THE HOME BUYING PROCESS

Why Haute Team?

Experience
Joseph Castaneda has been a Realtor, Certified Residential Appraiser and Investor since 2001 and an expert in Luxury Real Estate.

Technology
Leading-edge tech tools and training give us the edge in effectively finding the perfect home for you!

Teamwork
Haute Team was designed to reward agents for working together. Based on the belief that we are all more successful if we strive toward a common goal rather than our individual interests, we’re confident that every Haute Team member shares the common goal of serving you, our client, in the best way possible.

Knowledge
Haute Team stays ahead of trends in the real estate industry through its comprehensive, industry-leading training curriculum and research resources. It’s what prepares us to provide you with unparalleled service.

Reliability
Founded on the principles of trust and honesty, Haute Team emphasizes the importance of having the integrity to do the right thing, always putting your needs first. It reinforces our belief that our success is ultimately determined by the legacy we leave with each client we serve.

Track Record
It’s proof that when you offer a superior level of service, the word spreads fast.

Why Get Pre-Qualified Before Looking For Real Estate?

  • The best deals go quickly. You need to act quickly to seize an opportunity and that means getting pre-qualified first.
  • Knowing exactly how much you can comfortably spend on a home reduces the potential frustration of looking at homes beyond your means.

The Mortgage & Loan Process

Funding Your Home Purchase

  1. Financial pre-qualification or pre-approval
    • Application and interview
    • Buyer provides pertinent documentation including verification of employment
    • Credit report is requested
    • Appraisal scheduled for current home owned, if any
  2. Underwriting
    • Loan package is submitted to underwriter for approval
  3. Loan approval
    • Parties are notified of approval
    • Loan documents are completed and sent to title
  4. Title company
    • Title exam, insurance and title survey conducted
    • Borrowers come in for final signatures
  5. Funding
    • Lender reviews the loan package
    • Funds are transferred by wire

Your Home Search

We love helping buyers find their dream home. That’s why we work with each client individually, taking the time to understand their unique lifestyles, needs and wishes. This is about more than a certain number of bedrooms or a particular ZIP code. It’s about your life, and it’s important to us.

When you work with us, you get:

  • Knowledgeable and professional REALTORS®
  • Committed allies to negotiate on your behalf
  • The backing of a trusted company, Haute Team

We have the systems in place to streamline the home-buying process for you.
As part of our service, we will commit to helping you with your home search by:

  • Previewing homes in advance on your behalf
  • Personally touring homes and neighborhoods with you
  • Keeping you informed of new homes on the market
  • Helping you preview homes on the Web
  • Advising you of other homes that have sold and for how much
  • Working with you until we find the home of your dreams

Getting Started

Basic Information
Name _________________________________________
Phone _________________________________________
Email _________________________________________
Name _________________________________________
Phone _________________________________________
Email _________________________________________
Who is the primary contact and what is the best time and way to reach that individual?
What is prompting your move?
When do you need to be in your new home?
Are you pre-approved for a mortgage?
What is your price range?
If we found a home today that meets all of your needs and as many of your wants as possible, would you make an offer

Your Lifestyle Interview

Lifestyle:
Who will be living in the home you purchase?
Will anyone else be spending more than an occasional overnight stay (e.g., parents)?
Describe your lifestyle. What do you enjoy doing at home? Do you do a lot of entertaining? How do you spend your time in the evenings and on the weekends?
Does your home need to accommodate any special needs?
Do you have any pets?
Do you have anything special that needs to be accommodated such as athletic equipment, fine art, large furniture or a large collection?
When people come to your home, what do you want your home to say about you?
Is there anything we should know about your lifestyle that I have not asked?

Location:
Tell us about your ideal location.
What is your maximum commute time and distance?
What is your work address?
Are schools important?
Is there a particular view you are seeking (e.g., skyline, lake, mountains)?
What else is important about your location?

Your Home Wish List

General:
Do you have a preference for when the house was built?
Do you want a house in move-in condition or are you willing to do some work on it?
When people come to your home, what do you want your home to say about you?
Do you want to have a swimming pool or hot tub?
Are you looking for any structures such as a greenhouse or shed?

Structure/Exterior:
What of home are you looking for (e.g., single-family, condo, town house, etc.)?
Approximately what size house are you looking for (square footage)?
How many stories?
What size lot would you like?
What architectural styles do you prefer?
What type of exterior siding will you consider?
Do you want a porch or deck?
What are you looking for in terms of a garage (e.g., attached, carport, etc.)?
What other exterior features are important to you?

House – Interior:
What kind of style do you want the interior of your home to have (e.g., formal, casual, cozy, traditional, contemporary)?
What kind of floor plan do you prefer (e.g., open vs. walls between all living spaces)?
In general, what are your likes and dislikes for the interior of your home?

Bedrooms:
How many bedrooms do you need?
How will each of those rooms be used?
What are your preferences for the master bedroom?

Bathrooms:
How many bathrooms do you need?
What are your needs for each of the bathrooms?

Kitchen:
What features must your kitchen have (e.g., breakfast area, types of appliances, etc.)?
What finishes do you want (e.g., countertops, flooring, appliances, etc.)?
What are your likes and dislikes for the kitchen?

