Chris Buyer Catalog

RICK MOORE GROUP 

BUYER
CATALOG

CHRIS SMITHSON

360-510-4743
[email protected]

BellinghamRealtorChris.com
RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc



Step-by-Step Buying Process

1. Choose an Agent
2. Get Loan Pre-Approval
3. Find a Home you Love
4. Make an Offer
5.CompleteInspections
6. Title & Closing
7. Move In!

Chris Smithson
360-510-4743
[email protected]
BellinghamRealtorChris.com
RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc

1. Choose an Agent

The

Rick Moore Group

was formed to provide our clients with a full service
home buying experience. That's why we work
together as a team to help you find and purchase
your home, as well as protect the investment you've
made for the long term.

Buying a home can be more than just a financial IncashnaeeudwaurdoxvnlsdCpuleauideciterhrnltnheeeticwcrdoigrr,imthlssonhaoetiotahnuaisedoasptnrgtgonekoeheitag/nhioxdlhucveniygitnieootiglprgnsphrwegnmnheageegfmseaoybl,pdarow.tareoeufeoIvouanllafnhdteyekugsidwtogtsaripneicnnyslvhefdeandulgaetteadtt,hsvpiwxt.fmidetiaotriwogbinohenroama.elctcarne,wtkieteews,wewserih~oestieBe,tnroheJsf,
decision, it can be an emotional one as well. That's
why you need someone on your side who isn't a
salesperson and instead acts as your:

Property Specialist

Transaction Coordinator

Community Consultant
Experienced Negotiator

With us on your side the entire home buying process is
streamlined. I will show you any homes for sale, including
listingsfromanyrealestatecompany, forsalebyowner
propertiesandevenoff-markethomes. Our tools and hard
work will help you find any type of home, including
foreclosure and short sale properties.

It's never too early to get good information & knowledgeable guidance.
I'm available to help with all aspects of the home buying process, from beginning
to end. My work as your Buyer's Agent is at no charge to you. Give yourself an
advantage in this market by starting your home search with me by your side.

Choose a Lender 2. Get Loan Pre-Approval

You can get a home loan (mortgage) from a lender
at a bank, credit union, online lending institution, or
mortgage broker. What you really want out of your
lender is fast communication during the process
and for them to look at all of the loan options and
help you choose the best one for your situation.
They should help you save money, and make sure
your home purchase stays on track by responding
quickly to you and your Realtor.

Out of Pocket Costs Trusted Lenders Casey Porter  

You will likely be getting a loan to pay for  360.510.2840
your new home, but not all costs will be  Caliber Home Loans
included in your mortgage. Your out of
pocket costs could include the following:  [email protected]

Down Payment: you may think you need a Christy Sorenson    Bank of the Pacific
20% down payment to purchase your
home. While a large down payment doesn’t 360.319.8659
hurt, you don’t need 20%. In fact, there are
loan products available that allow for only [email protected]
3.5% – 5% down, and some that require no
money down, assuming that your finances  Marie Bjornson     Fairway Mortgage
and the property meet the requirements.
 360.739.6757  

 [email protected] 

Earnest Money Deposit: once you've made a written offer to Chris Smithson
the seller, it will be accompanied with an EMD (money 360-510-4743
intended to show your good faith in following through with the [email protected]
purchase). Your EMD will be applied to your down payment at BellinghamRealtorChris.com
closing. The amount of your EMD can vary, but generally it is RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc
around 1% of the purchase price; the larger the deposit, the
stronger your offer will be. Your EMD will be deposited in the
escrow account at the title company within two days of your
offer being accepted.

2. Get Loan Pre-Approval, cont. Your Lender Will Need

Out of Pocket Costs, W2's for past 2 years

Home Inspection: The cost of a home inspection Paystubs for the past 3 months
will vary, but should be between $300 and $500.
The fee is not refundable, and is paid directly to the Tax returns for past 2 years
inspector you choose. Given the potential financial
risk, not getting an inspection can cost you greatly Bank statements past 3 months
later. More info on the inspection process, including
recommended inspectors, can be found in Other asset statements (bonds,
the "Complete Inspections" section. stocks, retirement accounts)

Appraisal: When you get a mortgage your Current mortgage statements,
lender will require an appraisal be done before or contact info for your landlord
they loan you funds to purchase your new
house. The lender does this to make sure that
the home you are buying is worth what you
are paying for it. Generally an appraisal costs
$500-$600 and is paid to your lender, either
up-front or out of your closing costs.

Closing Costs and Pre-Paid Items:
Closing on your home also involves additional
costs, such as lender fees, owner’s and lender’s
title insurance fees, credit report fees, and
recording fees, for example. You will also have pre-
paid expenses, such as your first year premium on
your home owner’s insurance policy, pre-paid
interest charges, and real estate taxes. Generally
your closing costs will be ~2% of the purchase
price (not including your down payment). Your
closing costs and pre-paid items, plus the rest of
your down payment, must be paid on the day you
sign closing documents at the title company.

Don't have a lot of money in the bank? We can negotiate
to have the seller pay part or all of your Closing Costs!

