2022 Buyer Book

HOME BUYERS GUIDE

A NOTE FROM CESI PAGANO

Congratulations on the decision to purchase a home! I am grateful for the opportunity to assist you with your real estate needs. I believe that when you love and are passionate about what you do, the clients you serve will benefit greatly from the devotion, experience, and knowledge provided to them. My entire team shares the same motivation to offer our clients the best experience and meet all personal objectives.

We, at Cesi Pagano & Associates, understand that purchasing, selling, or investing in a home are major life events. We are passionate about assisting our clients in achieving unsurpassed results.

KNOWLEDGE Cesi Pagano & Associates has a long-standing track record of over 35 years, consistently delivering successful results for our clients.

From marketing strategies, promotional efforts, networking, negotiating, lending, escrow knowledge, new home sales experience, relocation services, investment insights, management, and much more, our team is fully versed in all aspects of the real estate industry. Our training and education are consistently enforced, as well as mentoring and training other rising professionals within our organization. We pride ourselves in providing the highest level of skills, knowledge, experience, state-of-art technology, and education to our clients to maximize results.

SUPPORT Real estate is a profession that is an ever-evolving process. Being ahead of the curve and consistent with marketing, thorough communication, honest feedback, and market knowledge has allowed us to earn both respect and gratitude of our clients, as well as other industry professionals.

Our clients are our priority, and we are here for them every step of the way.

RESULTS Through proprietary pre-marketing strategies, campaigns, and negotiation tactics, we have served over 3,500-lifetime clients. We have provided them the highest results on their home values (higher savings on their purchase). Our statistics and reputation prove it! Instant referrals and testimonials are available to you from any of our previous clients at any given time. Don’t hesitate to ask!

We have successfully sold thousands of homes and provided unsurpassed customer service to every one of our clients. As a reward, we have earned great relationships and loyalty along the way. We look forward to earning yours too.

Cesi Pagano CEO

HOME BUYERS’ GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3-1 Ⱦ About Cesi Pagano & Associates

1ȿɨȼɁ Your 14 Step Home Buying Process

17-20 Preparing to Purchase Your New Home

21-24 Searching for Your New Home

25-4ɀ Obtaining Your New Home

4Ɂ-52 Lifelong Client Benefits

TOP 1%

3,500+

Cesi Pagano has consistently distinguished herself as a top producer and as a preferred Real Estate Consultant to her customers. Since 1986, she has proven to be one of the most successful in the industry with multi-million dollars in sales volume yearly, top 1% in the nation. She has sold more than 3, 00 homes, including new homes, short sales, relocation, traditional residential sales, investments, and many more.

Recognized, awarded and honored by the real estate industry, Cesi is legendary for her customer satisfaction, sales achievements, and outstanding sales professionalism.

Cesi Pagano’s successful career is attributed to her focus on her main objective, to consistently provide successful results, professional service, and unsurpassed customer service for her client. It is essential to Cesi that her buyer’s dream home is found at the best possible value and provides a seamless purchase process for her clients. Her dedication and commitment to her valued clients and career are unparalleled in the industry. She is a Team Leader and a mentor to others in the industry.

IN THE NATION

CESI PAGANO

OWNER / CEO OF CESI PAGANO & ASSOCIATES KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY

HOMES SOLD

Instant referrals and testimonials are available to you from any of our clients at any time, just ask.

35+

YEARS EXPERIENCE

3,500+ HOMES SOLD

30+

YEARS OF PLATINUM AWARDS

QUALIFICATIONS

CREDENTIALS

HONORS

Multi-million-dollar producer

First Time Home Buyer Specialist

Top 1% in the nation

Luxury Property Specialist

Over years of experience

Certified KW Luxury Homes Member

Platinum and Double Platinum Award Recipient, Keller Williams Realty, in the last 16 consecutive years

Assisted over 3, 00 families in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties

Certified Luxury Homes Marketing Specialist (CLHMS)

Expert in Residential Sales, Creative Marketing, and Promotion Tri-lingual (English, Italian and Spanish)

Certified Million Dollar Guild Certified International Property Specialist Relocation Specialist Investment Property Specialist 1031 Exchange Specialist Certified Sales Professional Designation (CSP) Accredited Buyer Representative Designation (ABR) Certified HAFA Specialist (CHS) REO and Short Sale Specialist Pre-Forclosure Specialist Certification (PSC) Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource Certification (SFR)

Ranked in the Top 200 out of all Real Estate Sales Professionals in the U.S. by Real Trends Wallstreet Journal Multiple time recipient of the prestigious “Sales Professional of the Year” award for Orange County, Riverside County, and San Diego County

ALL OF THIS HAS RESULTED IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE TRACK RECORDS IN REAL ESTATE.

WHY CESI PAGANO AND ASSOCIATES

WE WORK FOR YOU

• Market Knowledge To Find Homes • Successfully Negotiate Your Best Price & Terms • Full-Time Realtors with Availability to Best Serve You • Assess Your Ability to Purchase & Educate on Suitable Financing Options • Strong Negotiation & Follow Up Skills • Relocation Experts • Professional & Respectful • Builder Relations • Ideal Home Selection • Knowledgeable with Escrow Process • Vendor Resources

WHO IS WORKING FOR YOU?

