Buyers Guide

HOME BUYER’S GUIDE

Presented by:

720-476-9911 | [email protected] | homesbygg.kw.com

Table of Contents

Home Owners Guide How We Can Help

Our Mission & Vision 3 What We Can Do For You 25-27
Meet HBG 04 28-31
Welcome 05 Real Estate Terminology 32-33
The benefits of working with 34-37
Keller Williams 06-07 Client Testimonials
Sell Your Home! 08-15 38
5 Reasons Your Home Might Seller Info
Not be Selling 16-18
Next Steps 19-20 *Please complete this prior to our appointment
Vocabulary 21-24
Contact Information

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

homesbygg.kw.com

Our Mission & Vision

Our philosophy is clients come first. We Homes by GG delivers unmatched expertise
pledge to be in constant communication and hands-on experience benefiting our clients,
with our clients, keeping them fully informed whether buying or selling. Each client is unique
throughout the entire buying or selling is as the home they are buying or selling. We
process. We believe that if you’re not left with are focused on building lasting relationships
an amazing experience, We haven’t done with clients to continue to be a valuable
our job. We didn’t measure success through resource long after the transaction process is
achievements or awards, but through the over. We strive for our clients to consider us as a
satisfaction of our clients. total resource in buying, selling or investing in
real estate.

Core Values • Client-Centric
• Care (Be passionate and care about what you are doing)
• Commitment to Excellence • Consistent Follow Through
• Be Cutting Edge

Meet with HBG

HBG with Keller Williams has a proven track record of successfully guiding local, national, and
multinational clients with residential acquisitions, asset redistribution, and investments. As a CRIS
Certified Residential Investment Specialist the agents at HBG are well versed in a multitude of ways
one can invest in single family, rental, and duplex type properties.

As standing members of the South Metro Denver Realtor Association HBG takes pride in advancing
our knowledge of the current market as well as how we can consistently grow in new ways to
provide true service to our clients as proven by being awarded Keller Williams Double Gold award
in 2021

HBG has a passion for helping first time home Buyers purchase properties that then become the
baseline for their financial future. Showing them how using the equity they build over the first few
years can help them start their residential investment portfolio. Creating passive income that helps
put food on the table and time back with family. Whether you are planning on Selling your home,
Buying a home, or Investing in residential real estate HBG has the knowledge and experience to
make the process fun.

Geraldine(GG) McKinney 720-476-9911
[email protected]
Homes by GG homesbygg.kw.com
License #CO: FA.100065544 | FL: SL3510718

Dear Home Buyer,

Thank you for this opportunity to help you with the most significant and largest
purchase of your life.
We have helped many families just like you and yet the importance of this transaction to
you is not lost with us. We know it’s exciting and scary at the same time. Don’t worry, we
are here to guide you and help you every step of the way. We have the experience and
local knowledge to help you make the best possible home purchase and decisions.
A home is about how you feel when you walk through the front door. The way you can
instantly envision your life unfolding there. It’s about more than real estate. It’s about
your life and your dreams.
We love matching you with the home you have always imagined. It’s incredibly fulfilling
to know we are helping you open a new chapter of your life. That’s why we work so hard
to not only find that perfect home, but also to handle every single detail of the purchase
process from negotiating the terms of sale to sharing our considerable resources
including good lenders, inspectors and so on.
This package contains helpful information for the home buying process. We’ve prepared
it just for you!
Review this information packet prior to our meeting so we can spend quality time
focusing on you and your new home when we meet.
We appreciate the opportunity to earn your business.

Sincerely,

Geraldine(GG) McKinney

Geraldine(GG) McKinney
Homes by GG
With Keller Williams Realty Success LLC.
720-476-9911

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

10 Steps to Buying a Home

START HERE

Save for Your Down Know Your Credit Find a Real Estate
Payment Score Agent

Create a budget and do your Learn your score and clean Contact a local professional
research. There are lots of up outstanding debts like to guide you through the
student loans and credit process.
low down payment options
available. cards.

Make an Offer Find a Home Get Pre-Approved

Determine your price and Work with your agent to find Differentiate yourself as a
negotiate the contract. a home in your budget that serious buyer and have a
better sense of what you can
meets your needs.
afford.

Have a Home Inspection Get a Home Appraisal Close the Sale

Address any hidden issues in Ensure the property is Schedule a closing date
the home with the seller. worth the price you are once the loan is approved
so you can sign the final
prepared to pay.
paperwork.

Move In

Congratulations!
You’re a homeowner.

Timeline

01. Hire an Agent (2-6 months out from buying)

We are biased, but we think hiring an agent is the best first place to start. Not only should they
educate you on the buying process, they should help walk you through choosing a lender, getting
pre-approved, and setting an appropriate timeframe for starting the buying process.

