker, with a strong 22year background in customer service, I have earned my Master Certified Negotiation Expert certificate (MCNE) which is of most importance when securing a property for a client. Focusing on the highest level of customer service, it is important that each client receives the upmost level of professionalism, including loyalty, prompt communication, and understanding and exceeding my clients’ expectations. I strive to understand their real estate goals and apply my knowledge and dedication in guiding my clients through the home buying or selling process. This creates a partnership that enables me to negotiate in their best interests, reducing hassle, and giving them the confidence that all their questions and concerns are taken care of directly by me. Bellingham and Whatcom county offers a lifestyle that awards me and my family every day. We enjoy skiing at Mt. Baker, mountain biking on Mt. Galbraith, walking our Labrador at Lake Padden, and gardening while enjoying our view at our new home in the Samish neighborhood. I enjoy volunteer work at my kid’s schools and serving on the board for Komo Kulshan Ski Club. I have extensive knowledge of Whatcom and Skagit counties, and being a Realtor with the 4th Corner Homes Team of RE/MAX Whatcom County provides my clients with access to a network of industry professionals dedicated to home buying success.

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Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net

www.4thcornerhomes.com

Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net

THE 4TH CORNER HOMES TEAM’S MISSION STATEMENT To provide outstanding service and attention throughout the entire home-buying or selling process, ensuring as smooth a transition as possible.

To devote ourselves to the responsibilities of loyalty, confidentiality, disclosure, and accountability for all clients.

To constantly uphold and adhere to the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics.

To utilize our knowledge of the area as a real estate professional living in our community.

To improve our professional advice by continuing education in all facets of our industry.

To serve our communities as stewards of the land and protect the property rights of all who live here.

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THE ROLE OF YOUR BUYER BROKER Why hire The 4th Corner Homes Team? Buying a new home can be more than just a financial decision. It can be an emotional one as well. That’s why it is so important to choose the right real estate professional to represent you, one who isn’t a “salesperson” trying to sell you on something; but someone who wants to help you accomplish what you have decided you want to do. In order to do this successfully, your full-service real estate professional must be: • Your Property Specialist • Your Transaction Coordinator • Your Community Consultant • Your Marketing Manager • Your Experienced Negotiator • Your Trusted Advisor and Consultant • Your Real Estate Professional The lone-broker concept just doesn’t get the job done in today’s marketplace. The 4th Corner Homes Team is dedicated to providing the best real estate service and advice. Working as a team, we easily provide full service to our clients. The team approach provides top-dollar value for the same price as a single broker. We use unity and strength to serve you, striving to protect you and your home investment. We always watch out for your best interest, and work together to achieve one common goal: Your complete satisfaction!

Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THE 4TH CORNER HOMES TEAM • The Best Service…Better than 99% client satisfaction. • Results…We find the home perfectly suited to your needs. • Buyer Counseling…The most dedicated and experienced advisors to work with you. • Value-Added…Caring services from the entire team and our vendors. • Access…To ALL new and resale homes available in the marketplace today.

Our belief is this

• Integrity…See our testimonials and client comments. • Ethical Standards…We support and practice the professional standards of the National Association of REALTORS®, the WA Association of REALTORS®, and the Whatcom County Association of REALTORS®. • Experience…Benefit from hundreds of successful real estate transactions.

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Client Service Philosophy “Just take care of the needs of people. Everything else will take care of itself. It’s that simple.” This difference in attitude is founded upon one basic idea – we don’t deal with brick and mortar or parcels of land – we deal with people. 11

One-Stop Home Shopping  We offer you “One-Stop Home Shopping.” Simply tell us what you want.  We can show you any property in Western Washington, anywhere, anytime.  We can sell your current property too!

THE 4TH CORNER HOMES TEAM TAKES CARE OF EVERYTHING FOR YOU • Are you looking for a resale anywhere? • Is your preference new construction anywhere, by any builder? • Did you see a yard sign somewhere?

 We cover all the possibilities so that you can make the best choice.

• Was the home you saw listed for sale by another company or builder?

 You don’t have to play “phone tag” with different REALTORS or builders.

• Did you see an ad in the paper, in a magazine, or on TV? Was the ad on a billboard, on a bus bench, or did you hear it on the radio?

• Was the sign a For Sale By Owner?