Find out how much home you can afford;
use this mortgage calculator!

Chris Smithson
360-510-4743
[email protected]
BellinghamRealtorChris.com
RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc

3. Find a Home you Love I need a home with...

Out of Pocket Costs, Bedrooms:               
Baths:           
Knowing What You Want Price:                         
Location:                                 
In today's housing market having a clear idea of           
your needs and wants is important so you can School District:          
make smart decisions when you start seeing homes Commute length:
in person. Competition between buyers for the best Fixer OK?:
homes means that when you find that perfect Parking:
house you'll want to act fast!
Knowing what qualities are "must haves" and
where to compromise will help when making
quick decisions.

During the search process you and I will be working
together to search for and find the right home for
you. My job is to listen to you, learn about what is
most important in your new home, and provide you
with guidance and information. Your job is to make
the decisions with that information. I will guide you
with my experience, but ultimately leave the
type, location, and price of the home up to you.

When we are at a showing you'll be checking out the
property, making sure it meets your needs and feels
like "home". Showings usually last 30 minutes or less,
so you won't be able to learn everything about the
house while you're there. When you write a purchase
contract (offer) on a home, you'll have time during
your inspection contingency to learn the answers to
all the questions that you have.
There are protections built into a purchase contract
so that you'll feel comfortable taking the leap when
making an offer on a home. Grab the opportunity to
buy your dream home before someone else does!

Check out homes for sale,
multiple updates daily! 

Components of a Purchase Contract 4. Make an Offer

When you make an offer you'll be signing a lot of
paperwork! Here's a brief description of some of the
standard forms you'll encounter.

Purchase and Sale Agreement

The purchase and sale agreement (PSA) is where
we'll identify:

the property that will be purchased

the purchase price

the closing and possession date

the identity of the buyers and sellers

the included appliances and items

the earnest money amount

the title company and closing agent "teIrsDrItoftoemhyhinsmbooeti'tuempnlt-whpwi"CoaeemekotborrvbhhohsaemmeuereianatrrnmriyyfIiecnendleyelkleyhkec,u,embiyiornstemgmralo'messoisibagsnnneucoett,krrgtadgahatetsebesawrwruetauurtmsmtedaeyhsibkthcscsheeyregaoeutareretoekierrayyitet,npetuseedvnao!eiwsrtfweerordufscerliteus."oaauh"chr,jlsacsoutree,oyeaetatksmtospaklhlsifteulnke!uhpeAegtrihahsibcfn.aatihdes!edsaertseep

The PSA also includes explanations and definitions
of the terms of the contract, such as "computation of
time", "condition of title", etc.

Contingencies

The PSA is the base of your purchase contract, but you will
also have a set of contingencies attached to the PSA. You
can think of contingencies as hurtles that need to be
jumped in order for the sale to continue. Examples of
common contingencies are:

financing contingency
inspection contingency
buyer's sale of property contingency
appraisal contingency
well and septic inspection contingencies

feasibility contingency

title contingency

Contingencies are a combination of requirements coupled Chris Smithson
with a time frame for those requirements to be completed. 360-510-4743
Generally your earnest money is protected until the [email protected]
contingency's time frame expires, preserving your BellinghamRealtorChris.com
ability to cancel the sale without losing your EM deposit. RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc

5. Complete Inspections

Out of Pocket Costs,

Home Inspection

A home inspection is one of the most important Inspectors
components of the home buying process. Your
licensed home inspector will look at all visible aspects Brian Fish    
of the home and report on their condition, making
recommendations for items that need repair or should Win Home Inspection
be monitored for future maintenance. The written 360.398.8710
inspection report you receive will cover:
[email protected]
roof lot drainage
crawlspace/foundation attic Jefferson Livingston 
electrical panel & outlets plumbing
appliances heating/cooling Pillar to Post Home Inspectors
360.392.8731
When reviewing the inspection report look for any
[email protected]
items that, if not addressed, would cause you to cancel
Curtis C. Brown
your purchase. This is usually the last time to negotiate
Curtis C Home Inspection Service
with the sellers. Your options for responding to the 360.296.4020

sellers after inspection are: [email protected]

Continue with the sale as-is
Request a price change to cover the cost of repairs
Ask the sellers to make the needed repairs
Cancel the sale

Other Inspections

If your new home has it's own well or septic system those inspections will take
place during the purchase process as well. Septic tanks will be inspected and
pumped at the seller's expense. You may choose to have the well-water tested
for bacteriological contaminants, this is generally a buyer-paid expense.

Savvy Buyer's Tip: when competing with offers from other

buyers, consider shortening your inspection period from 10 days
to 5 days. You'll have to hustle a bit, but it could convince the
seller to choose your offer over another while maintaining the
protection of your inspection contingency.                                

