F R O M S E A R C H I N G T O S O L D your home Buying YOUR LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENT Elizabeth Schwind
We understand that selling a home in today's market can be challenging. While the market can fluctuate daily, hundreds of homes are sold each week in our area. If you have thought about selling your home, now is a perfect time!
ABOUT ME
My husband Dave and I have been married since the time we were both at Surface Warfare officers School 20 years ago! In that time we have moved to 17 different addresses to include overseas and multiple cross country relocations. That said, we have always ended up coming back "home" to Hampton Roads, as we have found this to be a fantastic place to raise our kids and enjoy all that the east coast has to offer! We live in the Hickory area of Chesapeake with our amazing four kids, 5 dogs, 2 cats, 7 goats and 2 alpacas Oh, and we can’t forget the 10 chickens! I know this area like the back of my hand and I am excited to be with Rose and Womble, a company with amazing resources for both my buyers and sellers to help this major financial event in your life smooth as can be
CONTACT DETAILS
G E T T I N G T O K N O W Y O U R A G E N T Y O U R L O C A L R E A L T O R Welcome
Elizabeth Schwind
REALTOR®, LICENSED IN VA, GRI, ABR, CDPE, ASP (757) 390-1332 eschwind@rwtowne com www elizabethschwind rwtowne com REALTOR®, Licensed in VA 300 Cedar Lakes Dr. Chesapeake, VA 23322
David has over 35 years of real estate experience in Hampton Roads and N E North Carolina David's extensive knowledge of real estate and construction has proven to be an indispensable asset to his clients
Kim got her real estate license in 2001 and proceeded to win Rookie of the Year, and she hasn't slowed down yet! Kim's passion for real estate and helping families can only be rivaled for her love of shelling on the beach and cooking for family and friends
Kesha is a 3rd generation Realtor! You could say that real estate is literally in her blood. Kesha was recently named in the top 500 Realtors in Hampton Roads!
We are excited to help YOU BUY A HOME!
O U R T E A M I S H E R E T O S U P P O R T & G U I D E Y O U Meet
Our Team
PROVIDING SUCCESS THROUGH TEAMWORK!!!
T e a m L e a d e r & R e a l t o r L i c e n s e d i n V A & B r o k e r i n N C
David Wilkey
T e a m L e a d e r & R e a l t o r L i c e n s e d i n V A
Kim Wilkey
T e a m L e a d e r & R e a l t o r L i c e n s e d i n V A & B r o k e r i n N C
Kesha Wilkey-Prim
Meet Our Team
Team Support & Realtor Licensed in VA
Cindi began her real estate career in 2016 after moving to Hampton Roads In 2018, she joined the Wilkey Extreme Team where she provides support to all of our agents
Team Support & Realtor licensed in VA
Mathew has over been a Realtor® in the Hampton Roads market for over 10 years More than just a Realtor®, Mathew believes in counseling clients through the real estate process
Realtor, Licensed in VA & Broker in NC
Erica has been in the real estate game for over 9 years She is a top producer for North Carolina and Virginia! Her husband serves as a Norfolk firefighter and she loves helping first time home buyers
O U R T E A M I S H E R E T O H E L P G U I D E Y O U
We are excited to help YOU BUY A HOME!
Cindi Huey Mathew Obenaus
Erica
Midgett
PROVIDING SUCCESS THROUGH TEAMWORK!!!
Meet Our Team
Pitre
Realtor Licensed in VA Kate
Kate is passionate about guiding her clients through the home buying process and making the experience an enjoyable one. As a military spouse who has moved several times in the last 15 years, Kate understands all the stress involved with moving to a new area.
Elinor Lee
Realtor licensed in VA
Elinor is another local agent, born and raised right here in Norfolk She spent many years building her own real state investment portfolio, so in 2015 she became a licensed agent
Adrienne Parker
Realtor, Licensed in VA & Broker in NC
Adrienne joined the team in 2019 and hit the ground running, and hasn't looked back since. She is another one of our local agents with great ties to the area and a great willingness to help families with their real estate needs
We are excited to help YOU BUY A HOME!
O U R T E A M I S H E R E T O H E L P G U I D E Y O U
PROVIDING SUCCESS THROUGH TEAMWORK!!!
