Susan Eastman Guide to Buying

A Complete Guide To Buying Your Next Home

“They say life is about the journey, not the destination.”

AT LIVE WEST IT’S ABOUT BOTH.

There is a myth that real estate is about buying and selling homes. The truth is that it’s about the people buying and selling them. Perhaps they’re embarking on new beginnings, growing a family, broadening their investment portfolio, or wanting to live more sustainably. Success begins with understanding the “why” that motivates our buyers and sellers as much as knowing “what” it is they desire. When we understand the why, we can apply our expertise to chart an exciting and fulfilling journey—one that will lead to a rewarding destination for your finances, your life, and your wellbeing.

We looked at every step of the real estate process and asked, “How can we make this as much about the people as it is about the property?” The answer is an experience that is more —

MORE FULFILLING.

MORE SERVICE-ORIENTED.

MORE RELATIONAL.

MORE PROFITABLE.

AND FAR MORE PERSONAL.

The Live West Difference

STRATEGIC

Meet the challenges of today’s changing market with customized property searches, value analysis, and negotiation strategies that give you the edge.

LOCAL

We live in and love the communities we serve. Live West has facilitated over $1.9 billion in real estate transactions in the local Front Range markets. We are proud to say that over 96% of our work is repeat business.

METICULOUS

Expect a higher standard of service and professionalism. You’ll see it in the personal attention we offer at every stage of your journey.

ETHICAL

Trust knowing that every Live West broker is a member of the Boulder or Denver Association of Realtors® and adheres to that body’s strict code of ethics. (Which is almost as strict as our own.)

KNOWLEDGEABLE

Receive valuable and critical guidance from expert brokers at the top of their field in both market knowledge and training.

ENVIRONMENTALLY MINDED

We're committed to reducing the carbon footprint of buying or selling a home.

INVESTED

Closing is just the beginning. If you need answers, recommendations, or a second set of eyes, let us know. Our goal is to help you find a home you'll love—and then help you make it yours.

Susan Eastman

The Boulder Valley and Denver Metropolitan region at the foot of the beautiful Rockies are amazing places to call home. My clients have bought and sold diverse properties here, from single-family houses to townhomes to affordable housing. I’ve lived in Boulder for many years – and raised three children here --and I can knowledgeably help you buy or sell your home here, too.

As a Top Producer with a 5-star rating on Google Business, I pride myself on offering excellent customer service. This is possibly one of the biggest financial decisions of your life, so I bring a relationshipbased approach to ensure a successful client experience. I will listen to your wants and needs.

I have an entrepreneurial spirit and a can-do attitude for achieving goals. My professional career encompasses more than 30 years as a writer and publicist, including co-founding a publishing company that produced sports magazines. I served as public relations manager for the Celestial Seasonings Tea Company, and I launched RecoFit Compression Gear to manufacture compression products to help athletes perform better. I seek and create solutions!

I will help you buy or sell your home. I will work hard to represent your interests as your agent. I will help you reach your goals in the quickest time, with the best financial outcome, and with the least amount of stress. It would be an honor to be your Realtor.

“Susie Sold It!” More at www.SusanEastmanRealtor.com

303-589-6845

susan@livewestrealty.com

“Susan is wonderful to work with. It’s like having a friend on the “inside” that is working for you. She really cares about her clients. We had

no idea how much effort went into selling a home.

Susan helped us focus on aspects that would generate interest from buyers, which was a huge help. Once we were on the market, everything was seamless.”

IAN M.

LeeAnne W.

Over the past six months, we have trusted Susan Eastman to guide us through a process of discernment, searching, buying and selling our home. She was informative and patient as we considered the pros and cons of making a move and explored many alternatives with us. When we found the “right” home to purchase, she was strategic in developing the offer, and tenacious in tracking the schedule and details of the purchase transaction. She was equally strategic in preparing our home to list for sale. Listing details and marketing materials were carefully considered and well-executed. Throughout the whole process, not only was Susan extremely creative and competent, but also, it was extremely fun to work with her. She is highly professional in all ways.

John M.

Susie was our choice to sell a challenging property in Longmont and we could not have made a better one! From advice on how and what to focus on in preparation, to finding useful and responsive contractors to do repairs, to advice on how to price and position the house for a quick sale, Susie covered all the bases. Susie always brought a smile and a can-do attitude to every challenge and before we knew it, we had our house listed and sold at a great price. Susie would be a great choice to list or buy a house with, and we would be happy to recommend her to anybody looking to sell a house in Boulder County.

Sarah K.