• Did you find something that appealed to you on the Internet? • Do you want to sell or buy in another geographic area? It would be our pleasure to refer you to a reputable REALTOR anywhere in the U.S.A. or Canada to assist you in buying or selling property. We have an extensive referral network built up over decades of experience! 12

Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net

COMMUNICATION… The key to a successful home purchase. Together, we will sit down to discuss the type, size, style, and location of the kind of home you are interested in purchasing. After extensive research on our part, we will preview homes together that fall into that category. Through constant communication and the use of our home search tools, NWMLS Portal and RealScout, we will keep you apprised of any new homes that come on the market that match your search criteria. Once we’ve found the perfect home, we will draft the contract, explain the forms to you in detail, then negotiate with the sellers to get the best possible price and terms for the home you choose. B Real Estate Advisor • Property Information • Area Information • Financing Sources • Real Estate Skills (Negotiating agreements, settlement)

Successful Purchase

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Buyer Contribution •

Home Requirements

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Area Selection

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Financial Information

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Accessibility

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Property Selection

•

Feedback

DON’T BUY YOUR HOME FROM SOMEONE WHO WON’T GUARANTEE THEIR WORK. Historically, REALTORS were not required to work with buyers under a formal buyer agency agreement. Most states now require that all real estate agents disclose agency in the form of consumer notice. In the state of Washington, that notice comes in the form of “The Law of Real Estate Agency,” a booklet your broker will give you before we start the process. Many brokers don’t educate their clients on these relationships. We work with our buyers strictly in a Buyer Agency Relationship. What does that mean to you? It means we are working strictly for you, in your best interest! OUR PLEDGE TO BUYERS: To provide unsurpassed service to help you buy your home at a fair market price, in the shortest time, with the least inconvenience to you, we will: 

Explain real estate agency relationships

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Maintain communication during the term of the agreement

Disclose all known material defects of the property

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Analyze your property needs and desires

Explain the offer presentation process, customs and protocols

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Deliver the required property disclosure form

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Carefully explain and prepare the purchase and sale agreement

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Arrange to present all offers to seller in a professional and timely manner

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Strive to obtain the best possible price and terms for you

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Explain post-acceptance activities and responsibilities

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Follow up on all post-purchase activities

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Keep confidential any information that you designate in writing as confidential

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Apprise you of current market conditions

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Provide helpful community data

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Explain local real estate practices

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Provide information on lenders and financing alternatives

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Search the NWMLS for suitable properties

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Coordinate appointments and show all homes of interest, whether the properties are our listings or not

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Provide relevant market data as to fair market value

Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net

YOUR COMMITMENT TO US We have explained in depth the advantages of working with The 4th Corner Homes Team as your exclusive buyer’s broker. In return we ask you: •

To communicate with us responsibly and honestly

•

To willingly provide pertinent information as needed

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To promptly inform The 4th Corner Homes Team of changes in timing, requirements, or other critical information that will affect your service commitment

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To submit a loan application and all lender required information within the time frame called upon in the contract (if financing)

•

Provide all required documentation as required by contract (proof of funds if cash purchase) or by escrow

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To enter into contracts in good faith and make every effort to adhere to all negotiated contingencies

•

To inform all other real estate brokers and new home builders that you are represented by The 4th Corner Homes Team

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THE A TO Z OF FINDING YOUR HOME

Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net

THE HOME BUYING PROCESS The 4th Corner Homes Team designed this book to assist you with the purchase of your home. We understand the many questions and concerns of home buyers and how this information will be helpful throughout the transaction. We assure you that it is our goal to provide the most professional and informative service available. Always call or email your broker whenever you have a question. We’re here to help!

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Consultation to Analyze Needs

Establish a Working Relationship

Get Pre-Approval by Lender

View Homes with Your Broker

Select Home

Present Offer Decide to Pay Cash Acceptance of Offer

Mortgage Application

Underwriting Earnest Money Loan Approval Inspections

Remove Contingencies

Credit Report

Appraisal

Sign Closing Documents

Closing!

Rejection or Conditions Loan Documents Drawn Escrow Cleared to Release & Record

Recording

Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net

THE STEP-BY-STEP HOME BUYING PROCESS 1 Your consultation We will quickly go over the basics of buying a home and provide you with the “Law of Real Estate Agency” pamphlet. Next, we’ll ask you several important questions to help us get a clear picture of what your needs, wants, and desires are. This takes about 30-45 minutes.