BUYER’S AGENT Our Buyer’s Agent is your main point of contact and is there to serve you throughout your entire Real Estate transaction. This entails a full commitment to serving our clients. Starting from the initial consultation to guiding you through the search and selection of your perfect home. As well as negotiating offers, potential repairs, guidance through the inspection/discovery process, and bringing the transaction to a close, our buyer’s team is with you every step of the way.

Providing exceptional service with your best interest in mind.

REAL ESTATE SHOWING ASSISTANT Our showing assistants work hand-in-hand with our Buyer’s Agent throughout the home-buying experience.

Schedules and attends on-site property inspections with potential buyers and vendors and provides buyer clients access to homes under contract as needed for measuring, inspections, etc.

BUYER’S TEAM The buyer team consists of highly trained Real Estate professionals all working together to help our buyer’s clients. They can help each other when something comes up in the schedule that doesn’t allow your personal Buyer’s Agent to attest. Assuring nothing ever fall through the cracks.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Our Director of Operations oversees all departments within our organization. This role supports and facilitates all-action moving in and out of our office.

Knowledgeable with your property’s selling goals, our Director of Operations supports our associates in achieving our client’s outlined objectives, keeping things moving forward smoothly and efficiently.

CONCIERGE SERVICES We have a trusted network of local service providers in every trade that can provide a reliable, fast, and inexpensive product that results in a great deal of savings at your move-in.

PREFERRED LENDERS & FINANCIAL TEAM TRANSACTION & CLOSING MANAGER Our Transaction Manager handles the file from contract to close, guiding you through the escrow period. Ensuring that each step runs smoothly and is executed per contract, maintaining timelines, and providing support to both the clients and the lead agents towards a successful close.

As an extension of our team, we will only recommend you to the best and most reputable finance companies in the business. We want to make sure our clients have a more educated and more confident home buying process, so they understand step by step how to achieve the home of their dreams within a comfortable budget.

1031 EXCHANGE EXPERTS EXTENDED TEAM Our industry affiliates extend beyond our team. They offer top of the line services and are here to assist you with both title and escrow services as well as home warranty. With this extended team, you get guidance and protection throughout the final steps of selling your home.

Staffed with in-house legal counsel who directs the exchange company, our third-party team can facilitate 1031 Tax-Deferred Exchanges both nationally and globally, offering an array of educational workshops. Exchange laws require explicit adherence to the rules and promulgated by State taxing agencies throughout the country. We are here to help with these.

WE CAN HELP YOU WITH...

YOUR EXISTING HOME

LAND SALES

LUXURY HOMES

MULTI-FAMILY

NEW CONSTRUCTION

CONDOS

RELOCATION

TOWN HOMES

FOR SALE BY OWNERS

DUPLEXES

OFF-MARKET LISTINGS

INTERNATIONAL MOVES

FLIPS

VACATION PROPERTIES

RENTALS

FORECLOSURES

PROBATE

SHORT SALES

RANCHES

DIVORCE SALES

TEMPORARY HOUSING

TRUSTEE SALES

WATER FRONT PROPERTIES

INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

KELLER WILLIAMS THE LARGEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY IN THE WORLD

As an independently owned and operated Keller Williams office, not only do you get all the resources through Cesi Pagano & Associates but also Keller Williams, the largest Real Estate Company in the World.

WITH KELLER WILLIAMS YOU GET: Technology Through KW’s exclusive Keller Williams Listing System (KWLS), your property is fed to approximately 500 online search engines and available on KW’s Web network of more than 76,000 sites, boasting 2.6 million unique visitors monthly, giving us the edge in effectively marketing your property online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Best of all, because of Keller Williams Realty’s “My Listings, My Leads” philosophy, every single Internet inquiry on your property will come directly to us so that we can follow up quickly on potential buyers for your property.

A More Knowledgeable Team Keller Williams Realty helps us stay ahead of trends in the real estate industry through its comprehensive, industry-leading training curriculum and research resources.

It’s what prepares us to provide you with unparalleled service.

Proven Track Record We’re proud to work for the fastest growing real estate company in North America and the largest real estate company in the United States. It’s proof that when you offer a superior level of service, the word spreads fast.

AWARDED

AWARDED

“THE MOST INNOVATIVE REAL ESTATE COMPANY” -INMAN NEWS

“FOR UNSURPASSED CUSTOMER SERVICE” -JD POWERS

KELLER WILLIAMS WORLDWIDE Not only are we a part of the Keller Williams team, but we are a part of their global reach program. By working with us, you can gain access to a world-wide network of potential buyers, advertising in over 500,000 international real estate agents in over 30 various countries, translating your property information into 25 different languages.

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HOME BUYERS GUIDE

BEGINNING YOUR BUYING EXPERIENCE Preparing To Purchase Your New Home

YOUR 14 STEP HOME BUYING PROCESS

1.

Buyer Consultation & Define Your Needs

2.

Understanding The Market

3.

Financing & Pre-Approval

4.

Home Search

5.

Review Your Options

6.

Writing The Offer

7.