Meet Our Team
Alison Hutchings
Alison got real estate license in 2010 and took some time off to raise her beautiful children Now she is back on the scene and ready to assist families with their real estate needs!
Ed Holster
We are excited to help YOU BUY A HOME!
O U R T E A M I S H E R E T O H E L P G U I D E Y O U
REALTOR®, Licensed in VA
PROVIDING SUCCESS THROUGH TEAMWORK!!!
Ed b Caro to in
Client Testimonials
Elizabeth Schwind was our purchasing agent for the same home we just sold Then, as now, Liz was amazing, going above and beyond and being more than an agent. She was a friend, guide, mentor and counsellor. We so appreciate all her help and consider her a dear friend, not just a business partner You're truly blessed to have her as part of your team at Rose and Wombley. No one could be a better ambassador for your company. God bless you all and thanks for all you've done for us Oh, and Liz needs to be made a "partner"
- Cara & aAJ H
Elizabeth took wonderful care of us from start to finish. Could not have asked for better. She was patient with our questions, accommodating of our needs and went above and beyond when unusual situations arose. We were in excellent hands and we are truly grateful. Thank you, Elizabeth!
- Jennifer H
I really appreciate that Elizabeth Schwind was proactive in this entire process! I did not have to chase her down for answers This was a huge thing for me. Also, appreciate the professional manner in which Elizabeth conveyed both good and less exciting information to us. Elizabeth's "finger on the pulse" of the market was key in us selling our home at the correct price point for our home and the current market. Absolutely delighted with the process!! Many thanks to Elizabeth!!
- Abby & Andy T
C H E C K O U T M Y P R E V I O U S C L I E N T ' S R E V I E W S
ALWAYS PUTTING OUR CLIENTS FIRST!
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Buyer Mistakes
Homebuyer mistakes are common, but they can be disastrous & lead to unwanted process delays and financial issues down the road. Here are the top 6 common mistakes to avoid:
NOT GETTING PREAPPROVED BEFORE LOOKING
04
NEGLECTING FIRSTTIME HOME BUYER PROGRAMS
Programs & grants exist that can help you to get your home
05
NOT RESEARCHING THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Take the time to research the home’s neighborhood before committing to a sale, i e school district & other factors
06
RUSHING TO MAKE AN OFFER
Be 100% sure of your interest in the home before making an offer
Helping you buy your dream home!
Having a real estate expert helps make the home buying process go more smoothly overall 02 NOT WORKING WITH A REAL ESTATE AGENT There are a number of expenses to consider when you ’ re buying a house 03
NOT SAVING UP ENOUGH MONEY
Beneficial to determine how much house you can afford 01
T O P 6 C O M M O N M I S T A K E S T H A T B U Y E R S M A K E
HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME!
Most homebuyers dream of a stress-free process, for this to happen you’ll want to be prepared and control the factors that could have a big impact. Here are 10 steps to help prepare you for buying your home.
1 0 S T E P S T O B U Y I N G Y O U R H O M E Home Buying Process 06 09 04 07 Meet with mortgage lenders and get a pre-approval letter Schedule an inspection and negotiate any repairs discovered After choosing an offer your home will be under contract 01 I will meet with you to discuss my responsibilities to help buy your home Begin your online search for your new home & schedule some home tours Schedule an appraisal for your potential new home checking it's value 03 Set up your finances before you look to buy your new home 02 FINANCES 05 After finding the perfect home, put in a strong offer and negotiate the contract MAKE AN OFFER 08 Plan your move ahead of time with our easy to follow list SCHEDULE YOUR MOVE 10 Time to get your keys and celebrate the buying of your home CLOSING GET PRE-APPROVED ORDER AN INSPECTION FINAL DETAILS FIRST CONSULTATION START
HOME SHOPPING APPRAISAL
HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME!
As your Real Estate Agent, my number one priority is to help you achieve your own home goals. I make it my goal to understand your situation when it comes to buying your forever home.
GETTING IN THE DOOR
We will narrow down the homes that fit your unique wants and needs to get you in the right doors! Looking at dozens of homes every week, I can help identify any potential problems within a home
NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERT
I have the market knowledge you need to get the best results from your house purchase. Understanding the local real estate market can go a long way when it comes time to make an offer on a house.