2 Choose your system At your consultation, you’ll be asked to decide which system you’d like to use in finding your home. There are two types of systems we employ: Exploration, or Broker Preview. With Exploration, we provide you with all the photos, addresses, and directions to the homes that match your criteria. This enables you to drive by the homes before you tour them. Many people like this system because they get a feel for the home’s location and condition without having us present. When you find a home of interest, make note of that address for our future property tour. Broker Preview is a more traditional system for house hunting. We preview all the homes that are available for you, narrowing the selection down to no more than seven top properties according to your criteria and our experience. We’ll then go out together to find the home you’ll buy from the ones we’ve selected.

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At the end of our consultation, you sign a Buyer Agency Agreement, and the search is on!

3 Find your new home Once we know the particulars of the home you’d like to buy, we use the technology services of the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, RealScout and other tools to search for properties that fit your criteria. When we go out to see the selected homes, make sure to bring your checkbook! Don’t be surprised when you fall in love with a home your very first day touring – most people do!

4 Draft your purchase agreement Once we’ve found your dream home, we’ll go back to our office and complete a residential purchase and sale agreement. A sample copy of this is given to you at your consultation.

5 Write your earnest money check As we draft the purchase and sale agreement, we’ll ask you to write a check for your earnest money, which shows the seller you’re serious about purchasing the home. We take the check and purchase agreement to the seller’s broker and negotiate on your behalf. If the seller accepts your offer, we will have “mutual acceptance.”

Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net

PLEASE NOTE: When your offer is accepted by the seller, your earnest money check will be cashed by the escrow company.

6 You bought your new home This point is often the hardest part of the home buying process. Why? Because buyer’s remorse may set in. Although a majority of our buyers are very excited, some still feel a bit of apprehension and buyer’s remorse. This happens because it’s time for a decision, commitment, lots of legal documents and a financial obligation. The butterflies you feel are normal. Just breathe deep and relax. We’ve got this!

7 Prepare to move Your closing and possession dates will be determined when you write the offer to purchase and are agreed upon by both the buyer and seller. We work hard to make sure that everything runs smoothly and to make it as easy and pleasant for you as possible. We’ll coordinate your inspectors, appraisers, lenders and escrow officers. If we identify any problems, we’ll work to find solutions.

Please feel free to call, email or text us at any time during the process. We sometimes use the services of a transaction coordinator to assist with our files, and while we all work hard to make sure that you are informed throughout the process, there may be information that needs further explanation or clarification. We’re here to help.

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BUYING A HOME: THE RISKS YOU FACE AND HOW TO AVOID THEM 22

Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net

AVOIDING THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES HOME BUYERS MAKE Here are eight of the most common mistakes home buyers make when trying to buy a home: Don’t understand the market and which properties are available Many buyers try to see everything that’s available They look at properties beyond their price range Lack knowledge of pricing and the value of certain amenities Failing to get the proper inspections Lack negotiation skills, costing them thousands of dollars They look for the perfect home Overlook schools, shopping, neighborhood and amenities

By utilizing our exclusive service, your home purchase will go smoothly, and you’ll avoid these common – and sometimes costly – mistakes.

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THE DOS AND DON’TS OF A HOME PURCHASE Our team is committed to your success in finding a home, so we thought we’d share some dos and don’ts to consider as we move ahead in finding the right property…

Do… • Go into the home search with an open mind, as we’ve seen buyers that were set on looking for a single-level vintage style home, but purchased a two-story Northwest contemporary. • Communicate openly and honestly with your broker, loan officer and escrow personnel throughout the process. • Provide documentation requested by any of the above parties in a timely fashion. • Allocate time to review escrow, title and loan documents, and research or ask questions on any items you’re not familiar with. • Attend the scheduled home inspection and review the report with your broker. • Keep in mind that a real estate transaction has many moving parts with multiple parties involved. • Ask questions along the way – this is a process that most people only go through once every 7-10 years, so it can be unfamiliar territory even for the most seasoned of buyers. • Share your positive experience with your friends and family. 24

Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net

Don’t… • Take a vacation during your transaction, unless you’ve made arrangements with someone to act on your behalf (Power of Attorney) or you’re available by cell, email or text. • Continue to search for other properties on the internet. • Become a party to a legal action (divorce, judgment, etc.), because these actions may have an impact on your ability to obtain financing or receive clear title to the property. • Despair when things don’t go exactly as planned – with all the moving parts and numerous parties involved, a real estate transaction doesn’t always follow pre-determined timelines. • Forget to tell your friends, co-workers and family about The 4th Corner Homes Team at RE/MAX Whatcom County.

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PURCHASE CONTRACTS

Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net

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Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net

www.4thcornerhomes.com

Lori Christensen, Realtor®, 360-603-0526, lorichristensen@remax.net