Offers, Negotiations, Counters, & Acceptance

14 STEP HOME BUYING PROCESS

8.

Escrow Opens

9.

Review The Escrow Process & Set Expectations To Follow

10.

Contingency Period Begins, Inspections, Appraisal & Loan

11.

Home & Title Insurance

12.

Choosing Your Home Warranty

13.

Funding Loan, Signing Documents, & Closing Funds

14.

Close of Escrow & Move In!

STEP 1 BUYER CONSULTATION & DEFINING YOUR NEEDS

Our goal is to build a life-long relationship with our clients. We provide value to our clients by protecting their best interests and offering exceptional service. Our mission is to save our clients money and time, delivering a gratifying process. Most Realtors run out to show homes before asking all the appropriate qualifying questions to discover the buyer’s true needs and wishes. Our preference is to take the time to get to know our client’s lifestyle preferences, home criteria, favorite areas and neighborhoods, school selections, and as much as we can learn about them. Focusing on crucial desires minimizes our client’s time in the search process while allowing a more exciting experience.

OUR BUYER CONSULTATION EXPERIENCE • Educate our clients on market conditions and set expectations • Review the search and purchasing process • Understand our client’s financial qualifications and budget considerations • Thoroughly discover our client’s wants and needs • Review all aspects of desired areas • Explain the following steps • Review Documentation and agreements • Confirm expectations and schedule the next step We are determined to find and secure the right home for our clients. Whether the home is a new construction home or pre-owned home, we will help our clients obtain their best selection on the market or off-market. Our entire team invests as many hours as necessary to find the right home. We will network with other Realtors, contact owners directly, solicit through social media, and look under every rock to get ahead of the competing buyers. We commit and dedicate 100% of our efforts and work hard for our clients. Our loyalty to their needs is #1. We will mutually execute a Representation Disclosure and a Loyalty Agreement to retain our services and pledge our efforts to each other to achieve successful results. By doing so, it provides you peace of mind that you will have a full-time Real Estate Professional to protect your best interests in every aspect of the process, whether you select a pre-owned home or new construction.

It is imperative to have representation at all times. When purchasing a new home, home builders have their own Sales Counselors to represent them and look out for their interest. Our clients are all represented, guided, and made aware of the positives and negatives of any home builder reputation, communities, tax rates, and all disclaimers that may not be evident to the consumer. We want to be there for our clients from the minute they first walk into a new home community to make sure they are not “sold” without their best interests in mind.

STEP 2 UNDERSTANDING THE MARKET

BUYER’S MARKET VS SELLER’S MARKET The market is continually changing. We are fully experienced in all markets and know how to properly navigate any circumstance to maximize our clients’ results. We know how to win in competitive markets and negotiate on our clients’ behalf to save them thousands of dollars.

A BUYER’S MARKET

A SELLER’S MARKET

PRE-OWNED HOMES: When a Realtor receives a sign call from a buyer, the Listing Agent’s main objective is to sell that home and obtain the best possible price for their contracted seller. Most Listing Agents are not comfortable, or in a position to negotiate against their own seller. Many Realtors are not experienced to handle a Dual Agency without conflict. When we represent our buyer clients, our main objective is to protect the buyers best interest and make sure they don’t overpay or overlook what a Listing Agent could be trying to sell them. We make sure they understand each home’s positives and negatives, so they make a well-informed decision.

NEW CONSTRUCTION: Cesi Pagano & Associates has represented many of the top new construction companies in the past and continues to work with them today. Our team is well versed in all homebuilders within the Southern California Region, their products and their neighborhoods. We work closely with these homebuilders and have insight that is invaluable to our clients.

STEP 3 FINANCING AND PRE-APPROVAL

DIFFERENT LEVELS OF QUALIFICATIONS NOT QUALIFIED

PREQUALIFIED

PREAPPROVED

Talked To A Lender Applied Submitted Financials Lender Has Reviewed Lender Feels Confident Underwriters Have Reviewed Appraisal Not Needed No Financing Needed

4 TOP QUESTIONS TO ASK A LENDER: Are you a broker or banker? Or both?

What are interest rates looking like right now? Can you send me a Good Faith Estimate of my fees?

What is the price range I need to stay within to get my desired payment?

Will you have my loan documents at the escrow company days before closing?

CONDITIONAL

CASH

STEP 4

HOME SEARCH

There are many factors to consider when selecting a neighborhood that is right for you. Below are just a few of the many factors you may think of and could bring importance to you.

Define Needs for Your Home Write Down Why You Are Looking For a New Home For example, are you currently renting and would like to have a home to begin building equity? Maybe you recently got married and have outgrown your current residence? Or, perhaps you have just gotten a promotion, which requires you to move to a new city. These factors will all have a bearing on how you approach your home search.

Establish a Time Frame This time frame needs to be one you will stay within for buying your home.

Depending on your reasons for wanting a new home and the current state of the market in the area you are looking to buy, you should be able to come up with a rough guideline, which you can finalize at a later time.

Write Your Ideal Home Wants/Needs Down You most likely have a mental picture of what you would like your house to look like and what features it should have. Take a moment to decide which features are “Requirements” (location, number of bedrooms, eating space, architectural style, etc...) and which features are “Extras” (fireplace, walk-in closets, pool, siding, vaulted ceilings, deck, landscaping, etc...).