02. Get Pre-approved for a Loan (2-6 months out
from buying)

Before you start shopping for homes, it is vital to make sure you know how much money you have
to spend. That’s why we recommend getting pre-approved before you actually see any homes in
person. A good mortgage professional will walk you through all the costs, so you know exactly how
much you can borrow and how much you can afford each month.

03. Begin Looking at Homes (2-3 months out
from buying)

Everyone’s search is different - some people buy the first house they see and others see 30+ homes
before they find the one they want. When you should start looking is largely dependent upon how
long you think it might take!

04. Go Under Contract (1-2 months out from
buying)

The average closing takes approximately 35 days in the current market, but a closing time frame
between 30-60 days is not uncommon depending on your and the seller’s needs.

05. Close!

This step is simple: you get your keys and move in! Your actual move-in day might be different from
the closing day, so make sure you are in communication with your agent about this.

06. First Mortgage Payment Due (30-60 days
after closing)

One of the most misunderstood aspects of buying a home is when the first mortgage payment
is due. We see an average of roughly 45 days between the closing date and the first mortgage
payment. This gives renters more leeway to buy sooner than they thought.

Making a Strong Offer

01. 02.Offer a Competitive Secure Good
Purchase Price Financing

You don’t always need to be the top offer price- Cash is king, and an all cash offer is the most
wise, but you need to be in the ballpark. ideal - followed by a conventional loan, then
an FHA loan, and then a VA loan. Generally
a seller wants to see that you have a good
mortgage company and loan officer behind
you and a good loan that involves the fewest
contingencies and least amount of headaches
for everyone involved.

03. Set a Timeframe that Makes
Sense for the Seller

Sometimes you need to move in by a certain date and you may
not adjust this, but your agent should talk with the listing agent
and know what the seller’s ideal time frame is, to ensure you can
get as close as possible.

04. Minimize 05. Non-Traditional
Contingencies Options

Any offer you make is contingent upon many We do not necessarily recommend these
things - such as an inspection, appraisal and options, but they may come up in multiple offer
securing a loan. Some buyers might also need situations, so they are important to be aware of:
to make their offer contingent upon the sale of
their current home. • Waive appraisal contingency or guarantee
money above appraisal
06. Sell Yourself
• Waive inspection or agree to a limited-scope
inspection

• Offer a post-occupancy agreement for seller

Ensure the listing agent and sellers know why you are the best candidate for their property. We
find it most effective to have our agent write about you and your situation in the email to the listing
agent when submitting an offer.

Costs of
Purchasing

01. Earnest Money (1-2% of purchase price)
(due at time of contract)

Earnest money is a deposit that you pay within 2 days of your offer’s acceptance by a seller.
Although the seller and listing agent ultimately set the earnest money amount, it is usually set
between 1-2% of list price. The important thing to note is that this is NOT a separate cost but is
a deposit. If you cancel the deal for a viable reason, you will get your earnest money back. If you
complete the purchase, it will be credited back to you at closing to use toward others costs (i.e.
closing costs, down payment, etc).

02. Inspection ($250-$500) (due at time of
inspection)

An inspection of your future home is optional, but advised. The fee is paid at the time of the
inspection (usually within 2 weeks of going under contract) and can vary depending on size of the
home and the inspection options you add on.

03.

Appraisal ($500-$750) (due at
time of appraisal)

An appraisal is not optional if you are using a loan. Your
will order and pay for the appraisal through your lender.
The cost is usually quoted as part of your closing costs
(see above), but it is paid at the time of the appraisal
instead of at closing. The cost can vary depending on
whether you need to include a rush fee or not.

04. Down Payment ($0-5% minimum) (due at
closing)

There is a wide range for the minimum required down payment on your purchase, which depends
on the type of loan you use. The minimum for a conventional loan is generally 5% down, although
3% conventional loan options are occasionally available. An FHA loan requires 3.5% down, but there
are some first time home buyer programs that could help you qualify for as little as $0 down.

05. Closing Costs (1-3%) (due at closing)

Closing costs are what you pay your lender for their services and can range from 1% to 3%. You have
the option of paying these costs out of pocket, asking the seller to pay for some or all of these costs,
or increasing your interest rate to offset some of these costs.

