Buyer’s Agent
My job as a buyer’s agent is to structure a strong and sound contract that gets your offer accepted and protects you. To make this happen you need to be confident in your understanding of the contract and the process.
Buyers most often asked questions
- How much money do I need for a down payment and for a good faith deposit?
- Can I cancel a contract and get my deposit back?
- Can I back out if I find out something about the house that I don’t like?
- How much time do I have for my inspections?
- How long is escrow?
- What repairs will the seller make and what repairs does the city require?
Questions I ask Buyers
- Do you know the difference between a traditional sale, a short sale and an (REO) sale?
- Do you understand all your financing options?
- Are you eligible for any federal, state, or city incentives or programs?
- Are you employed by a union, federal, state, or city agency?
- Are you and the home eligible for FHA Financing?
- Are you up-to-date on tax credits for first time buyers and repeat buyers?
- Have you thought about how you want to hold title to the property?
- Do you have a trusted lender or would you like me to refer someone I know and trust?
Questions for Sellers who are also buying
- Do you know how to transfer your property taxes if you are 55 years of age or older?
- Do you know which expenses you can deduct on your home to avoid capital gain taxes?
- Are you familiar with the 250K/500K tax deduction?
- How you filled out the Sell vs. Buy or Buy vs. Sell Worksheet?
How I Help Buyers
- Review the Buyers Inspection Advisory, p 1-2, Items 1-15, before you write an offer so you know what’s important
- Help you gain a thorough understanding of the Purchase Contract
- Advise you on what’s negotiable
- Explain what happens when the property doesn’t appraise for the amount of the sale price
- Calculate the closing costs and explain who pays
- Make sure your lenders’ preapproval letter meets the purchase contract requirements. They usually don’t and you start off in a weak position without even knowing.
- To be sure you really understand a pest control report, property report, preliminary title report, and all other reports.
- To explain Alameda’s three retrofit ordinances and how they are enforces - Sewer Lateral, Gas Value, and Amnesty
- Review what is suppose to be in a homeowner’s association packet and find important documents that are often missing.