There are many different features in homes that range from necessary to luxury. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of a beautiful home loaded with amenities.

You must select a home that truly meets all or most of your requirements first and foremost! As you tour homes, check back to this list to make sure the home meets your needs. The extras should only come into play when you make your final decision between homes that meet your required needs.

Choosing the Right Neighborhood is as Important as Choosing the Right House!

Neighborhoods have distinctive personalities designed to best suit single people, growing families, two-career couples, or retirees.

Investigate to determine that the community in which you choose to look for a home matches your lifestyle and personality. There are many factors to consider when selecting a neighborhood that is right for you. Below are just a few of the many *factors you may think of others that are important to you.

Scout Out The Neighborhood It is essential that you scout the neighborhood in person. You live in more than your house. Talk to some of the people who live there. Drive through the entire area at different times of the day: morning, afternoon, evening, late at night, as well as during the week and on weekends. Look carefully at how well other homes in the area are being maintained: exterior paint, yards, parked cars, etc.

Neighborhood Factors to Consider Look for things like access to major thoroughfares, highways, and shopping. Listen for noise created by commerce, roads, railways, public areas, schools, etc. Smell the air for adjacent businesses or agriculture. Check with local civic, police, fire, and school officials to find information about the area—research things like soil and water. Look at traffic patterns around the community during different times of the day and drive from the area to work. Is the neighborhood near parks, churches, recreation centers, shopping, theaters, restaurants, public transportation, schools, etc.? Does the neighborhood belong to a Homeowner’s Association?

Now that you have your list of needs and wants and know how much you can afford to spend, it’s time to look at some houses! Not just yet...

Get Local Neighborhood Information Step back for a moment and consider the larger picture. People don’t just buy a house; they buy the neighborhood the house is in.

Think about that... If you found the perfect home, but it was in a setting that wasn’t to your liking, would you make an offer on it?

Most likely, the answer would be “No.” So, you will need to make another *list of what type of neighborhood you want to live in. You will most likely want to consider things like how living in this neighborhood will affect your drive time to and from work, what amenities are offered (swimming pool, tennis courts, park, etc.) and, if you have children, what school district you will be in and how close the schools are. You may even want to make two lists just as you did with your home criteria.

Cesi Pagano & Associates can help you consolidate the information from your list of needs and wants for your home, your pre-approval, and your list of requirements and wants for the neighborhood. From this, you can incorporate this information into a broad search profile, which will then be narrowed down to specific areas dictated by the market in which you will be looking. Our experience in local markets will be an invaluable resource during this step *Recommendation - write these on your Requirements List, so they are not forgotten.

STEP 5

REVIEW YOUR OPTIONS

Whether you live in town or out of area, we have employed a few ways to help you minimize your inconvenience.

and all possibilities that meet your wishes, to screen these homes for you. When we present you with a home that interests you, we can arrange to tour the home at your convenience.

A Few of the Applications We Use: • • • • • • •

Keller Williams (KW) App FaceTime Home Viewings Zoom YouTube Videos

WhatsApp

No matter what state, country, or city you are in, we can help you find the best opportunity in the shortest amount of time!

STEP 6 WRITING THE OFFER

If finding a home is the fun part, then writing the offer is when things start to get really exciting! Though there are more challenges in this stage of the process, you are one step closer to owning your home. Anyone can find a home they love, but Cesi Pagano & Associates can help you write a competitive offer and get through the occasional choppy waters from the time you go under contract to when you get the keys.

CHOOSING THE OFFER PRICE:

KEY NEGOTIATION TERMS:

The right price fairly reflects the market value of the home you want to buy. To find this price, your agent will pull together a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), a set of records about recently sold homes that resemble the one you want in size, condition, location, and amenities.

1. Price, Down Payment, Deposit 2. Multiple Contingency Time-Frame 3. Close of Escrow 4. Possession Date

MULTIPLE OFFERS: Cesi Pagano & Associates specializes in winning in multiple offer situations. There are plenty of tricks we have up our sleeve to give you a competitive edge. If this occurs, your Buyer Specialist will coach you on how to present the most substantial offer. We will provide you all the tools and information to make the best decision for your specific situation.

We will ensure that you have everything down in written form... NO verbal agreements. After we prepare a written contract that meets all the legal requirements according to local and national guidelines, we will present the seller with a written document detailing what needs to be done by both parties to execute the transaction.

The contract should protect the best interests of all parties involved and should be comprehensive. We will also ensure your financial position as the buyer by including any necessary contingencies, which would protect you if a particular requirement was not met. Once the seller accepts it, it may be too late to make any changes. The contract, though not limited to this list, should include the following: • • • • • •

A legal description of the property The offering price The down payment Financing arrangements A list of fees and who will pay them Amount of the deposit

• • • • •

Inspection rights and possible repair allowances The method of conveying the title and who will handle the closing A list of appliances and furnishings which will stay with the home The settlement date Any relevant contingencies

Remember that the legalities of this phase are highly important. If you have any questions or concerns, they need to be addressed right away. After all, no one has ever said at their closing, “I wish I had asked fewer questions.”

