A Guide to Buying a Home - Presented By: Courtney Blair

A GUIDE TO

Buying a Home PRESENTED BY COURTNEY BLAIR

Courtney Blair

Your trusted Skogman REALTOR®

Courtney Blair started with Skogman Realty in 2009, shortly after the opening of its Coralville office. Before her career in real estate, Courtney worked in the mortgage industry, and has a background in the home building process.

Since becoming licensed, Courtney has been involved locally in RPAC (Realtors Political Action Committee) as a committee member, committee chair and major investor, working to promote and protect homeownership and property rights.

COURTNEY BLAIR REALTOR®

(319) 551-1825 courtney@skogman.com www.courtneyblair.skogman.com

417 1st Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

From writing the offer, pricing and staging the home, being strategic on when to list, to negotiating, and closing, Courtney’s knowledge of the home buying and selling process is top-notch, and helps her clients know that they are receiving the best possible service.

Born and raised in the Corridor, Courtney’s wealth of knowledge and love of the area is evident. With a passion for her community, Courtney enjoys raising her two children here with her husband.

In her spare time, Courtney can be found cheering on her kids at one of their many sporting activities. She also enjoys traveling and golfing with her husband.

When you work with Courtney, not only are you in great hands, but you also walk away with a new friend.

Home is where the heart is

It’s where we create memories. It’s where we dream. It’s where we celebrate! It’s so much more than where we hang our hats at the end of the day – and finding that place where you want to call home starts with finding an agent and brokerage that understands your dream.

As your professional Skogman REALTOR®, I will: •

Help you clarify your wants and needs in a home and will find you options that meet your specifications.

•

Recommend lenders for pre-approval to help you determine a realistic price range.

•

Schedule appointments and accompany you to showings.

•

Prepare your offer, review disclosures and covenants and present the offer to the seller’s agent.

•

Negotiate! As your Skogman REALTOR®, I’m trained in negotiation and will write the best offer for your needs.

•

Recommend home inspectors and advise you on any additional inspections necessary for the home. Communicate with lenders and insurance coverage as needed.

•

Accompany you on your final walk-through.

•

Attend your home closing to help answer any questions.

Our Story It’s no secret that choosing a real estate agent can be a confusing and overwhelming task. At Skogman Realty, we believe being the best isn’t something you say, it’s something you are. It’s about listening to our clients’ needs, wants, and expectations and delivering on them – every time. Skogman Realty has been selling homes in the Corridor for nearly 50+ years. No one knows the market better – we sell more homes in the Corridor than anyone. So, rest assured, you’re in great hands.

Why Skogman Realty is the right choice.

The right agent and brokerage can make all the difference.

• Skogman is a name you can trust • We utilize industry leading technology • We have a network of experienced, knowledgeable agents • Skogman offers more support, more services, and proven results • We are the local experts in our community

Market Share in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Corridor By Volume Cedar Rapids Metro Area

20.60% ALL OT H E R S

4.50% I O WA R E A LT Y

5.40%

26.39% SKOGMAN 22.50%

KELLER W I L L I A M S LG

COLDWELL BANKER HEDGES

8.98% RE/MAX

11.63%

P I N N AC L E

SKOGMAN REALTY

BY THE NUMBERS...

SKOGMAN AGENTS PARTICIPATED IN

1,706

TRANSACTIONS LAST YEAR

$290,377.71 AVERAGE SALE PRICE SOLD

BY SKOGMAN REALTY

$612,219,396 TOTAL SALES VOLUME LAST YEAR

Source: Cedar Rapids MLS. CR METRO AREA. Data pulled January 2024. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

(THAT'S A LOT OF REAL ESTATE SOLD!)

Iowa City Metro Area

WE HELPED

33.70% ALL OT H E R S

22.39% URBAN AC R E S

19.76%

4.50%

LKR

KELLER W I L L I A M S LG

8.67%

10.98%

SKOGMAN

BLANK & MCCUNE Source: Iowa City MLS. IC METRO AREA. Data pulled January 2024. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

1,026

SELLERS LAST YEAR &

1,019 BUYERS LAST YEAR

6 STEPS TO

buying a home: 1.

CHOOSE AN AGENT Select a trusted real estate agent to represent your interests and to help you navigate through this complex process. Ask family, friends, or co-workers who they have had a great experience with or interview someone that impresses you at an open house.

START THE LOAN PROCESS

2.

It’s important as a buyer you establish some kind of financing before you make any serious home offer.

The “pre-approval” process allows lenders to take a look at your finances and credit history in order to make a general assumption about your loan amount. The pre-approval process is when a lender looks at all of your finances and determines the amount of money you can afford for a mortgage.