Dining Room:
Would you like the dining room to be part of the kitchen configuration? What about the living room?
What size dining room table do you have?

Living Room/Family Room:
Describe your likes and dislikes.
Do you want a fireplace?
What size room(s) do you have in mind?
What other rooms do you need or want?
What else should we know about the inside of the house you are looking for?

Summary:
What are the top five things your home needs to have?
Beyond those five things, what is something else you really want to have?
If you could have something else, what would that be?
If you could have one last thing to make this your dream home, what would that be?

The Neighborhood of Your Dreams

Please consider the following and record any notes or preferences:
Areas you would enjoy
Specific streets you like
School district(s) you prefer
Your work location(s)
Your favorite shops/conveniences
Recreational facilities you enjoy
Any additional items to consider when selecting your target neighborhoods

What’s Ahead

Let’s look for a new home.
The following pages represent homes that we have selected for your review. The information we discussed about your wants, needs and desires were all taken into account when we chose these homes. In some cases, our clients find their dream home on the first day. In other cases, it takes more time to find the right home. Rest assured, there is a home out there just right for you. We just have to find it.

To assist you in the home search journey, we have organized a list of homes showing you the following information for each:

  • Photos of the home
  • The home address
  • The current asking price
  • The square footage and property taxes
  • The number of bedrooms and baths
  • The age and lot size
  • Unique features and comments

Once we narrow down the list of properties that are of interest, we will:

  • Provide you with more detailed information about the home
  • Review the county tax records for tax liens, etc.
  • Schedule a personal visit to the home
  • Tour the home with you
  • Determine how the asking price compares with other homes in the area
  • Answer any and all questions you may have

Making an Offer

Once you have found the property you want, we will write a purchase agreement. While much of the agreement is standard, there are a few areas that we can negotiate:

The Price
What you offer on a property depends on a number of factors including its condition, length of time on the market, buyer activity, and the urgency of the seller. While some buyers want to make a low offer just to see if the seller accepts, this often isn’t a smart choice, because the seller may be insulted and decide not to negotiate at all.

The Move-in Date
If you can be flexible on the possession date, the seller will be more apt to choose your offer over others.

Additional Property
Often, the seller plans on leaving major appliances in the home; however, which items stay or go is often a matter of negotiation.
Typically, you will not be present at the offer presentation – we will present it to the listing agent and/or seller. The seller will then do one of the following:

  • Accept the offer
  • Reject the offer
  • Counter the offer with changes

By far the most common is the counteroffer. In these cases, our experience and negotiating skills become powerful in representing your best interests.
When a counteroffer is presented, we will work together to review each specific area of it, making sure that we move forward with your goals in mind and ensuring that we negotiate the best possible price and terms on your behalf.

Closing 101

Prepare for It
Closing day marks the end of your home-buying process and the beginning of your new life!
To make sure your closing goes smoothly, you should bring the following:
A certified check for closing costs and down payment. Make the check payable to yourself; you will then endorse it to the title company at closing.
An insurance binder • and paid receipt
Photo IDs
Social Security numbers
Addresses for the past 10 years

Own It
Transfer of title moves ownership of the property from the seller to you.
The two events that make this happen are:

Delivery of the buyer’s funds
This is the check or wire funds provided by your lender in the amount of the loan.

Delivery of the deed
A deed is the document that transfers ownership of real estate. The deed names the seller and buyer, gives a legal description of the property, and contains the notarized signatures of the seller and witnesses. At the end of closing, the deed will be taken and recorded at the county clerk’s office. It will be sent to you after processing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will you tell me about the newest homes available?
The Multiple Listing Service Website provides up-to-date information for every home on the market. We constantly check the New on Market list so we can be on the lookout for our clients. We will get you this information right away, the way that is most convenient for you: by phone and/or email.

Will you inform me of homes from all real estate companies or only Keller Williams Realty?
We will keep you informed of all homes. We want to help you find your dream home, which means we need to stay on top of every home that’s available on the market.

Can you help me find new construction homes?
Yes, we can work with most builders and get you the information you need to make a decision. On your first visit with the builder, we will accompany you. By using our services with a new construction home purchase, you will receive the services we offer, as well as those provided by the builder, at no additional cost.

How does for sale by owner (FSBO) work?
Homeowners trying to sell their home without agent representation are usually doing so in the hopes of saving the commission. If you see a FSBO and want the advantages of our services, let us contact the owner for you and make an appointment. Most times the homeowner will work with agents even though their home is not listed, since the agents are introducing a potential buyer to their property.

Can we go back through our property again once an offer is made but before possession?
Usually, we can notify the seller and schedule a convenient time to visit the property again. Immediately before the closing, we will schedule a final walk-through and inspection of your new home.

Once my offer is accepted, what should I do?
Celebrate and focus on moving into your new home! You will want to schedule your move, pack items and notify businesses of your address change. We will provide you with a moving checklist to help you remember all the details. We will also give you a good faith estimate and HUD statement, which will indicate the amount you will need to bring to closing.

Above and Beyond

To us, providing exceptional service involves more than just making your real estate dreams come true. It requires taking the next logical step; helping you through the details after you officially own your home.