STEP 7 THE OFFER, NEGOTIATIONS, COUNTERS & ACCEPTANCE

What to expect when an offer is presented ACCEPT - The seller may accept as is.

DECLINE - The seller does not accept the offer and does not wish to counter (not usually recommended as the offer can generally be negotiated and often ends up at an acceptable medium).

COUNTER - The seller may only counter the terms they don’t agree to or wish to change.

NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE - If the terms countered by the seller are not acceptable to you, we may continue negotiations and counter again until all terms are agreed upon.

OFFER ACCEPTED AND EXECUTED: Once both parties mutually agree to all terms, we may open escrow and begin the purchase process.

NOTE ON PRIVACY & SECURITY Please note that internet fraud is on the rise. Please do not take action on any requests received by any party unless consulted with us, your Realtors.

We will guide you on the best way to protect your privacy and security.

When you are ready to submit an offer on your potential home, we will do the following: 1. Review the offer with you personally.

2. Go over every item in the contract with you to thoroughly understand what you are offering and what you should be asking for.

3. Present your offer to the seller and negotiate the best possible price for you.

4. Give you as much input as we possibly can regarding: Current Market and Finance Activity Other Sales to Date Competition Broker Comments

Once your offer is made, we may need to enter LQWR some negotiation to reach an agreement. Keep in mind that almost everything is negotiable when you are buying a home. This can give you a great deal of leverage in the buying process; that is, if you have adequate information and use it appropriately. As your real estate consultant, we will have the market knowledge and negotiating expertise necessary to ensure that your offer is accepted at the best price and terms possible for you.

Some of the things that may need to be negotiated are: • The Price • Financing • Closing Costs • Repairs Needing to Be Done • Appliances and Fixtures • Landscaping • Painting • Occupancy Time Frame When purchase contracts are negotiated, you will be kept informed every step of the way.

During the buying experience, we will: • Establish and explain guidelines prior to presentation.

• Present your offer as quickly as possible.

• Review the contract with you.

• Keep you up-to-date on current market activity, which may affect the strength of your RIIHU • Ensure that all parties in all transactions are treated fairly and with honest consideration.

• Make certain there is compliance with disclosure laws and ordinances.

The key to successful negotiating is keeping in mind that the end result must make both you, the buyer, and the seller happy.

Otherwise, negative feelings will persist throughout the remainder of the process, and someone may walk away, feeling that they were not treated fairly.

STEP 8 REVIEW THE ESCROW PROCESS WHAT IS ESCROW?

& SET EXPECTATIONS

Escrow is the depositing of funds and documents that establish terms and conditions for the transfer of property ownership with an impartial third party. When the parties deliver documents and money to the impartial escrow holder to be held for further delivery until certain conditions have been met, we say the documents are held “in escrow.” We may also say the parties have “opened an escrow.”

Each of the principals of the escrow (Seller, Buyer, Lender) will give to the escrow holder written instructions setting out the conditions under which the further delivery is to be made.

The Purpose of an Escrow The common use of an escrow is to enable the parties in a real estate transaction to deal with each other with less risk since the escrow holder acts as the following: • Custodian for funds and documents • A clearinghouse for payment of all demands Typical Escrow Transactions An escrow begins when the real estate agent opens the order for title work and provides the Purchase Agreement and all executed documentation to escrow. Once received, a Title company prepares a preliminary report. Upon receipt of this report, the analysis is made to determine the necessary action and documents required to complete the transaction.

• Demands for the satisfaction of liens not acceptable to Buyer and/or Lender • Documents for recording • Instructions and requirements of the new lender Escrow is now open. The escrow length is determined on the pre-agreed contract between you, the buyer, and the seller. During this time, it is essential you are in touch with your lender to review loan programs, provide them with all necessary documentation to process your loan successfully. Please be sure to ask your lender for a complete Good Faith Estimate. This will allow you to review all anticipated closing costs due at the close of escrow, such as points on the loan, escrow fees, title fees, processing fees, impound fees (if applicable), and all other miscellaneous fees.

The inspection should be scheduled within the first week after acceptance of your offer. This will allow you to have enough time to review all inspection reports, get second opinions (if applicable), and still have time to request repairs to the seller, all prior to your removal of the contingency deadline.

STEP 9 DON’T JEOPARDIZE YOUR CLOSING

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU DON’T DO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE CLOSED AND FUNDED ON YOUR NEW HOME. • Change jobs, become self-employed, quit a job, or retire

• Omit debts or liabilities from the loan application

• Buy a car, recreational vehicle, or other large items

• Buy furniture • Make credit inquiries

• Use charge/credit card excessively or let payments fall behind

• Make large deposits without checking with the loan officer

• Spend money intended for closing

• Change bank accounts • Receive large amounts of money from someone without letting the lender know first • Pay off large amounts of debt that changes your debt to income ratios • Co-sign a loan

STEP 10 CONTINGENCY PERIODS BEGIN; INSPECTIONS, APPRAISAL & LOANS

Inspectors are not superheroes; they cannot see through the walls or predict the future. But, they can spend several hours combing through the home to identify anything that is currently wrong or out-of-code within the home.

Cesi Pagano & Associates will work with you to prioritize the essential items and go for negotiating those times. These inspections must be done during the period, so you should schedule it within the first 48 hours after your offer is accepted. It is essential to keep in mind that California homes are sold as-is, in their present condition. All buyers are advised to conduct their investigations to precisely determine such conditions.

VARIOUS REPORTS TO BE REVIEWS DURING THE CONTINGENCY PERIOD: • HOA Documents • Local Area Disclosures • Sales Disclosures

How to Choose a Good Inspection Company Is an Inspection Necessary?

You have the right to request an inspection of any property you are thinking of purchasing by a professional inspector of your choice. You should always exercise your option to have the physical condition of the property and its inclusions inspected. Many more severe and expensive problems, such as mechanical, electrical, structural, and plumbing, are not noticeable to the untrained eye. If repairs are needed, negotiate these in your contract offer. A professionally conducted home inspection followed by a written evaluation is becoming standard procedure in home buying because of increased buyer awareness and savvy.

Beware of false claims Consumers must be cautious in evaluating some of the claims made by people hoping to fill the growing demand for home inspection services. Many new companies request only an application fee. Some claim to offer certification but do not require exams or proven credentials. Still, others boast engineering licenses as an assurance of competence, even though the engineering license has nothing to do with home inspecting.

What does an inspection entail?

A qualified inspector will follow the Standards of Practice in conducting their inspection. The inspection consists of a physical examination of the home with the purchaser present, followed by a written report detailing their findings. They report on the general condition of the home’s electrical, heating, and air systems, interior plumbing, roof, visible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, foundation, and visible structure. The inspection is not designed to criticize every minor problem or defect in the home. No home is perfect. It is intended to report on significant damage or serious problems that require repair for the well being of the home, requiring considerable expense.

Buyer education is necessary The primary purpose of the inspection is to educate the buyer to make an informed purchasing decision. The inspector should allow and even encourage the buyer to attend the home inspection. A good home inspector knows how the home’s many systems and components work together and minimize the damaging effects of sun and water. The buyer’s attendance at the inspection provides them with an overall idea of possible future repair costs and maintenance routines. This is valuable information, which could increase the life span and perhaps the home’s future selling price.

Time and fee guidelines for the inspection The time necessary to properly inspect a home and the fee charged by an inspector vary according to market location, the home’s size and age, and the individual inspection company. However, you can expect that it will take an average of two to three hours to competently inspect a typical one-family, three-bedroom home, with an average cost of $100 to $300. Your Realtor® may not be at the inspection, so notify Cesi Pagano after completing the inspection.

10cont.

After the home inspection has been completed and we have received your inspection report, we will review it with you. Together we will check all items of concern to request repairs from the seller by submitting a written “Request for Repairs.” Note that all these items are negotiable.

Once you and the seller have a mutual agreement, we will proceed with the purchase process. At this time, we will be reviewing all disclosures and researching/investigating all necessary matters affecting your home.

As per the Residential Purchase Agreement states on page 3, #8 (A), “Buyer’s acceptance of the condition of, and any other matter affecting the property, is a contingency of this Agreement... Within the time specified in paragraph 14B(l), you shall have the right, at your expense (unless otherwise agreed), to conduct inspections, investigations, tests, surveys, and other studies. This can include, but is not limited to, the right to: (i) inspect for wood-destroying pests and organisms; a pool inspection if applicable and a roof inspection; (iv) confirm the insurability of the property, etc. This will allow you to decide if the home is within your expected condition.

Removal Of Contingencies Your lender has now provided you with a formal loan approval. This means all lender requirements and conditions are met and finalized.

You’ve reviewed and approved all disclosures, reports, and other applicable information pertaining to this home. At this point, the seller will now require you to remove these contingencies. This means that you agree not to add any additional conditions to your purchase. Upon signing your Contingency Removal, your deposit becomes nonrefundable.

Processing the Sale A Real Estate Consultant has more responsibilities than showing!

Check list for processing your purchase: Contact the escrow company to notify them of the sale and make sure they have all the necessary copies of all signed and applicable documents.

Deliver Earnest Money Contract and check to the Title Company.

Obtain a receipt for earnest money check from the Title Company.

Notify your lender of your purchase and make sure they have all the necessary copies of all signed and applicable documents.

Order all the required inspections.

Examine the Title Commitment for clouds and make sure problems are disclosed early, so closing is not delayed.

Ensure that you receive copies of all documentation pertinent to the transaction.

Note all contingencies and attempt to remove them within the time limit provided or get an extension of time, if needed.

Keep you abreast of your loan process & the progress of the appraisal on your new home.

Be present during inspections and keep you informed of their findings: (Roof, Pest Control, Pool, Building, Plumbing & Heating) Confirm any required termite treatment and make sure the certificate is obtained.

Coordinate the execution of any required repairs.

Verify the survey has been ordered and completed.

Provide Title Company with any charges for HUDl. Have closing papers drawn before closing so that if any problems arise, we can solve them.

Coordinate the closing and move-in dates so that they are as convenient to both parties as possible.

STEP 11 HOME & TITLE INSURANCE

Title Insurance

Home Insurance

Protects the holder from financial loss sustained from defects in a title to a property. The most common claims filed against a title are back taxes missed by a title company, liens (from mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, easements), and conflicting wills.

During the inspection contingency period, it’s crucial to confirm insurability with the home. You’ll want to shop around with several companies as your lender will need proof of insurance before final loan approval.

Find The Vendors You Need After your offer has been accepted, we will supervise all necessary vendors’ coordination and serve as your advocate when working with each vendor. Your agent will ensure that the vendors have access to the property at the appropriate times to perform their procedures and oversee the execution of those procedures on your behalf.

For instance, the property will need a thorough examination. Working with your lender, you may need to have a formal appraisal and a survey done for the property designated in the contract. A property inspection, a foundation inspection, and an environmental inspection may also need to be completed to ensure that the property meets the standards outlined in your written agreement. If there are issues or inconsistencies brought to light during this time, it may delay or even nullify the contract depending on the contingencies outlined in the contract.

Homeowner insurance is another essential item that will need to be taken care of at this point. Insurance experts recommend that you obtain insurance equal to the full replacement value of the home. Unless you have insurance coverage on the home, the closing can not proceed. Having these procedures done in a timely and professional manner is a must.

Investigate each vendor to make sure that they are reputable and have a clean operational history.

Your agent’s experience in this area will be invaluable, ensuring that everything is completed on time and professionally and legally.

STEP 12 CHOOSING A HOME WARRANTY

Home Warranty The number of homeowners who purchase a home warranty protection plan has gone up over the years. Home warranties can cover or discount repairs on the home’s major components, such as washer, dryer, and water heater. The seller will often include a home warranty as part of their negotiation process, but even if the seller does not agree to pay for it, you can purchase one yourself.

Warranty companies have agreements with local companies, so when you file a claim, they send out one of their service companies to handle repairs. The cost to you generally is just the price of the service call and any additional service that may not have been covered by the warranty. You’ll have the option of renewing your service contract every year.

Keep in mind that a home warranty may not cover everything, and some claims may be denied. If the item hasn’t been properly maintained, the claim can be rejected. If you decide to move forward with the repair, you’d then be expected to cover the cost.

A home warranty benefits can be huge, especially for homeowners who don’t keep an emergency fund or would like not to use up their entire emergency fund on one repair. Unforeseen repairs show up at the worst times, and a home warranty can help cover the cost of those repairs or replacements.

New Home Warranties When you purchase a newly built home, the builder usually offers some sort of full or limited warranty on things such as the quality of design, materials, and workmanship. These warranties are generally for one year from the purchase of the home. At closing, the builder will assign the manufacturer’s warranties to the builder for materials, appliances, fixtures, etc. For example, if your dishwasher were to become faulty within one year from the purchase of your newly built home, you would call the dishwasher manufacturer - not the builder. If the homebuilder does not offer a warranty, BE SURE TO ASK WHY!

Resale Home Warranties When you purchase a resale home, you can buy warranties that will protect you against most ordinary flaws and breakdowns for at least the first year of occupancy. The seller may offer the warranty as part of his overall package or by some Realtors® who have access to programs that will ensure the buyer against any home defects. Even with a warranty, you should have the home carefully inspected before you purchase it. A home warranty program will give you peace of mind, knowing that the important covered components in your home will be repaired if necessary. Ask us for more details about home warranty packages.

STEP 13 FUNDING LOAN, SIGNING

DOCUMENTS & CLOSING FUNDS

Pre-Closing Process SIGNING OF DOCUMENTS Upon your loan approval, your lender will order your loan documents. These loan documents are primarily your commitment to the loan program with your lender. Traditionally, these loan papers are signed with your escrow officer along with other closing documents such as your Grant Deed, etc. Your lender will forward these documents to the escrow company, and it takes approximately 2-4 days to be delivered, depending on the lender. Upon receipt, your escrow officer will calculate all your costs and contact you to set up an appointment. At this time, your escrow officer will provide you with the total amount of funds required to close escrow. These funds must be in the form of a cashiers check drawn on a California bank. Should you wish to wire your funds instead, please contact your escrow officer for wiring instructions. As a reminder, you will need to provide proof of property insurance on your new residence. Your lender will not fund your loan unless your homeowner’s insurance policy is in place. Should you decide to have an impound account, please review this option with your lender.

IMPOUND ACCOUNT An impound account is a neutral depository for funds used to pay expenses incurred by the property, such as taxes, assessments, property insurance, or mortgage insurance premiums, which fall due in the future. You will pay one-twelfth of the annual amount of these bills each month with your regular mortgage payment. When the bills fall due, they are paid by the lender from the special account. At closing, it may be necessary to pay enough into the account to cover these amounts for several months so that funds will be available to pay the bills as they fall due. You may also be required to refund items prepaid by the Seller. For example, if the Seller has paid the special assessments or taxes for that year, you may be required to refund the value of the months remaining in the year when you take possession of the property. An escrow fee is usually charged to set up the account.

UTILITIES You will receive a list of utility companies to assist you in coordinating service for your new home. Utility companies can require up to seven days to connect gas, electricity, water, phone, and cable. Please make an application with the utility companies at least seven days prior to your moving date. (Note: Please do not transfer service to your name until after your closing date.) Be sure to notify your Post Office for a change of address, the DMV, your creditors, etc.

LOAN FUNDING AND RECORDING After you have signed your final documents at escrow and have turned in all your funds, your documents are forwarded back to your lender for review. Your lender will then verify that your home is completed and all required governmental inspections have passed.

Upon confirmation, your lender will fund the loan and authorize escrow to record the Deed with the County through the Title Company.

It usually takes approximately three to five days to Record Title into your name from when your documents are delivered to the lender, and the authorization process occurs. Once the Grant Deed has officially recorded...

YOU HAVE CLOSED ESCROW!!

STEP 14 CLOSING ESCROW & MOVE IN!

FINAL WALK-THROUGH We will now schedule a walk-through at your new home. During this walk-through, we will confirm that all mutually agreed-upon repairs have been completed. We will also ensure that the home is still in the same condition as when you initially purchased it.

RECEIPT OF KEYS When the transfer of Title has been confirmed by the escrow officer, who informs us, we will notify you and make the necessary arrangements for you to pick up your keys as our Sales Information Center.

MOVING We have discounts available for certain movers and are happy to send names of companies to you. If you need assistance packing, we have those resources as well. Now that you have taken ownership of the property, you will need to have your local services such as electricity, cable, and phone set up. Also, you should already be aware of the expenses that are typically associated with owning a home. Neighborhood Association fees, landscaping costs, supplemental property tax, and annual taxes should be budgeted throughout the year.

CLEANING You want to have the home cleaned before you start moving and unpacking. It won’t be empty again until you go to sell! Let us know if you need a list of housekeepers to help.

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THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING CESI PAGANO & ASSOCIATES WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING YOU MAKE YOUR DREAMS A REALITY!

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DIamond Bar

60

10

Ontario

57

215

60

60

Chino 15

71

Chino Hills

Riverside

Rowland Heights 605

83

91

215

Norco

Brea

Yorba Linda

5

91

Fullerton 91

Corona

Anaheim Hills Anaheim

Los Alamitos

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1 Long Beach

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Seal Beach

Santa Ana

74

5

55

Trabuco Canyon

133

Irvine

405

15

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Tustin

Fountain Valley

Perris

NorthTustin

Huntington Beach

241 405

Costa Mesa

215

Mission Viejo

Newport Beach

Lake Elsinore

Lake Forest

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1 Aliso Viejo

Ladera Ranch

Laguna Beach Laguna Niguel 5 Dana Point

San Clemente

Temecula

“ sold! Cesi and her team are there for you during the whole process of home buying and selling.

We highly recommend Cesi Pagano & Associates of Keller Williams RealW\ GREG AND JENNETTE KRANZ

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HOME BUYER’S GUIDE

LIFELONG CLIENT BENEFITS

When the deal is done, we continue the fun!

From clients to lifelong relationships!

CLIENT APPRECIATION EVENTS To show our appreciation for past and present loyal clients, you are invited to multiple client events each year. Below are a few of the events that we offer: •

Client Appreciation Dinners

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Client Appreciation Picnics

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Informative Seminars

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Mobile Food Drives

TESTIMONIALS

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'anLel M | “Cesi Pagano & Associates has been nothing but absolutely professional, personable & attentive to my real estate needs.

They have taken as much time as I’ve needed to see every house I was interested in. They genuinely care about my needs & make me feel like their top priority every time I’ve spoken with them. Cesi has so much knowledge & experience. Madisen McCartin has been nothing but patient, kind & caring. She listens to my needs & is quick to respond to any questions I have. You’re in great hands with this team.”

Shannon K | “Wow, we can’t say enough positives about working Cesi Pagano and Associates. Her team was extremely knowledgeable about the housing market and knew the best strategies to get our offer accepted in a seller’s market. They guided us from start to finish and made it so pleasant. Truly felt they were on “our side” the whole time and always had our best interest at heart. Without this team, we would not have found the home of our dreams. We would recommend Cesi Pagano and Associates to anyone looking to sell or buy.”

Dan B | My wife and I had the unenviable task of looking for real estate property during the doubly challenging time of COVID-19 as well as a red hot real estate market.

Fortunately for us, we found Cesi Pagano and Associates who navigated all of the challenges we presented them. Their unflagging optimism, along with their keen professional advice was the perfect combination in helping us. We ended up buying a condominium in Dana Point that we feel is the perfect place for us. Thanks to Cesi’s team, they encouraged us to keep looking until we felt completely satisfied with what we were looking for. When we finally did put an offer on the property we ended up buying, the seller’s agent informed us that there were multiple offers submitted besides ours. But thanks to Cesi’s team, our offer was submitted in such a manner that we were chosen. Needless to say, we are extremely grateful for their assistance during this time!

We have many more testimonials! To view more testimonials from all our clients, please ask us!

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Timmy Lane | “I just move from SF and they help me purchase my home in Orange County. Best experience I ever had! Cesi Pagano and Associates will forever have my business!”