Strategy Guides
Are you getting ready to sell? This 5-minute read will get you started on the right foot, offering the expertise of our real estate elite in an easily digestible digital home seller's guide. We break each step of the process down into basics so you can:
- Avoid losing money
- Ask the right questions
- Understand the lingo
- Close efficiently
Is your home prepared to sell? Don’t waste a minute researching how it should be prepared. We’re breaking down the ten basics of home preparation to help get you to get the maximum financial return on the investment you’ve made in your home. You’ll also learn how to get a jump start on reports and inspections to save time later in the process.
Once your home is on the market, it’s important you know how to deal with purchase offers, especially in regard to vetting the buyer’s ability to obtain the appropriate financing. Learn the right questions to ask to ensure your time isn’t wasted.
It’s important to bring experience to the table when entering into a Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA). Learn how to read the contract and how to work with and negotiate through buyer contingencies.
The escrow process can be drastically expedited when all parties preemptively understand the process and the duties that are expected from the escrow officer. You’ll read about standard escrow practices, what precautions to take against fraud, and expectations for compliance with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Learn the eight tasks that need to be checked off prior to closing so you can effectively and confidently move on to the next chapter of your life.
Searching for your next property? This 5-minute read will get you started in the right direction. Whether you’re looking for your first home, a new place to settle in with your family, or an incredible investment property, we’re now offering the buying intelligence of our real estate elite in a digestible 4-step guide. We break down the process of preparation, making an offer, escrow, and closing so you can:
- Save time
- Understand the lingo
- Act strategically
- Get the best price
Preparing to buy a home is multi-faceted. First, you must look carefully at your finances to determine if you’re in a position to pay cash or if you’ll need a loan. We’ll offer our recommendations for finding a lender, the process of getting loan approval, and what you’ll need before starting this process. You’ll also receive a list of different factors that define a home’s worth—those that should be heavily considered before making a decision.
At the end of this guide, you will find a bonus Homebuyers Questionnaire. Use this detailed questionnaire to define your home buying needs and narrow down what is most important to you before starting the search. It’s an essential part of the preparation process.
Before making an offer on a home, you’ll need to partake in a Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA). This will allow you to review a physical investigation of the property, see the home’s appraisal and define additional contingencies before purchase. You’ll learn which specialized inspections you may wish to consider include geologic, sewer, structural, and HVAC.
The escrow company must be agreed upon between the buyer and the seller. In this guide, we offer recommendations for how to select an escrow company, a detailed breakdown of what occurs during this process, and how long it should take for inspections and appraisals.
There are eight conditions that have to be met through the purchase agreement prior to closing. Once those conditions are met, the buyer and seller can decide on a date of closing. In this guide, you will learn about the closing process up until the point of handing over the keys to your new home.
The Malibu Life Team
Madison Hildebrand | CA DRE# 01413280
Jennifer Chrisman | CA DRE# 01325526
24903 Pacific Coast Highway #200,
Malibu, CA 90265