Find your dream home.
We exist to
Open the Door to Opportunity
World-Class Team We are a group of highly skilled individuals that understand that together we bring unmatched excellence in every step of the transaction and beyond. Our Mission Statement: To improve lives through relationships grounded in serving our clients, co-workers, and community above ourselves. We understand that buying or selling a home is more than just a transaction: it’s a life-changing experience. That’s why our team of highly-seasoned real estate professionals provide exceptional, personalized service for all our clients. We take great pride in the relationships we build and always work relentlessly on the client’s behalf to help them achieve their real estate goals. We educate and advise relationally.
Justin Landis Group
Home Buyer Workbook
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Purchase Process NEEDS ANALYSIS What are your hopes and dreams?
FINANCING
Know how much you can afford. Discuss financing options with a trusted local lender.
VIEW HOMES
Custom Searches through MLS and showing with your agent.
FIND A HOME
Write an offer. If accepted, continue. If not, continue searching.
UNDER CONTRACT
Due diligence begins. Wire earnest money & complete all inspections.
FINANCING
Complete appraisal, lending documents, and insurance.
CLOSING
Wire money. Sign paperwork at the attorney's office/mail away
HOMEOWNER
Move in and welcome home.
Lending Use a trusted local lender. It is important to select a lender that has aggressive timelines and a strong reputation to give the seller peace of mind and confidence that you will close on time with minimal hiccups. Why should I talk to a local lender?
Having the funds to pay for your new home is a critical factor in the home buying process and having a GREAT lender allows for a smooth experience from start to finish. Creating a relationship with a great lender early in the process allows buyers to not only determine what they can afford, but also provides an opportunity to ask some of your most pressing questions.
What information does a mortgage lender need?
Lenders will ask for your personal information including your employment information, other income sources, assets, and liabilities.
Justin Landis Group
Home Buyer Workbook
How much can I afford? Your lender will be able to discuss this with you in detail. A few factors to keep in mind that will affect affordability will be the cash you have available for your down payment and closing costs, creditworthiness, income, assets, and liabilities. Financing Terms: Pre-Qualified: Just a credit check Pre-Approval: Quick review of finances Pre-Underwritten: Full review of all financial documents
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Find Your Home
We are trusted advisors. Our world-class service centers around educating our clients and agents through every step of the transaction and beyond. The process of finding a home is unique for every client.
Justin Landis Group
Home Buyer Workbook
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Write an Offer
Unbeatable Strategies
Thoughtful and attentive in our approach, we provide maximum exposure for our clients to ensure they receive the best results. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Understand the seller's needs Use a trusted local lender Be aggressive with contract terms Be persistent
Justin Landis Group
Home Buyer Workbook
Buyer BuyerBrokerage BrokerageAgreement Agreement
The The Buyer’s Buyer’s Brokerage Brokerage Agreement Agreement allows allows a REALTOR® a REALTOR® toto represent represent you you asas a client a client and and perform perform their their fiduciary fiduciary duty. duty.
Writing WritingananOffer Offer
There There are are 5 primary 5 primary terms terms toto keep keep in in mind: mind: 1. Purchase 1. Purchase Price Price 2. 2. Closing Closing Costs Costs (to(to bebe paid paid byby Seller) Seller) 3. 3. Closing Closing && Possession Possession Date Date 4. 4. Earnest Earnest Money Money 5. 5. Due Due Diligence Diligence Note: Note: Purchase Purchase Price Price can can bebe affected affected byby many many factors factors including including number number of of days days onon thethe market, market, condition, condition, location, location, buyer buyer activity, activity, and and urgency urgency of of thethe seller. seller. If aIf home a home is is priced priced right, right, in in a desirable a desirable location, location, of of good good condition, condition, and and has has only only been been onon thethe market market forfor a day, a day, Buyers Buyers should should expect expect to to pay pay listlist price price or or more. more.
Submitting SubmittingananOffer Offer
Once Once allall terms terms have have been been discussed, discussed, wewe will will write write upup anan offer offer which which will will bebe signed signed byby you you and and then then presented presented toto the the Listing Listing Agent. Agent. using using a service a service called called DotLoop. DotLoop. Signing Signing will will take take place place electronically electronically Once Once the the offer offer has has been been presented presented toto the the Seller, Seller, the the Seller Seller will will dodo one one ofof the the following: following: accept, accept, reject, reject, oror counteroffer. counteroffer. When When the the Seller Seller accepts accepts the the offer offer (or(or when when the the buyer buyer accepts accepts a counteroffer) a counteroffer) it then it then becomes becomes the the legal legal contract contract that that is is the the guide guide forfor the the rest rest ofof the the home home buying buying process. process.
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Under Contract
Congratulations!
Your time under contract begins when your offer has been accepted and executed by both the seller and the listing agent. Your sale is not final. As your trusted advisors, we educate every step of the transaction.
Justin Landis Group
Home Buyer Workbook
A Sample Timeline Binding Agreement Date This is when all parties have signed off on the terms in the Purchase and Sale Agreement. Due diligence starts the day after we go binding which is why this is Day 0. Earnest Money Due Typically, earnest money is about 1-2% of the purchase price and due 3 to 5 days after a Binding Agreement. Due Diligence Period In a typical market, the due diligence period spans 0-5 days after an offer goes binding, but this time period is negotiable. Buyers typically associate due diligence with getting an inspection but this is also a time that you should be doing all due diligence and researching other factors that may influence your decision to go through with the contract. Financing & Appraisal Contingencies Financing and appraisal contingencies need to be settled typically within 14 days of a 30-day closing. These 14 days are used to complete the mortgage loan approval process to ensure that you will be “cleared to close” by closing day, to have the home appraised, and to secure hazard insurance on the home. Closing Day! Closing day is when the parties come together to sign all the necessary legal documents to convey possession to you. If a house has been vacant you can probably take possession on closing day. However, if the Sellers are scheduled to move after closing, you may not be able to take possession until a couple days after closing. 13
Due Diligence
Due diligence is a critical time in the home buying process. Georgia is a “Buyer Beware” state therefore to ensure we know as much as we can about the house there are several different types of inspections and other things to keep in mind. We are committed to providing first-class service and working with trusted vendors.
Justin Landis Group
Home Buyer Workbook
Home Inspection The GREATEST VALUE of a Home Inspection comes from accompanying the Inspector for the walkthrough. During the walkthrough you will learn about the operation, care, and maintenance of your investment. The Inspector will check all the systems of the home, as well as things like plumbing and electrical. Keep in mind the Inspector works for you and their job is to find issues with the home. Specialty Inspections Special inspections may include Radon Testing, Sewer Scopes, Mold Testing, Termite Inspection, etc. Surveys While most lenders do not require a survey to purchase a home, surveys can protect your investment. Surveys show exactly where a home’s property lines are and any easements, encroachments or other material facts that might exist on the lot. Review Disclosures (when available) Disclosures are completed by the Seller and reveal certain material facts about a home like the age of the systems, any previous damage or repairs, HOA fees when applicable, etc. Condos Condos and Townhomes usually require an extra layer of due diligence. Buyers should always review Covenants, By-Laws, Rules and Regulations, financial statements, and whatever else is available.
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Financing & Appraisal
From the end of Due Diligence until Closing Day, the Lender and Attorney are working hard in the background to ensure a smooth closing. The majority of that time is spent finalizing your financing. We have decades of experience with trusted lenders and attorneys. Justin Landis Group
Home Buyer Workbook
Appraisal Your lender will order the appraisal. When obtaining a loan an appraisal is required to ensure the property is valued at or above the purchase price. An appraiser will evaluate your (soon to be) home as well as comparable properties nearby that have recently sold to declare an opinion of value. Homeowners Insurance Homeowners (or Condo) Insurance protects your investment and the Bank’s interest in the property. You can begin shopping for homeowner’s insurance at any point in the process, but as we get closer to closing the Lender will need it to finalize the loan. Closing Disclosure Your Lender will send your Closing Disclosure (CD) at least 3 days before closing. The CD shows all credits and debits associated with the transaction and how much money you will need to wire to the closing attorney. Settlement Statement A Settlement Statement will be provided by the Attorney a day or so before closing. This will show the same information as the CD the Lender sent but in a different format. It’s important to note that occasionally the CD does not perfectly match the settlement statement and certain Prorations are outstanding. Utilities A week before closing we will provide a list of utility providers and contact information to set up/transfer your utilities *Note: Water/sewer service: Many counties require your Settlement Statement to create your water account. This means that you will have to set it up after closing.
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Closing
Final Walkthrough
We will conduct a final walkthrough of the property to make sure everything looks good. If repairs were done, we will take another look at those, but if no repairs were negotiated the purpose of the walkthrough is to ensure that the house is as it was when we went under contract (aka no trees fell through the roof).
Justin Landis Group
Home Buyer Workbook
Repairs If repairs were negotiated after the inspection, then we will ensure those are completed 3-5 days before closing and that the Seller provides all repair receipts. Wire Money to the Attorney It is important to first note where your down payment and closing funds are coming from. Assuming the money is fairly easy to get to, the day before closing you will send a wire with all the money needed to close. This will be labeled as “Cash to Close” on your CD. Closing Day Bring your checkbook (just in case) and do some hand stretches because you will be signing a lot. Closing day is the day that you sign for your loan and the Seller signs to transfer title. Get the keys and move in!
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Welcome Home
What is Next? Homestead Exemption A homestead exemption is a legal provision that helps reduce the amount of property taxes you pay on your home and saves you money. Applications are due by April 1 of each year for the previous year. We will send you more information on this once we close and at the first of the year.
Justin Landis Group
Home Buyer Workbook
Homeowner Resources Whether you need a repair, are looking to do a renovation, or just need a great connection, we are here to help. Visit our website to find contact information for our favorite vendors in Atlanta. 5 Star Review/Tell All Your Friends You will receive an email following closing asking about your home buying experience. We would be love for you to share your story publicly as well as spread the word to your friends and family.
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Home Buyer Workbook 620 Glen Iris Drive NE Unit 1-A Atlanta, GA 30308 404.860.1816 hello@justinlandisgroup.com