Buyer's Handbook

BUYER’S HANDBOOK

Prepared Specially for You

Cell // (786) 333-3652 | Office // 786-433-2919 | [email protected] | christysteam.com 1
Buyer’s Handbook

The Pre-Approval Process 13

Table of Contents Financing Your Future Home 14
15
Mission & Vision 03 The Loan Process 16
17-18
Meet Christy’s Team 04 Customizing Your Wishlist 19
Client Testimonials 20
Why Keller Williams Realty? 05 Writing An Offer 21
Our Belief System 06 Who Pays For What
Guide To Buying A Home 07 Closing Checklist
Benefits Of Home Ownership 08-09

10 A Promise To You

Steps To Buying a Home 11-12 Contact Information 22

2 Buyer’s Handbook

Our Mission & Vision

Our philosophy is clients come first. We pledge to be in constant
communication with our clients, keeping them fully informed throughout the
entire buying or selling process. We believe that if you’re not left with an amazing
experience, We haven’t done our job. We don’t measure success through achievements or
awards, but through the satisfaction of our clients.

Our team delivers unmatched expertise and hands-on experience benefiting our clients, whether
buying or selling. As the home they are buying or selling. We are focused on building lasting
relationships with clients to continue to be a valuable resource long after the transaction process is over.
We strive for our clients to consider us as a total resource in buying, selling, or investing in real estate.

Buyer’s Handbook 3

MEET CHRISTY’S TEAM

Welcome

CHRISTY BENITEZ When you looking to buy your dream home, investment
property or vacation home, you need a real estate partner you
Real Estate Adviser can trust. As an experienced Realtor since 2005, I would be
honored to work with you during this life-changing journey.
& My name is Christy Benitez. Alongside my husband, Juan
JUAN FAVALE Favale, we work with Keller Williams Realty.

Director of Marketing I have been a Florida resident since 1990. With a background as
a business owner, 220 Insurance Agent, and Florida bounded
Keller Williams Premier Properties notary, I bring a wealth of knowledge and skills for my clients.
I have earned several certifications in Real Estate including GRI,
[email protected] CRS, e-Pro, CDPE, SFR, and becoming a Member of the Institute
www.christysteam.com for Luxury Home Marketing.
(786) 333-3652
786-433-2919 My partner and husband Juan bring a strong background
in business. As our Director of Marketing, he finds new
Awards opportunities for clients’ properties to be seen by the right
people. We make a strong team both professionally and
personally. Juan is Italian and I am Mexican; together we have
created a beautifully blended family. We balance our passion
for real estate with our love for family time, as we enjoy
traveling with our kids and grandchild.

When you are looking to buy your dream home, an investment
or vacation home, we would be thrilled to assist you. Make the
decision on hiring us to see how experience and dedication
make a difference by having a team of professionals by your
side.

As a professional Realtor, We believe in
creating value and providing high levels of
service to our clients.

4 Buyer’s Handbook

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

Christy gave us excellent guidance, Christy Benitez helped me buy my house,she
unflagging availability, and deep knowledge was so wonderful, patient, sincere and
about a really wide range of homes that honest. I considerate Christy like family.
we looked at. Particular high points were I definitely recommend her.
helping us extricate ourselves from a seller
who ended up behaving in a really sketchy guerika1989
manner after we’d made an offer, and in
helping us find ways to make competitive I was lucky to work with Christy twice. I
offers in a market where we were regularly did a closing of a property I sold and a
outbid by many tens of thousands over closing on a property I bought. Everything
the asking prices. I hope we’re in our was smooth sailings. Professional. Fast
new home for a long time, but if we were paced. Knowledgeable. I recommend her
to move, I wouldn’t hesitate to work with 100 percent. She was available all the time.
Christy again or give him anything but the Even after hours to answer my thousands of
highest recommendation. She’s extremely questions.
professional and trustworthy person.
rmagadan72
Michael Garrig

She is the best, she learn fast your what She is amazing, enjoyed how human she is and
you like and adjust the search so you find with great knowledge and professionalism.
you dream house but also she take care of Was able to communicate my needs and was
all paperwork in a way you do not need to deliver with many satisfactions.
stress. Great attitude, detail oriented and
amazing heart. calvarado430

CarlosPena7 local knowledge 5 star rating responsiveness
Buyer’s Handbook process expertise negotiation skills

5

Why Keller
Williams Realty?

WOR LDWI DE

Keller Williams Realty is Keller Williams Realty is the
WORLDWIDE LARGEST

REAL ESTATE COMPANY
IN THE WORLD

UNITED STATES UNITED KINGDOM DUBAI
CANADA PORTUGAL SOUTHERN AFRICA
MEXICO SPAIN VIETNAM
COSTA RICA TURKEY INDONESIA

With more than 180,000 real estate agents worldwide, operating in more than 780 market centers across
the globe, Keller Williams is currently the largest real estate franchise by agent count in the World!

6 Buyer’s Handbook

OUR BELIEF SYSTEM

Win-Win : Or no deal
Integrity : Do the right thing
Commitment : In all things
Communication : Seek first to understand
Creativity : Ideas before results
Customers : Always come first
Teamwork : Together everyone achieves more
Trust : Starts with honesty
Success : Results through people

Buyer’s Handbook 7

GUIDE TO
BUYING A

HOME

8 Buyer’s Handbook

YOUR GUIDE TO BUYING A HOME

A home is one of the most significant purchases you will ever make. It is not just about building
equity-it is also an investment in your quality of life. You want a place that inspires you to
imagine the memories and milestones that lie ahead.
Beyond the spreadsheets and loan qualifications, mortgage calculators and market analysis,
finding the right home should be exciting and empowering. You have wanted to do this for a long
time so why not have a little fun now that we’re here?
From now until the day we drop a set of keys into your hand, our job is to guide you through
every stage with confidence and care. The journey ahead will reflect our commitment to helping
you find a place that ignites and fuels your passions.
You’ll never be left with unanswered questions or wondering what’s coming next. We are
present and always available.

Professionalism Is A Trademark...
Good Advice Doesn’t Cost You... It Pays You

Buyer’s Handbook 9

BENEFITS OF HOME OWNERSHIP

Benefits of EQUITY

Home Renting has often been
Ownership APPRECIATION compared to paying 100% interest,
but when you own a home and a
Home values have a well- mortgage is in place, a portion of
your payment goes toward the
documented history of going principal balance on your loan.
This builds your equity and
up overtime. This increase acts as a savings account.

becomes equity you can ROOTS

TAX benefit from when People who own
SAVINGS you refinance or rather than rent stay in
sell. their homes 4 times longer.
This provides an opportunity
The government
rewards homeowners by to get to know your
neighbors and connect with
providing excellent tax
benefits. The interest paid on your local community.
your mortgage and other
home-related expenses can
generally be deducted from

your income.

HAPPINESS EDUCATION

The feeling of owning your Research shows children
own home is unmatched. You of homeowners earn

can fix it up, make it your higher test scores and
own, get a dog, or plant a graduate at a higher
tree if you want. Doesn't
percentage than
that sound exciting! those of renters.

CHRISTY BENITEZ

REALTOR®
Benitez Real Estate Group

[email protected]
christysteam.kw.com
(786) 333-3652
(786) 433-2954

10 B uye r’ s Ha n d b o o k

STEPS TO
BUYING A

HOME

Buyer’s Handbook 11

THE HOME BUYING PROCESS

PREPARING FOR CLOSING THE BUYER'S ADVANTAGE

You will be finalizing your loan, reviewing As the home buyer, your agent's commission is paid
documents, and discussing the findings by the seller of the home in almost all circumstances.
from the inspection. Your agent will be This means your representation costs you nothing!
managing this entire process for you.
MEET WITH A
CLOSING REAL ESTATE
PROFESSIONAL
This is the transfer of
Discuss the type of
funds and ownership. A home you're looking
for, including style,
title company or an price, and location.

attorney typically acts GET PRE-APPROVED

as an independent You will need pay stubs,
W2s, and bank state-
third party to ments. Knowing what
you can a ord is critical
facilitate to a successful home
shopping experience.
FINAL the closing.

DETAILS

Perform due diligence,
order the appraisal,

conduct an inspection,
and review terms with

the lender.

IN ESCROW CONGRATULATIONS! SEARCH FOR HOMES

You and the Seller have YOU ARE A NEW The fun part! Your agent
agreed to the price and HOME OWNER! will schedule showings
and help you find the
terms. The home is perfect home.
e ectively held for you

until closing.

NEGOTIATION MAKE AN OFFER ADVANCED SEARCH
AND CONTRACT
Your agent will prepare Not all real estate websites are the
It may take a few tries the o er based on the same. Your real estate profession-
to get it just right, but price and terms you al has tools and systems to ensure
hang in there. You're on choose. you see every available home that

your way! meets your criteria.

THE CONTRACT CHRISTY BENITEZ

In most cases, the contract REALTOR®
provides you with a timeline to Benitez Real Estate Group

obtain financing, as well as [email protected]
time to inspect the physical christysteam.kw.com
condition of the home. Your (786) 333-3652
real estate professional will (786) 433-2954
inform you of all your rights
and responsibilities related to Buyer’s Handbook

the contract.

12

FINANCING YOUR FUTURE HOME

Unless you are paying cash, closing on your dream home requires successfully securing a loan
through a reputable lender. Getting pre-approved before you start shopping helps move this stage
forward by leaps and bounds.

The lender you choose will guide you through the process but we will remain fully engaged to
ensure you understand everything along the way and that you’re getting the support you need
from the bank or loan provider. While the process will be customized to your individual financial
situation, most loans follow a typical path.

HOME LOANS AT A GLANCE • Your loan goes through underwriting
• You’re cleared to close!
• Get pre-approved for your loan
• Apply for a mortgage
• Get your home appraised

CONGRATS! YOU’RE APPROVED FOR A LOAN! Follow these tips to protect your loan.

DO: DO NOT:

• Notify your lender of any address • Make large purchases using existing credit
change, whether it’s your home address without first talking to your lender
or another listed on your application

• Notify your lender of any salary or • Apply for or acquire any additional lines of
wage changes credit

• Be prepared to provide proof of • Pay off, transfer, or close credit balances
significant bank deposits unless your lender instructs you to do so

• Acquire homeowner’s insurance • Change jobs without first talking to your

immediately after going under contract lender

• Keep all forms of debt paid and in check • Co-sign for another person seeking to
obtain a line of credit or to make a purchase

• Pay off collections before conferring with
your lender

Buyer’s Handbook 13

CUSTOMIZING YOUR WISHLIST

Once you’ve done your financial preparation and
worked with a reputable lender to confirm a budget,
you are ready to find your dream home. Location, features,
architectural style, amenities—it’s all important because finding
the perfect match for your needs and desires is our goal.

Questions to Consider: Buyer’s Handbook

As you let your imagination wander, we’ll
help you prioritize your must-haves.
Creating a list of amenities is a great start
but you should also consider the type of
homeowner you’d like to be. For instance:

• How do you want your home to make
you feel? Is it about the features of
a home— a chef ’s kitchen, views,
backyard space, or square footage? Or
is location and access to shopping or
transportation more important?

• What do you need this home to do
for you? Is it just about putting a roof
over your head or does it need to
accommodate a growing family?

• Does the idea of a fixer-upper sound
fun or is the more hands-free lifestyle
of getting into a newly constructed
property more appealing?

We can help find a property to fit just
about any set of preferences so put that
list in our hands and we’ll get to work.

14

WRITING AN OFFER

Real estate transactions are as individual • We will represent your offer to the listing
as people and therefore there are no two agent and the sellers and quickly bring
transactions that are exactly alike. But with the back any counter-offers or updates to
goal of getting you the right place at the right you, ensuring you have every opportunity
price, we’ve developed a proven and effective to stay engaged with the process and
strategy. negotiate effectively.

Once we have found the home you want to buy, • On a case-by-case basis, we’ll also work
we will review and discuss market conditions with you to strategize an approach for
to determine the value and your desired offer maximum leverage.
price.
The competitiveness of this market often
There are many variables that help define what requires making offers on more than one
the offer price should be and we will explain property before we successfully close the
these to you. right deal for you. Not winning an offer can be
disappointing, but we repeatedly find that when
• We will draft the offer and review with you clients finally lock in a successful purchase,
all of the financing options, inspections and they almost always feel that the property they
contingencies that are part of your offering. can finally call home was worth the wait and
effort.
Buyer’s Handbook
15

AFTER THE OFFER Even in the best of circumstances, hardly anyone
ever describes buying a home as a stress-free
Journeying Through Escrow experience. We do believe the process can be
stress less. So to keep your purchase on track
There’s nothing quite like the exhilaration of during the crucial final stages, our commitment
an accepted offer. We’ve worked hard to get to to guiding and walking you through every step
this point and the good news deserves some only intensifies. We do everything we can to
well-earned celebration! make sure all the moving pieces proceed as
smoothly as possible.
But we’re not quite finished yet. The escrow
stage is the busiest part of the transaction for
us. We work closely with lenders, inspectors,
and our escrow team to ensure a smooth and
successful closing.

16 B u ye r ’ s H a n d b o o k

WHO PAYS FOR WHAT

Although the question of who pays for various closing costs is negotiable between the buyer and
seller, the following is a standard breakdown of how responsibility for costs is typically divided.
Closing costs are the various charges made by the lender, the title company, real estate agents,
and other service providers necessary to complete a transaction.

THE SELLER CUSTOMARILY PAYS: THE BUYER CUSTOMARILY PAYS:

• Real estate commission • Notary fees
• County and city transfer tax
• Document preparation for deed • Title and Escrow fees
• Documentary transfer tax (amount
• Contractor’s and buyer’s inspection fees
dependent upon sales price)
• Payoff of all loans against the property • All new loan charges (points, appraisal,
• Interest accrued on loans being paid document, processing fees, etc.)

off, reconveyance fees and pre-payment • Interest on new loan from date of funding to
penalties. 30 days prior to the 1st payment date
• Home warranty (if specified in contract)
• Any judgment or tax liens against seller • Home warranty (if specified in contract)
• Property tax proration
• Unpaid homeowners dues • Homeowner’s insurance for 1st year
• Bonds or assessments
• Delinquent taxes • Earthquake insurance (optional)
• Move-out fees (for condominiums)
• Notary fees and recording fees • Private mortgage insurance (typically 2
• Third party Natural Hazard Disclosure months) if required by lender
Statement Pre-sale inspection fees
• Miscellaneous charges • Private mortgage insurance impound
• HOW account transfer fee account (1 year) if required by lender

• Property tax impound account if required by
lender

• Miscellaneous charges

This list is a general guideline of charges and may not be
Wholly inclusive for your transaction.

Buyer’s Handbook 17

CLOSING CHECKLIST Complete any last paperwork
your lender may need you to fill out
TIME TO CALL THE OVERS! or send to them.

18 If you will be purchasing a home
warranty, do so before closing.

Complete any paperwork and respond to
any inquiries that the settlement or title
company might have.

Schedule your move. Hire any movers (you
can often get estimates online or over the
phone) or schedule to rent any moving
trucks.

Change your utilities. Cancel the utilities
at your current residence and turn on the
utilities at your new one. This includes
electricity, gas, phone, cable and internet
service.

Change your mailing address with the U.S.
Postal Service.

If you’d like to, go to your scheduled
walk-through the day before or the
day of closing so that you may inspect
the property to make sure that it is in
substantially the same condition as when
you ratified the contract to purchase it.
Change the locks to your new home.

Register to vote, register your car and
get a new driver’s license in your new
jurisdiction.

Move. You’re home!

Make a list if you need anything after the
move and call us to see which vendors we
can provide for you!

Buyer’s Handbook

A PROMISE TO YOU

To serve the community as a leader in the
real estate industry and as a friend and
neighbor

To always do the right thing, even if it isn’t
what is easiest

To take care of your needs at the
highest level through unparalleled
professionalism and attention to detail.
No request is too small

To serve as a trusted local expert and
adviser by your side

To consistently and clearly
communicate with you in the manner
and frequency that you prefer

To treat you and your family with
straightforwardness, integrity, and
respect at all times

To answer your questions, ease your
concerns, reduce your stress, and expertly
handle the entire real estate transaction

To hold myself accountable for finding
the perfect home for you, after all, that is
what my business is built on

Buyer’s Handbook 19

CHRISTY BENITEZ [email protected]
www.christysteam.com
REALTOR® (786) 333-3652
786-433-2919
Keller Williams Premier Properties
License #3143564 Christy.Benitez.Realtor.Miami

20 B u ye r ’ s H a n d b o o k