What is Title Insurance & Who Pays? 6. Title & Closing

The "title" is what gives you ownership of a property. What to Bring to the Signing
It's important that the title to your new home is free
and clear, meaning that nothing that happened in Valid driver's license
the past will affect your ownership and rights to the Cashier's Check covering your
property. The title company will research the public closing costs, payable to the title
records and provide you with a title report outlining company
the condition of the title including any liens,
judgments, easements, or existing loans on the -or-
property. Title insurance provides protection for Bank receipt showing that the
the policy holder against losses incurred from funds were wired to the title
defects in the title. Unlike other types of insurance, company
title insurance provides protection for pasts events All the people who are on the
instead of unforeseen future events. There are two purchase contract or will hold title
title insurance policies issued for each sale; one to the property must attend
protecting the homeowner (buyer) and another
protecting the buyer's lender. Typically the seller
pays for the homeowner's policy and the buyer
pays for the lender's policy.

Signing & Closing

Once all of your inspections, contingencies and loan
requirements have been satisfied the title/escrow company
will schedule your signing appointment, which usually takes
place a few days before the closing date set forth in the
purchase agreement. The day before your signing
appointment you'll be given the exact figure for the
amount of money to bring to closing. You'll be signing a lot
of paperwork including your loan and title transfer
documents. These documents will be recorded at the local
courthouse on the closing date, officially transferring the
property to you.

Where are the Keys!?

You'll get the keys to your new home & be able to start Chris Smithson
moving in at 9pm on the closing date.   360-510-4743
Yes, that's 9 in the evening... [email protected]
BellinghamRealtorChris.com
Make sure that your movers/family & friends are ready for RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc
a late night, or schedule your move for the following day.

7. Move In!

Congratulations

It's finally moving day! Unless you've made a different
agreement with the sellers, you'll be getting the keys and
moving in on the evening of the closing day.
During the chaos, don't forget to:

Submit your change of address with the Post Office.

USPS Online
Change of
Address

Let your family and friends know that you moved.
Create a free custom e-card using this online tool!

Start or transfer your utility services. Make & send
your moving
announcement

Utility provider info on next page

rlweopaBpaconaoeasaktdrcyisknieonoupinnrmtgfrreefcegocilwfednfloowehghfrwmsoieeitsanrhhmnilouofeaaiehnsrvnshnreaeatefodllsinptanwmiwdCmlidtnoeohoiwegnr.rrrkaCgkihcusisinolhnnaitegdmortghiineslwaeowtItansemimoitlyrtpshwmheeo-oum.ntDnpircHnCceeeeyoeehrhroin,gdenaripItsikisrithstlnloeeah.faurCeafvbdiaeihneemhlnnlrrdcyoyidoasamekrduiawkdxeeenseapeae.ddtcsatIiothcIwuvlw.ryeaseHoshtwrtmeoueyhadholtrohdeiantvrtaaoetaievsdtwbaoesyalasxtetobgeooplnewoodlreu.itatecnathonertgneefdldyI

Water & Sewer 778-8000 Propane & Natural Gas sredivorP ytilitU
384-4302
Whatcom 966-3411 Whatcom
354-2829
City of Bellingham 966-2531 VanderYacht Propane 398-1234
City of Ferndale 988-5711 Northwest Propane 354-4471
City of Everson 332-8311 Propane Gas, Inc. 384-4922
City of Lynden 371-7100 American Propane 384-1841
City of Nooksack 733-5770 Cenex Propane 354-4595
City of Sumas 752-9208 Cascade Natural Gas 733-5980
City of Blaine 734-9224
Birch Bay W & S 734-5664 Skagit
Water District #2
Water District #7 853-8550 VanderYacht Propane 707-5550
Water District #10 466-3933 Northwest Propane 424-4471
Water District #12 424-7104 AmeriGas 424-6119
826-3033 Skagit Farmers 757-6053
Skagit 293-1900 Cory Oil &Propane 499-3222
755-0531 Cascade Natural Gas 888-522-1130
Concrete Public Works 853-8141
Laconner Public Works 455-5785 Television
Skagit P.U.D #1 466-3171
City of Lyman 336-6218 Whatcom
Anacortes 855-3500
Burlington Comcast 888-266-2278
Concrete
Conway Direct TV 800-347-3288
La Conner
Mount Vernon Dish Network 800-722-9957
Sedro Woolley
Skagit

Comcast 888-266-2278

Direct TV 360-424-2171

Clear Comm. 360-854-7811

Telephone & Internet

Garbage & Recycling Whatcom

Whatcom Quest 800-244-1111

Sanitary Service Co. 734-3490 Comcast 888-266-2278

Nooksack Valley Disp. 354-3400 GTE Verizon 800-483-4000

Blaine Bay Refuse 332-5443 Skagit

Waste Reduction 676-5723 Comcast 888-266-2278

RDS, Inc. 384-8011 Frontier Comm. 888-482-7922

Disposal of Toxics 380-4640 Electricity

Skagit Whatcom & Skagit

Anacortes 293-1900 Puget Sound Energy 888-225-5773

Burlington 755-0531

Concrete 853-8141 Chris Smithson
360-510-4743
Conway 455-5785 [email protected]
BellinghamRealtorChris.com
La Conner 466-3171 RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc

Mount Vernon 336-6218

Sedro Woolley 855-3500

CHRIS SMITHSON

360-510-4743
[email protected]

BellinghamRealtorChris.com
RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc