Buyer Guide

BUYER GUIDE PRESENTED BY BRANDON BLACKMAN

MEET BRANDON 252.495.3778 brandon.blackman@hodgekittrellsir.com hodgekittrellsir.com/agent/brandon-blackman blackmanrealestate

Brandon was born and raised in Eastern North Carolina but has lived in Raleigh since 2008. He graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science and after graduation he moved to Washington, DC, to work for a non-profit. He then moved to Raleigh, where he spent nearly a decade working in marketing for the YMCA of the Triangle, Camp Sea Gull, Camp Seafarer and Camp Kanata.

Brandon thrives on building relationships and brings his unmatched energy to advocate and negotiate for his clients when buying their perfect home. He understands that buying a home is an immense task, and he works hard to streamline the process to make everything as easy as possible for his clients. When listing properties, he uses his marketing expertise, creativity, and leverage of the Sotheby?s International Realty brand to ensure his clients the best price in the shortest amount of time.

Brandon enjoys fly fishing, golf, live music, and cheering on the Carolina Hurricanes in his free time.

When he?s not in Raleigh, you can find him in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, spending time with his wife, Katelyn, and his golden retriever, Lucy.

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS "In this market, creativity is key. Brandon certainly displayed that through our home buying process. He was willing to go the extra mile to make us as buyers stick out to the seller, and without a doubt was the reason we were able to buy the house we did. Can?t recommend Brandon more."

- Matt G.

"Brandon was referred to me by the DC TTR Sotheby's. He was kind and patient and astoundingly strategic. I relocated from DC to NC and while I knew the NC market was competitive, I do not think I was prepared for how competitive it was. The first house we went to see ended up being the house I bought. While I wanted to place an offer during Coming Soon status, Brandon advised me not to.

This let me know right then that he had my best interest at heart. He is awesome and I now consider him to be a friend."

- Curtis S.

GETTING STARTED Congratulationson your decision to purchase ahome. It is an exciting processand I'm honored you have chosen us to be your trusted advisors.

Introductory Meeting During this time I will get to know more about you and your decision to purchase a home. I'll ask your goals, your wants, your needs, and your timeline. I'll review the Working with Real Estate Agents brochure (see sample version on page 6) and Buyer Agency Agreement to make sure you understand what it means to have me represent you as your agent.

Get Pre-Approved with aMortgage Lender This is the most important first step because it will help you determine your budget and price range. Your lender will write the pre-qualification letter, which is customarily required when submitting an offer. If you need recommendations for a trusted local lender please review our suggestions on the following page.

Home Search Once we have determined your search criteria and price range, we will develop a custom TMLS search to keep you updated as new listings become available. Your search portal will allow you to categorize listings according to your interests. Once you identify the homes you would like to visit, I will set up a showing appointment.

MORTGAGE LENDER RECOMMENDATIONS I havea list of trustedlocal lendersI amhappy tosharewith you.Usinga local mortgage lender isalwaysrecommendedbecausethey aremorein touchwithour local market and uselocal appraisers.

Bill Duff First Citizens Bank Cell: 919.906.7866 Email: bill.duff@firstcitizens.com bankers.firstcitizens.com/mortgage/nc/raleigh/bill-duff NMLSNumber: 412444

Robin Pike Zevenhuizen Residential Mortgage Advisors Cell: 919.740.0073 Email: robin@rmanc.com www.rmanc.com/rpikezevenhuizen/ NMLSNumber: 38306

Boyd Davis Oak City Lending Cell: 919.889.6900 Email: boyd@oclnc.com www.oakcitylendingnc.com NMLSNumber: 864921

Kelsey Boole Owen Loan Pronto Cell: 704.602.6094 Email: kelsey@loanpronto.com www.loanpronto.com/our-team NMLSNumber: 1975282

MAKING AN OFFER

Important Termson the Offer to Purchase and Contract

DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD

Disclosures

Due Diligence Deposit (DD)

Home Inspection

A non-refundable "good faith deposit" made directly to the sellers that "buys" your right to the Due Diligence Period. DD deposits range depending on house price and aggressiveness of offer. It is due in form of a personal check, cashier?s check or wire as soon as the sellers have accepted/signed the offer. The money is credited toward your purchase price at closing. If you terminate the contract during the DD period for any reason, the sellers keep this money. This is a 100% non-refundable deposit.

We always recommend getting a home professionally inspected. We help with ordering and scheduling inspections and you are responsible for the payment. The inspector will send a detailed report noting important facts about the home and will summarize any items of concern. Since the home inspector can only point out red flags, sometimes it is necessary to consult with specialized professionals to further evaluate an issue and provide repair estimates.

Residential Property Disclosure Statement Mandatory form with seller-provided information about the condition of the home's systems and structures, HOA information, and any defects.

Mineral, Oil and GasDisclosure Statement Mandatory form with seller-provided information about any intended or previously severed mineral, oil or gas rights to the property.

Earnest Money Deposit Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Mandatory for homes built before 1978 which might present exposure to lead paint.

Typically about 1-2% of the purchase price, this money is typically held in an escrow account with the listing firm or the closing attorney. This money is refundable if the contract is terminated during the Due Diligence Period, however, if the contract is terminated after the Due Diligence Period, the sellers will be entitled to keep this money.

This deposit is also credited back to you at closing.

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On average cost ranges from $450-$900 (depending on age and size) Usually takes 3-4 hours You are welcome to attend and ask questions

Additional Inspection Services Radon

Roof

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that emits from the earth. At high levels it has been reported to cause health issues. The radon testing is approximately $150. If remediation is necessary, we would obtain an estimate from a qualified mitigation company.

Home inspectors take a look at the roof but if it's older or an issue isreported, it's wise to get a specialist to take alook ~$100

Septic/Well Due Diligence Period The date by which you will need to have completed your inspections and negotiated repairs with the sellers. Please note that the North Carolina Offer to Purchase and Contract (Item 4d) states that "...unless the parties agree otherwise, the property is being sold in its current condition." In some cases sellers will negotiate repairs or a repair allowance.

If the home is on a septic system, it is recommended to have a septic inspection which ranges in price between $350-$450 on average. It is also recommended, but not required, to have the tank pumped at the time of inspection which cost approximately $350. If the home has a well, it is recommended to have the water tested. This test can vary in cost depending on the level of testing and turnaround time that is required.

Pool If the home has a pool the cost for pool inspection is typically ~$350

Pest/Termite Most lenders require a wood-destroying insect report (WDIR) ~$85

HVAC Home inspectors test the HVAC units but if they are old or an issue is reported, it's wise to get a specialist to inspect them. ~$150 per unit

NEXT STEPS Negotiation We will discuss which items you would like to ask the seller to repair and I will submit a Due Diligence Request form.

Keep in mind that the sellers have no obligation to make any repairs because the contract states you purchased the home "as is."

Appraisal Your lender will order the appraisal, which tells the bank how much the house is worth and how much they will lend toward your purchase.

Choose Closing Attorney The attorney ensures that all legal requirements are satisfied by both the buyer and the seller and verifies that the seller can legally transfer the deed of the property. You will choose the attorney and I will contact them to schedule the closing.

CLOSING COSTSGUIDE Origination Fee: percent of loan amount charged by the lender to prepare the loan Points: apoint is equal to one percent of the loan amount Credit Report Fee: acredit report is required for all mortgage loans Appraisal: required by the bank to determine the property value and loan amount Survey: an exact drawing with measurements and physical featuresof the lot Prepaid Interest: interest on the loan from closing through end of the month Pro-rated Taxes and HOA Dues: buyer will be debited or credited for their portion of ownership Hazard Insurance: required to protect lender and homeowner against property damage Mortgage Insurance: required on conventional loanswhen putting less than 20%down held in account by lender to assure future payment for taxes and insurance Escrows: funds (min. of 2 months of taxes and insurances are charged at closing)

Attorney Fee: charge for attorney to handle the legal aspectsof closing the loan Lender's Title Insurance: protectsthe lender in case of legal claim against the property/title Owner's Title Insurance: protectsthe buyer in case of legal claim against the property/title Recording Fee: fee to the county for recording the deed

CLOSING CHECKLIST Transfer Utilities Have utility accounts switched into your name starting with the day of closing. You will need to schedule all of your utilities to be turned on a week prior to closing.

Sign the Initial Closing Disclosure At least three days before closing, your lender will send an initial closing disclosure for you to electronically sign.

Transfer Fundsto Closing Attorney Your lender and closing attorney will work together to determine the total amount needed for closing. Most attorneys require the money to be sent via a wire transfer and will securely email you the wiring instructions.

Day of Closing Final Walkthrough We will do a final walkthrough to ensure the home is in the agreed-upon condition.

Bring ID and Checkbook You will need a government-issued form of ID for closing and sometimes a checkbook is needed for any slight difference in funds.

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Dimensions are approximate and unverified. Buyers should consult a qualified professional to confirm measurements.