“ CLIENT
“ TESTIMONIALS

I can’t say enough good things about my realtor Linda Tran! After months of looking and putting
up with my laundry list of requirements, I finally closed on my first home. She was patient with
me during the whole process and educated me throughout. She always communicated with
me as well, at seemingly all hours. It’s like she never stopped working. She is there for her clients
and actually cares, and that’s exactly what you need in a realtor. Linda, thanks for making my first
home buying experience so smooth!
- Nikita Sutton

Linda Tran was our realtor that became our friend. She is professional, easy to work with and
all around amazing. She gave great advice when looking for our forever home. She never
rushed or pushed. Always met up with us on our time and kept us updated and very organized.
We are forever grateful and thankful for her. So if you are looking for a great realtor we would
recommend her 100% we absolutely put our trust in her and now we are in our forever home.
Thank you Linda.
- Nichole Lawrynowicz

I purchased a house this year with Linda and she made this experience stress free and easy. “
Always had our best interest In mind and is extremely knowledgeable. She made sure I was “
aware of things to be expected in advance so I wasn’t caught of guard which really made it a “
smooth experience. I would highly recommend her and plan on working with her for future “
purchases. “
- Watani Alexander

Geraldine McKinney or GG was a great real estate agent. Even though I was quite picky on what I
was looking for, she was patient and consistently showed me multiple properties until we found
the perfect home for me. Phenomenal realtor and would recommend her to anyone..
- Chris Oepomo

I would recommend her to anyone looking to buy a home. It was very easy to close. We had 2
other offers that weren’t accepted. But Geraldine kept looking and we found an amazing home.
Most importantly closing on a home was time sensitive and I feel she went the extra mile to
make it happen.
- Zach H.

GG was absolutely great! She is very helpful and knows the ins and outs; which was great for
someone like me who came in with only some internet research that left a lot of questions
unanswered. She did a great job of negotiating with the seller to find a middle ground, and also
helped iron things out with out with the loan agency.
- Jacob M.

GG is an amazing agent that I regularly recommend to my friends and clients. She is
knowledgeable, diligent, hard-working, responsive, and a tenacious negotiator. We have worked
together on several transactions, and I value her expertise. If you are looking for an agent who
will find your perfect home, and get you a fair price in this complex market, GG is the ONE!
- Jackie M.

Buyer Lead Sheet

Lead Source/Property that prompted call: Date:
Children’s Names
CONTACT INFO
Name
Email
Street Address

Home Phone Cell Phone
Work Phone Fax
What is the best way to get in touch with you? What times are best?

Buyer Consultation Prequalification Questions

1. Has an agent taken you out and shown you any properties? YES NO If yes, how’s that
going?

2. Is there anybody else buying the home with you?

3. Who will be living in your home?

4. How long have you been looking for a home?

5. I’m just curious, why are you moving?

6. Are you renting or do you own now? RENT OWN

Renter: Do you know when your lease is up? YES NO
Owner: Do you need to sell your current home before you buy your next one?

If yes: Have you signed a listing agreement with a real estate agent to sell your home?

RENT OWN

If no: When would be a good time for us to get together so I can give you a f ree market

analysis on your home?

7. Are you going to be paying cash or will you be getting a mortgage for the purchase of your home?

CASH MORTGAGE
Mortgage: Have you already been preapproved by a lender?

If yes: Whom are you working with?
What is the amount you are preapproved for?
What will your down payment be?

If you want to recommend a lender. I have three trusted lenders who always provide top-quality
service. They often help buyers save money either on a monthly basis or on initial costs. Would you
like their contact information?

8. What price range are you comfortable with? Is there anyone else who will be
involved in your home-buying decision?

9. On a scale of I to 10, with 10 meaning you must buy a home as quickly as possible and I
meaning you are not sure you’ll really buy anything, how would you rate yourself?

Anything less than 10: What would it take for you
to become a 10?

10. When do you need to be in your new home?

11. I’d love to help you buy a home. In order to help you f ind a perfect home, all we need to do is
set an appointment (with all of the decision makers), so I can help you get what you want in

the time you want

What is a better time for us to meet? (day). at (time) ,

or (alternate day) at (alternate time) ?

Appointment date and time:
Other Information

Information to Remain Conf idential

Behavioral Style: D I S C

The 5 Must Haves

1. What are the top 5 things your home needs to have?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

2. Beyond those five things, what is something else you really want to have?

3. If you could have something else, what would that be?

4. If you could have one last thing to make this your dream home, what would that be?

A, B, or C Buyer Form

A Buyer: Our highest priority buyer. These are people who have to buy a home. They
B Buyer: have either sold their existing home, transferred into town, or their lease has
C Buyer: expired. In many cases, they could potentially be homeless.

Our second-highest priority buyer. These are people who are ready to buy,
except they have a home to sell first, have a lease to fulfill, or are in the stage
of getting preapproved.

Our third highest priority buyer. These people may buy a home when the
right one comes along.

I/We’ve read the above and feel that I am/we are. Buyer(s)
Date
Buyer Date Buyer

Thank You For Taking The Time
To Review Our Home Buyer’s Guide

Your Real Estate Resource
Who You Work With Matters
We Look Forward To Having The Opportunity
To Work As Your Trusted Advisor

Contact Details

2650 W Belleview Ave Littleton,
CO, US 80123
720-476-9911
[email protected]
homesbygg.kw.com