BUYING A HOME IN PALM SPRINGS

Beginning your Palm Springs home search can be an overwhelming and daunting task. Let’s review each of the 8 steps that we will take to buy your Palm Springs home. These steps will make the home buying real estate process as easy and painless as possible.

By the end of your Palm Springs real estate search you will live happily ever after in your new dream home in the Coachella Valley.

#1 - Meet In Person & Create Your Wish List

The secret to a happy home search is in knowing what you really want. That means distinguishing between “must-haves” and “like -to-haves”.

Let’s meet to make a list of the amenities you desire in your new home so that we know EXACTLY what you are looking for. Maybe you want a casita guest house, new home construction, live in a gated community with a club house and fitness center or on a golf course or a condominium that is easy to maintain. Whatever it may be, we will hone in the search and in the locations you love!

This will also be a great time to address any questions or concerns you have about the journey you are about to embark on. If your schedule is tight, Kevin can also begin by connecting by phone, email or hangout together via a video chat. Let him know what works best for you.

#2 - Pre-Approval

A seller will want to know that you have the sufficient assets or are pre-approved for loan when reviewing your offer. If paying cash, you should have a letter from your bank or investment advisor that says you are qualified to purchase a home for cash in the price range you are looking at before you start looking at homes.

If you are planning to finance a home purchase, a pre-approval letter is very important to have before you start looking at homes. You don’t won’t lose out on submitting an offer if you have to wait for a pre-approval letter.

Kevin can refer you to several mortgage professionals who are experienced in financing in the desert. Having your pre-approval is a very vital step in the home buying process!

#3 - Customized Listing Alerts

This is where you’ll get notifications about the listings that meet most of your general criteria that we spoke about in our first meeting. You will be set up for a custom search in our primary Multiple Listing Service. You will receive email updates on new listings and price reductions daily.

If you see any home that catches your eye, let Kevin know. He will give you further feedback on that home that may not be evident from the listing information. He can also schedule a viewing. THIS is the part when we will get the best indication of what are your deal makers and deal breakers, expressed and implied, by watching and listening to your comments and reactions, as you walk through the home.

Kevin isn’t shy about sharing our opinions too. Kevin is here to protect your interests and make sure you see some things you may be unaware of. Well, isn`t that why you are hiring him?

Be sure to let him know if one (or more) jumps out at you so that he can schedule a viewing for you! If needed, he can always adjust your search parameters.

Please let Kevin know how you would like to communicate to keep in touch – phone, text or email. Kevin wants you to be comfortable so he can get you into the homes that are a perfect match!

#4 - Schedule Viewings and Open Houses

Here’s where the buying process gets really fun! Kevin wants YOU to become the local desert expert along this process. Attending open houses is a great way, especially if you are still uncertain of what you can get for your money in the neighborhood or community you want to live in. Honing in on the neighborhoods or communities is imperative to finding your dream home. Otherwise, you will be to “all over the place” and scattered to focus on THE house when it comes on the market.

Kevin can join you at some and you can attend on your own. Please just remember to let the agent that is hosting the open house for their seller, that you are working with Kevin. This saves a whole lot of complications later.

Realtor Insider trade tip: agents working at open houses are there to share the insights of that home for the seller and also hoping to get to know you in order to show you other homes if that one doesn`t pan out for you. To keep it very transparent, since that is what its are all about, please sign in and tell the agent hosting the open house that Kevin sent you and you are working with him and Bennion Deville Homes.

#5 - Find The Perfect Home & Write An Offer

A little scary, but very exciting! Three things can happen when putting in an offer on a house:

1. The offer is accepted

2. The offer is rejected

3. You get a counteroffer

Kevin will walk you through each of these possibilities and how to handle them.

It`s important to realize that your offer depends entirely on the marketplace. Kevin will give you a sense of what other listings in the area are selling for that are similar to the property you are making an offer on. This will help you craft the best offer.

YOUR goal is Kevin’s goal.

Kevin is an expert negotiator and will strategize with you every step of the way!

Once the offer is submitted, he will continue to advise you for next steps. Rarely does a deal come together based on the initial offer.

Then, it’s time to get your financing in order and move forward to the next step!

#6 - Acceptance, Sales Process, Appraisal & Inspection

Accepted Offer

Once you and the sellers come to a “meeting of the minds”, you have an accepted offer.

Deposit

Typically, the deposit amount is 3% of the purchase price and is due within three (3) days of acceptance by the buyer and is deposited with the escrow company.

Due Diligence and Home Inspection

Next, you will schedule a home inspection. This is where you will hire a qualified inspector to check the systems, appliances, structure. Getting a thorough home inspection is critical in the home buying process because it can help find common problems, malfunction and defects in the property. The contract standard is 17 days to complete your due diligence before you have to release contingencies. If financing, we can negotiate a longer contingency period for financing approval.

Appraisal For Financing

If financing (cash sales are not subject to appraisals), the lender will send an appraiser to determine the appraised value of the home. The lender does this to insure, in their opinion, that their loan is protected and that the home is worth what you are paying. Sometimes, market value and appraised value can be different. We will help advise you along the way, if there is a discrepancy.

Once the appraisal is complete and it “appraises”, you will be on the path to receive your final mortgage commitment. This is an important and key step. The seller is waiting to hear this news too.

Closing Date

If you are paying cash and the home is on fee land, you can easily close in less than 30 days if the seller agrees and there are no other issues. You should plan on 45-60 days to close on lease land. You can close earlier on lease land but there is an additional charge to facilitate the process.

#7 - Time To Close and Get The Keys!

Final Inspection

You will schedule a final inspection prior to closing to walk-thru the home unless you waive the final inspection in writing.

Closing Day

The escrow company will handle the closing and the title company will file the sale with the county. This process can take the entire day and you may not be notified until late afternoon or early evening.

Kevin will give you the keys when notified by the escrow company that the sale has closed.

These are the last steps before the shiny keys to your home are placed in your hand…for good!

Movers

Get estimates from several moving companies.

Make sure the company you book with has proper insurance.

Book for your moving date well in advance but consider scheduling the day after you close in case there is a delay in the closing.

Insurance

Schedule your home insurance to start for your new home.

Utilities

Cancel utilities at your old residence.

Transfer all utilities to your name at your new home.

Utilities include power, water, gas, phone, cable and internet, alarm company.

Mailing Address

File an official change of address with the United States Postal Service.

Update voter registration if a full-time resident