PROBLEM SOLVER
I will work hard to protect all of your interests and take on any issues that may arise throughout the entire process Hopefully making buying a home fun and stress-free process
1 2 3
REAL ESTATE IS MY PASSION. I AM DEDICATED TO HELPING EACH & EVERY ONE OF MY CLIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR REAL ESTATE GOALS & HAVE AN
M Y C O M M I T M E N T S T O Y O U
HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME! 01
First Consultation
Exceptional home buying experience!
Mortgage lenders recommend you do not stretch yourself beyond buying a home that is more than 3 to 5 times your annual household income. If you are not purchasing a home with cash, you will need a mortgage pre-approval provided by your mortgage lender.
PREPARING YOUR FINANCES
Study your credit report & make note of any errors
CREDIT CHECK
A mortgage requires a good credit score You can improve your score by:
1.
Pay credit card balances strategically
Complete required forms: Pay slips, tax returns, bank statement
Calculate how much of a payment you are comfortable with, don't forget taxes on top!
2.
Increase your credit limit
3.
Aim for 30% Credit Utilization or Less
4.
Get credit for rent and utility payments
SAVE FOR A DOWN PAYMENT & OTHER EXPENSES!
In order to make your dream of buying a home a reality, you will need to save cash for your downpayment, earnest money, closing costs, and home inspector
A down payment is between
3.5% & 20% OF PURCHASE PRICE
G E T Y O U R F I N A N C E S I N O R D E R B E F O R E B U Y I N G
HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME! 02
Finances
C R E D I T R E P O R T D O C U M E N T S P A Y M E N T
Get Pre-Approved
If you ’ re ready to make your dream of owning a home a reality, you ’ ve probably already heard that you should consider getting preapproved for a mortgage. It’s time to understand exactly what that means and how it might help you.
WHAT IS MORTGAGE PRE-APPROVAL?
Preapproval is as close as you can get to confirming your creditworthiness without having a purchase contract in place You will complete a mortgage application and the lender will verify the information you provide They’ll also perform a credit check
There are many different factors that the mortgage lender will use to calculate your pre-approval. It is always best to be prepared, so here are a few documents you can gather for when the time comes:
Lenders look at every detail of your finances when granting preapproval You might be asked about a car loan payment you made with a credit card, for example Be prepared to answer lender questions as soon as they come up
B E P R E P A R E D T O M A K E A N O F F E R
HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME! 03
EXPECT
Homebuyer tip!
SURPRISES!
1. T A X R E T U R N S 2. P A Y S L I P S / T A X R E T U R N S 3. W - 2 F O R M S 4. B A N K S T A T E M E N T S 5. P R O O F O F I D
CONVENTIONAL MORTGAGES
Can be used for your primary home or vacation or investment property
Your down payment can be as little as 3% for qualifying loans
Stricter qualifications that require a minimum credit score of 620 & low DTI
JUMBO MORTGAGES
For borrowers who need to take out more money than the federal limit for a standard mortgage
You can borrow more for a more expensive home
You’ll need a large down payment, typically between 10 – 20%
GOVERNMENT-INSURED MORTGAGES
Available through the FHA, VA and USDA, these make homeownership more accessible for qualified borrowers
It is possible to save on interest and down payments
You must meet specific criteria to qualify
FIXED-RATE MORTGAGES
These loans benefit from predictable monthly payments
Monthly payments don’t change over the life of your loan, making it easier to plan a budget.
You may end up paying more in interest over time if the rates are high.
ADJUSTABLE-RATE MORTGAGES
Low initial interest rates mean big savings early on
Gives lower interest rates for the initial introductory period.
If the rate increases, it can dramatically increase your monthly payments
D I F F E R E N T T Y P E S O F HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME! 03 loans
MORTGAGE
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Start Home Shopping
START VIEWING HOMES
We will take notes on all the homes we visit. It can be hard to remember all the details of each home, so take pictures or videos to help you remember each home, and review the notes you have written.
Once we have found the house for you, we will present an appropriate offer based on recent sales and current buyer activity in the area.