In order to get pre-approved for a loan, you need to contact a lender. Your Skogman Realty agent can help you find a lender that you feel comfortable with, and that offers programs best-suited to your needs.

MAKE A WISH LIST & START YOUR SEARCH

3.

Consider your non-negotiable items on your wish list. What can’t you live without? Do you have to have 3 bedrooms? Do you need to be close to work and school? Do you have to have a pool? Write down your “must-haves” and your “would-be-nice” items and start searching with the help of your Skogman REALTOR®.

4.

MAKE AN OFFER & NEGOTIATE COUNTEROFFERS

5.

Once you have found the right home, your REALTOR® helps negotiate the terms of the sale, including price, possession date and any seller’s concessions, if applicable.

CONTRACT TO CLOSING There’s a lot that happens between an accepted offer and closing. Your real estate agent will help you navigate through this process. You’ll want to have inspections done on the home you’re buying. You’ll also need an appraisal and insurance.

FINAL WALK THROUGH & CLOSING

6.

Before closing, we’ll go through the home for a final walk through to make sure the home is still in the same condition it was in when we wrote the offer. Then it’s time for closing! Final mortgage documents are reviewed and signed. This takes approximately one hour. If you’re required to bring funds to closing, a certified check is required. Your photo ID is also required.

Understanding your budget Before starting your home search process, it’s important to evaluate your financial situation, confirm your budget, and familiarize yourself with mortgage options.

Your REALTOR® & mortgage lender can help you evaluate: • • • • • •

How much financing can you qualify for Your credit history and credit score How much will you need for a down payment Items included in your mortgage payment What will your monthly payments look like Possible financing choices

• Current interest rates

Additional costs to consider: • • • • •

Monthly HOA payments Property taxes Homeowner’s Insurance Utilities Commuting costs

Creating Your Wish List After you talk with your lender to determine what price point you are comfortable with and qualify for financially, talk with your agent about the home you have in mind. With professional guidance, you should be able to find and buy the home you desire.

To get started in the search, your Skogman agent will help you narrow down your preferences into a list of all of the must have/non negotiable features. Examples include distance from work, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. Also, consider how long you’re going to live in this home. Will you need a home that will accommodate different life stages? Do you have or plan to have children? Are you approaching retirement?

Your agent will utilize all of the available resources to find your next home: MLS (Multiple Listing Service), new construction, REALTOR® open houses, agent networking, off-market properties, HUD and bank-owned properties. You also have an opportunity to sign up for daily listing alerts, letting you know when a property that fits your criteria, hits the market.

WISH LIST CONSIDERATIONS: o o o o o o o o

Price Style Neighborhood Views School District Near Work Near Schools Near Shopping

o o o o o o o o

Interstate Access Near parks/trails Heating/Cooling Garage size Upgrades Number of bedrooms Number of bathrooms Fireplace

o o o o o o

Storage space Eat-in Kitchen Office Finished basement Fenced in yard Landscaping

Create a My Portfolio Account on Skogman.com!

If you're searching for your next home, or just curious about the market there is no better tool to help you quickly find homes that meet your needs and wants.

With an account you can: • Save your favorite listings • Save searches with your important parameters • Be emailed with new listings that meet your criteria • Be notified of changes to your saved listings such as a price reduction or when a property goes off the market • Keep track of homes you have recently viewed

Making the offer Your Skogman agent will help you write a winning offer, taking into account current market conditions, competition, and fair market value.

Several factors should be considered in your offer: • Purchase price • Loan contingency • Inspections • Earnest money • Personal property • Possession date

Inspections Once the offer is accepted, the transaction is officially in contract. Now it’s time to do home inspections. This is a great way to educate you as the buyer as to the current condition of the property.

There are a variety of inspections available such as a general inspection, pest, termite, structural/ engineering, radon, and more. Your agent will help you determine which inspections should be conducted. If something comes up in the inspection that is unsatisfactory, you have the option to request repairs or renegotiate price.

Final Walk Through This is the last time you walk through the home before you go to closing. The purpose of this walk through is to make sure the home is in the same condition it was when you wrote the offer. It’s a good time to verify completion of requested repairs.

Closing Closing is the legal transfer of ownership of the home from seller to buyer. It’s a formal meeting that most parties involved will attend. At closing, a closing agent will review the terms of your loan and explain each document. Once all the paper work is signed, you will be given the keys to your new home!

Congratulations! You’re a homeowner!

WELCOME

HOME!

After your closing, you are now officially a homeowner!

Unpack and enjoy your home! Congratulations! As your Trusted REALTOR® I’ll stay in touch to see how things are going.

www.skogman.com 2024 Skogman Realty. Equal Housing Opportunity. If your property is currently listed for sale or lease, this is not intended as a solicitation of that listing. This information herein is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.