Trust me, you want Susan by your side. A good friend recommended Susan, and she has been fantastic. She is honest, helpful, experienced, caring, hard-working, connected, knowledgeable, and a great listener. Do NOT bother looking around for a realtor. Susan Eastman is your woman.

Marie L.

Susan Eastman is a joy to work with! We were interested in buying a home in Boulder from across the country and she led us through the process without a hitch. She sat down with us first thing, to find out what our needs were, what we were looking for in a house, and what sort of location we would like. When we visited to start our in-person search, Susan was always prepared with a list of houses to see, but she was very careful not to overwhelm us, which we really appreciated. Once we found the house that was just right for us, Susan led us through the buying process, kept tabs on what needed to be done by what date, and made everything run smoothly. But the very best part about working with Susan is that, underneath all the smarts she brings to the table, is a very nice person who we enjoyed spending time with and getting to know. Thank you so much, Susan!

Colleen K.

Three words: Work With Susan. She and I had a mutual friend who, upon her passing, asked me to settle her estate, and Susan to sell her home. Susan went above and beyond during this unique listing in her professionalism, empathy, recommendations and communication. She always showed up to the property with a smile and will-do work ethic. The result? A full-price offer IN A WEEK! When the closing was delayed and we were on an already scheduled vacation, I was happy to have her represent us at the table. While we did not “choose” each other, I wouldn’t hesitate to work with Susan again.

Melissa M.

Susan was an absolute pleasure to work with! Moving across the country while only seeing pictures/videos/and FaceTime was a daunting process, but Susan made it so fun and easy, especially considering I was looking at a wide range of cities north to south! She was super helpful and knowledgeable and fast to get to hot “cream puff” properties so we didn’t miss our chance. I am so thankful to have been introduced to her and to have been able to work with her to find my dream home with a dreamily smooth process! Can’t recommend highly enough!

Sage H.

Susan was extremely helpful and patient every step of the way in my first home purchase. I was applying for affordable homes in Boulder, which some of you may know can sometimes take up to a year or more to find one, and the entire time Susan had my back and answered all my questions. Hands down the nicest lady you'll ever get the pleasure of meeting.

Jay B.

As first-time home buyers, we knew very little about the home-buying process. We met with Susan and instantly knew she was the real(tor) deal. She was there for us every step of the way, and thanks to her we found our dream home! Her communication, enthusiasm and knowledge are unrivaled. We would recommend her to any friend, family member or stranger knowing she would provide them the best care. Thank you for everything, Susan! Love, Jay, Kinsley & Joey (The Labrador).

I recently had the pleasure of working with Susan to purchase a house, and her services were outstanding. Her negotiation skills were top-notch, as she adeptly negotiated the price of the house, securing a deal that was favorable to us. This skill alone was invaluable, but what further impressed me was her honesty. Susan provided a balanced view of each property, highlighting not just the potential but also the downsides, enabling us to make well-informed decisions. Her combination of accessibility, negotiation skills, honesty, professionalism, and attention to detail makes her an exceptional choice for anyone navigating the housing market.

“Susan is patient, kind and a joy to work with! She was just as eager to explore our new property as we were (which included hiking up some steep terrain). Always positive, upbeat and ready to help, we’ve enjoyed working with Susan on both buying and selling properties.”

MARAH B.

Ehsan E.

The Home Purchase Process

01. GETTING TO KNOW YOU

02. FINANCING & PRE-APPROVAL

03. PREPARE FOR YOUR MONTHLY COSTS

04. PURCHASE TIMING & MARKET ACTIVITY

05. LET’S START LOOKING

06. OFFERS & NEGOTIATIONS

07.CONGRATS! YOU ARE UNDER CONTRACT!

08.WORK THROUGH CONTRACT CONTINGENCIES

09. SEAL THE DEAL!

Your Ideal Home

LET’S MAKE A LIST

Choosing the perfect home can be a difficult decision. Home Buyers often start their search based on their wants rather than their needs and end up being frustrated in the process. Make a simple list of your needs vs. your wants before you begin your search. This allows you to start your home search based on your highest priorities and save you time and frustration.

EXAMPLE

Needs Wants

Large Living Space

3 Bathrooms

Fenced Yard

Home Office

2 Car Garage

YOUR LIST

Hardwood Floors

Fireplace or Wood Stove

Newer Windows

New Paint and/or Carpet

Deck, Pool, Hot Tub

Needs Wants

Financing & Pre-Approval

LAYING THE GROUND WORK FOR A SOLID OFFER

What is Your Financial Situation

Take an honest look at your income, your savings, and your debt… a real, honest look, so you get a clear picture of a comfortable monthly payment. Figure in all monthly income and monthly expenses as well as short and long-term debt before moving forward. Your Mortgage Professional will counsel you on these expenses.

