An overview of what to expect when you contact me to help you buy your next home
in Oahu, Hawaii.
Step 1: Set up a Buyer's Consultation
This can be done in person, over the phone or via email. Usually, I prefer to meet in person, but do have many clients contacting me from overseas or clients that are relocating and are not physically in Hawaii - phone or email is the next best thing. During the initial consultation, I will ask questions about what your goals and priorities are, in what areas you would like to focus, how much you are planning on spending and who else will be involved in the home buying decision (partners, family members?) so that I have a very clear understanding about your Hawaii real estate needs and your financial situation. I will also explain what is going on in the local real estate market and most importantly I will educate you about the process involved in buying a home in Hawaii.
After our initial consultation you should have a clear picture of what to expect and what your next steps should be. Knowledge is power! At this point, we will also set up a home search so that you can get familiarized with your home buying options and the types of homes available for sale.
Step 2 - Pre-Qualification Process
It is very important that all buyers who need financing are pre-approved with a home mortgage loan specialist before they even begin looking at homes with me. The seller will also want to know that buyer is financially capable of buying their property and that there are no surprises once their offer has been accepted. For this reason, a pre-approval letter is presented along with the offer to purchase any home. I can help my clients find the right lender who can offer financing if they need it.
Being pre-approved will also save everyone time searching only for properties the buyer can afford. I recommend to use a local lender, not an out-of-town "unknown" or Internet lender. The seller (and real estate agents) will feel reassured that the mortgage broker/lender is known and reputable and will make sure the funding happens.
If you don't need financing and prefer to pay all cash for the property we’ll simply need to have your banker, broker, or other financial institution provide a standard letter of financial introduction (also called "Asset Verification Letter") which verifies that you have sufficient assets on deposit to purchase in the price range in which you are interested. Such letter will also maximize your negotiating power when we submit offer and start negotiating the price and terms.
Step 3 - Home Showing Appointments
To ensure that you are able to view homes at a time that is convenient for you, I have a team of showing agents that may assist me with showing appointments. If I am unable to meet with you personally, one of my showing agents will be available to take you out to look at homes. Since I know what my clients are looking for, I usually preview most of the homes for sale that fit your criteria and in most instances, chances are I have already seen the home that you might fall in love with. So no worries... if I'm not with you when you see a home of your dreams and I did not see it yet, I'll make sure to see it before advising you on how to approach writing an offer on it.
Step 4 - Purchase Agreement Preparation and Execution
You have found a home that you really like, now it's time to strategize on how to get it for you. We will take a look at the market analysis for relevant homes recently sold around that home. I will call the
listing agent to probe about the seller's needs, activity on this property and anything else that I can find out which can help us in writing your offer. We will strategize on how to position us in both price and terms. We will also present a complete, clean package to the seller and
his/her agent including proof of funds, a pre-approval letter (if
financing is involved), a letter to the seller from you amongst other items.
I will also review the purchase contract with you explaining the different contingencies involved to ensure that you understand what you are signing. Expect to meet for about an hour - maybe a bit longer depending on how many questions come up or how complex the situation is. There's nothing better than a clean, well written and thought through offer from a qualified buyer. Seller's agents are looking at both the proposed buyer and the reputation of the buyer's agent. If they are not familiar with the buyer's agent then they look to see how well the offer is written, how complete it is and how it is packaged.
Step 5 - Open Escrow!
I will oversee all the transactional details and ensure that you are focused on the appropriate steps. We will order a physical home inspection, an appraisal, shop for insurance etc. Our goal here is to ensure that you understand all the critical timeframes and that our home buying process flows smoothly with no surprises. We will coordinate all activities with the escrow company, seller's agent and the title company. We will sit down together or over the phone to review the escrow package and how to complete it. I will track every step of the loan process through full loan approval and funding. The first 10 days or so are going to be very busy for us, as well as the last week before closing.
Step 6 - Congratulations - You Bought Your Home!
Once the loan is funded and the property title is transferred to your name, I will help you with references to moving company, contractors, utility information and anything else that you might need to settle in to your new home. It's amazing how many questions come up after the sale. No worries, you are not alone. We're here to help.
Contact me
today at (808) 398-9987 or simply send me an email at [email protected]
to start the process. I
pride myself on working very hard for my clients, whether buying or
selling real estate in Hawaii. I will earn your trust and provide you
with excellent service and results.