Searching
Browse available homes online to get a feel for your local housing market. Websites can give you a close look at how much the average home sells in your area and provide a more realistic idea of what type of home you can afford
Schedule an in-person tour of the houses you're interested in.
B E G I N L O O K I N G F O R Y O U R D R E A M H O M E
HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME! 04
O N L I N E
for finding your dream home
Buying a home can be stressful and exciting all at the same time If you're buying a home, this list can help get your search off on the right foot Consider these factors
PLANNING
Write down all of the things you must have in your new home, things that would be nice to have and things that don’t really matter
LOCATION
Consider any potential home's proximity to your work, neighborhoods charm, and how the home is situated on the lot
NEIGHBORHOOD
Drive around on weekdays & weekends, during the day and in the evening Do the neighbors keep the yards clean and tidy?
STAY IN BUDGET
Get pre-approved for a loan before looking at houses. It will make the buying process much easier and you will know which houses to look at.
SIZE & FLOOR PLAN
Think about how the new home space will be used and whether it will fit your lifestyle now and in the future
Happy house hunting!
KEEP AN OPEN MIND
The key is looking past the exterior cosmetic blemishes to the home’s bones. Look for a well-built home with potential for changes.
HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME! TIPS H O U S E H U N T I N G 04
Make An Offer
The next stage is finding that perfect property and making a competitive offer. As more people are looking to become homeowners, it's important to prepare yourself. Here are 5 strategies to get your offer accepted over other offers.
A good rule of thumb, specifically in a seller's market, is to start strong To do this we will access the property's market value with a CMA and determine what it is worth in the current market.
02
C O N N E C T I O N
Include a letter to the sellers with your offer, letting them know why you love their home! To create an emotional connection. making you stand out from the rest.
T I M E L I N E 03
Express your willingness to work with the sellers' timetable to closing. Making a more attractive offer with a shorter timeframe over one with an extended contingency
C A S H V S L O A N 04
Paying in cash vs taking out a loan offers a faster closing timeline & fewer chances of issues arising, making it more appealing
L A R G E R D E P O S I T 05
An offer that includes a larger earnest money deposit presents a more serious and competitive offer
M A K E Y O U R O F F E R S T A N D O U T F R O M O T H E R S
HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME! 05
T I T I V E O F F E R
C O M P E
01
PROCESS
after making an offer
Once you've locked down your preapproval letter and real estate agent and found your dream home, the next thing to worry about is the actual process of making an offer Here are the stages that your offer on your new home can go through
OFFERS PRESENTED ACCEPT COUNTER REJECT
Your offer is accepted! It's time to celebrate, now we will move ahead with any conditions laid out in the offer like home inspections.
The seller may reject your offer. We will ask questions to discover why and if there is anything we can do to make the offer more appealing.
The seller may come back with their own counter offer.
In this case, we will review the terms with you and proceed to negotiate until we reach an agreement
NEGOTIATE IF NECESSARY
The home inspection will tell you if there are any dangerous or costly repairs that need to be addressed. You can then choose to either back out of the deal, ask the seller to make repairs, or negotiate a lower price to cover the costs.
T H E HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME! 05
Order An Inspection
A home inspection can help identify deficiencies in a home you're considering purchasing. If the inspection reveals problems or repairs are needed, you may be able to negotiate with the seller to fix those issues.
During the inspection period, we will schedule an inspection with a reputable home inspector to do a thorough investigation of the home Once this is complete, the inspector will provide us with a list of the findings
TYPES OF POTENTIAL INSPECTIONS
Home Inspection
Radon Testing
Wood Destroying Organism (WDD)
Inspection
Mold Inspection Foundation Inspection
HVAC Inspection
Lead-Based Paint Inspection
THE TYPICAL INSPECTION PERIOD IS BETWEEN 10-15 DAYS
It is critical that we begin scheduling the inspections you choose to have done as soon as we are under contract on your potential new home This will ensure that we do not run out of time or have any delays in the process.