Let’s Get Pre-Approved

Now that you are confident in your financial situation, it’s time to get preapproved! Your Mortgage Professional will complete your application, gathering all your financial documents, and submit your file for preapproval. To begin, you will need:

Last two years of W2’s

Last two years of tax returns

Two most recent paystubs

Two most recent bank statements

Most recent retirement or 401k statement

Drivers License / SS Card

Know Your Credit

One of the first and most important steps towards home ownership and your future is learning about and managing your credit. Interest rates and loan options can vary greatly based solely on a credit score. At the time of pre-approval, your Mortgage Professional will pull your credit for you to limit the amount of inquiries.

Appraisal Gap 101

In addition to your loan down payment and earnest money, you may also need cash on hand for Appraisal Gap coverage. In today’s competitive market, most homes are not appraising for the inflated contract sale price. In order to have a competitive offer it is often necessary for Buyer’s to provide the cash difference between the appraised amount and the contract sale price.

Stay Put and Don’t Spend!

When you have decided you are able to buy a house, stop everything you are doing financially, and creditwise. Don’t apply for any new credit. Don’t apply to buy furniture for your new home, even if it is 12 months no interest. Don’t close any credit cards. And please, Don’t get a car loan, or boat loan, or even a scooter loan. You just may apply yourself right out of the home-buying market.

Buy With Cash Programs

There are several new options that have risen from our current highly competitive market that allow you to either buy a home with cash or buy a home before selling your existing home. These companies essentially purchase the home for you with cash and then a couple of weeks later you will buy it back from them. Ask your Live West Local Guide for details.

Our Front Range market is very diverse with price points and inventory varying from city to city. Live West provides our clients with reliable market data, optimizing decision making at every stage of the home buying process, from inventory demand to appreciation rates for your investment.

To view our latest Market Reports along with statistical date for our various towns and cities, please visit:

www.LiveWestMarketTrends.com

Under Contract Timeline

BOULDER, BOULDER COUNTY & BEYOND

WESTMINSTER

COLLINS COLLINS

CASTLE ROCK / COLORADO SPRINGS

The Living West Fund

BEING THE BEST NEIGHBORS WE CAN BE

We are dedicated to "Living West," which means being the best neighbors we can by being a better company for a better community. The success of our business is rooted in our commitment to support our local Colorado communities in every way we can.

Live West has elected to donate a portion of our commissions on our clients’ behalf to one of our charitable organizations below.

V oices For Children

More than 2,500 children experience abuse and neglect each year, right here in Boulder County. Boulder Voices for Children builds a healthier community by delivering services, support, and advocacy to children who have experienced trauma.

R ocky Mountain Conservatory

Protecting Public Lands for More Than 80 Years. Founded in 1931, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy (formerly the Rocky Mountain Nature Association) is a nonprofit organization supporting Rocky Mountain National Park. When you support the Conservancy, you’re supporting one of our national treasures for generations to come.

C ommunity Food Share

Community Food Share is a food bank fighting hunger in Boulder and Broomfield Counties by providing access to fresh, nutritious food through local partners and it’s onsite and mobile pantries.

Schools

INFORMATIONAL SITES ON SCHOOLS

Great Schools www.greatschools.org

School View www.schoolview.org

DISTRICT WEBSITES

Aurora Public Schools http://aurorak12.org

Boulder Valley School District (Boulder, Lafayette, Louisville, Nederland, Superior) www.bvsd.org

Brighton www.sd27j.org

Cherry Creek Schools www.cherrycreekschools.org

Commerce City www.adams14.org

Denver Public Schools www.dpsk12.org

Englewood Public Schools www.englewoodschools.org

Littleton Public Schools www.littletonpublicschools.net

Jefferson County www.jeffcopublicschools.org

Northglenn and Thornton www.adams12.org

Sheridan School District http://ssd2.org

St. Vrain Valley Schools (Longmont) www.stvrain.k12.co.us

Westminster www.adams12.org

Events in Denver, Colorado | VISIT DENVER https://www.denver.org

Boulder Events Calendar | Boulder Convention & Visitors https://www.bouldercoloradousa.com

Best Trails in Colorado | AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com

10 Best Day Hikes Near Denver | https://dayhikesneardenver.com

Ski & Snowboard

Colorado Ski Country USA | https://www.coloradoski.com

Eldora Mountain Colorado Ski Resort | https://www.eldora.com

Arapahoe Basin Ski & Snowboard Area | https://www.arapahoebasin.com