Buyer's Guide

Purchasing a house is one of life's biggest decisions, but don't worry. London Properties is here to help. As the Central Valley's #1 Brokerage firm, our associates help a family to buy or sell their home every 3.6 hours, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our management team works hand in hand with our associates to provide the guidance, marketing tools, and training they require in order to provide you superior service. Working together, we'll provide all the professional service and guidance you need to purchase or sell your home with confidence.

At the moment, we are seeing more buyers than homes available, which, of course, pushes prices higher and causes homes to sell quickly. The good news is that interest rates are at historic lows, meaning those who buy now will lock in lower monthly payments for the life of their loan. The savings in interest may more than offset the higher values. Remember, you live in the payment, not the price.

When you are ready to purchase your home, use our Buyer's Guide Checklist to put yourself in the best position, simplify the process, and save money.

London Properties Buyer's Guide

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1. Pre-Approval:
A pre-approval letter from Royal Charter Mortgage is a must-have document for every buyer. You'll know the amount you can afford, and your projected monthly payment. In addition, sellers will look favorably on your offer knowing that you are a fully qualified Buyer.

Click here to talk with someone at Royal Charter Mortgage.

2. Every Buyer Needs Their Own Agent:
The listing agent has a fiduciary responsibility to the seller, and as a buyer you need a Buyer's Agent who will look out for your best interest. A Buyer's Agent will help you schedule appointments to see property, provide advice, provide comparable pricing data, and prepare a purchase agreement with terms more to your advantage. Once your offer is accepted, a Buyer's Agent will help you review all the necessary documents while guiding you through your inspection reports, repairs, escrow, and title process.

If you do not have your own Buyer's Agent, London Properties can help you find the perfect REALTOR^®. to request a Buyer's Agent.

3. Find-It-First:
See the newest homes before anyone else. With homes selling in 52 days on average, many are selling as soon as they hit the market. It's very likely that your dream home has not been listed yet. With London Properties' Find-It-First email updates you enter the information about the home you want and you'll receive an email notification as soon as it hits the market.

to sign up for Find It First.

4. Pre-Qualifying Your Vendors And Service Providers:
Once your offer is accepted, things move very quickly. We recommend having your service providers in place before you make an offer. You'll want to order a Home Inspection, Pest Inspection, Insurance, a Natural Hazard Disclosure, and you'll need your own roof and pool inspector, a Home Warranty and possibly a General Contractor. If you don't have contacts for these services, your London Properties associate can guide you through the process.

5. Know What You Need Vs. What You'd Like:
While it's everyone's goal to find "the perfect home", most likely you will find a home that meets 80% to 90% of your needs. This is especially true when more than one decision maker is involved, such as you and your spouse. With homes selling briskly, it's important to have a "Must Have & Would Like To Have" list so when you find a property you love you can make an offer quickly. Your London Properties Buyer's Agent can help you separate the must from the likes and put you in position where you can act quickly and with confidence.

6. Make A Solid Offer:
This year, many sellers are getting multiple offers and the asking price is one of many factors that will make or break your offer. Your London Properties Buyer's Agent will help you determine the right offering price and will guide you in selecting the right requests and purchase options that could help make your offer become the one accepted.

7. Be Ready To Negotiate:
One of the biggest mistakes we see with buyers and sellers is that they assume they know how the other party will react to their offer. Almost every transaction involves some give and take, and this is where you should consult with your London Properties Buyer's Agent. Your Buyer's Agent and their management team deal with real estate negotiations daily. Their experience will be key to helping you to move into the home of your dreams.

The home buying process need not be complicated or overwhelming. Should you need more information or have any specific questions, give us a call. We're here to help.