I N S P E C T I O N T I M E P E R I O D
A T H O R O U G H I N V E S T I G A T I O N O F T H E H O M E
HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME! 06
Appraisal Ordered
A home appraisal is a process through which a real estate appraiser determines the fair market value of a home. It can assure you and your lender that the price you ’ ve agreed to
WHAT DO HOME APPRAISERS LOOK FOR?
ual inspection, an appraiser looks at a ors in the home to determine its value,
ondition of the home - Counting the bedrooms and making sure each one ow and a closet They also check for afety considerations
- Looking at any upgrades or nts made to the property
Beneficial for everyone
Involved in the home buying process, ensuring you are paying the current fair market value for your new home
M A K E S U R E T H E V A L U E O F Y O U R H O M E I S R I G H T
07
A P P R A I S A L S A R E
Schedule Your Move
When it comes to moving there are so many things to do that it’s easy to forget a few. Here is a checklist that is easy to follow, we hope it helps make your move go smoothly!
4 WEEKS TO MOVE
Sell or give anything away you won’t move, maybe plan a garage sale
Call several movers for estimates
Pick up a Change of Address Moving Kit from the Post Office
Contact children’s school and have transcripts forwarded
Make a list of everything to be moved
2 WEEKS TO MOVE
Pack one room at a time and label all boxes
Transfer your insurance to be covered at your new home
Assemble all necessary documents for the new home
Notify utility companies with the moving date to stop services, & get final meter readings
1 WEEK TO MOVE
Obtain certified checks for closing
Arrange for childcare/petcare during the moving day
Confirm moving/travel arrangements
Pack clothes for each person, with enough clothes & personal items needed for a few days
CONGRATULATIONS
On your successful move and enjoy your
C O U N T D O W N Y O U R F I N A L W E E K S U N T I L M O V I N G
HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME! 08
N E W H O M E
Final Details
You're almost there! This is the final leg of the home buying journey! Prepare all your paperwork, change of address, and insurance before you move into your new home to save time and be prepared for the closing day.
HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE
One of the principal tasks includes getting homeowner's insurance, which protects you against events such as floods, fires, and storm damages. We recommend you start shopping early to compare rates and get the best deal possible.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS & UTILITIES
Before the closing, you will need to change all the addresses on your; subscriptions, bills, banks, etc Additionally, a few weeks before closing, you should call all utilities to have your name changed and schedule them to service your new home
FINAL WALKTHROUGH
We will do a final walkthrough of the new home within 24 hours of closing to check the property's condition. This final inspection takes about an hour. We will make sure any repair work that the seller agreed to make has been done.
P R E P A R E F O R Y O U R N E W H O M E
HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME! 09
Closing day is when you sign ownership and insurance paperwork and receive your new home's keys! Typically the closing process takes 6 weeks. During this time the funds are held in escrow.
CLOSING COSTS
Both buyers and sellers pay closing costs. However, the buyer usually pays most of them
Things to bring!
Government-issued photo ID
Copy of sales contract
Homeowner's insurance certificate
Certified funds or cashier's check
CLOSING TABLE
BETWEEN 2% & 5%
The average closing costs for the buyer is of the loan amount
Your Agent Your Lender
Your Settlement Agent/Attorney
The closing is usually held at a title company or attorney's office that is convenient to your location and needs An experienced settlement officer will lead all parties through the closing process
T H E F I N A L S T A G E O F B U Y I N G Y O U R H O M E Closing
HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME! 10 Congratulations ON YOUR NEW FOREVER HOME!
Day
W H O W I L L B E T H E R E
HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME! ADDRESS PRICE RATING 0-10 T R A C K T H E H O M E S Y O U H A V E V I E W E D Homes Viewed
Additional Notes HELPING YOU BUY YOUR HOME! E L I Z A B E T H S C H W I N D | L O C A L R E A L T O R I S W H E R E Y O U R S T O R Y B E G I N S H O M E I WANT TO HELP START THAT STORY!
300 CEDAR LAKES DR CHESAPEAKE, VA 23322 THANK YOU For choosing me to help you in the process of selling your home I look forward to working with you to help you achieve your real estate goals Elizabeth Schwind 757-390-1332 eschwind@rwtowne.com Exclusive Agent Representing the Seller. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted and is solely a guide to prospective purchasers who should satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness of this information. ©2023 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices RW Towne Realty is an affiliate of TowneBank.
