Jen Cameron | 2024 Buyer's Guide

JEN CAMERON BUYER'S GUIDE YOUR GUIDE TO FINDING YOUR NEW HOME

SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND

PART ONE

An Introduction THE POWER OF THE AGENCY MY APPROACH NOTABLE SALES MEET THE TEAM CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

PART TWO

Homebuying Journey BEFORE THE SEARCH BEGINS APPLYING FOR A LOAN + FINANCES THE SEARCH MAKING THE OFFER + CLOSING

PART THREE

Let's Start Looking HOW WE'RE DIFFERENT YOUR DREAM HOME

COLLABORATIVE APPROACH

My process is a collaborative one designed to reduce the stress involved in the home buying process. Working with me involves open and candid communication. Expect to have some fun!

Whether you are a first time buyer, seasoned real estate expert or looking to purchase that second vacation home in or out of Washington State, I’ve got you covered. Throughout your real estate purchase you can rely on a loyal and trusted team of specialists including lenders, educated and knowledgeable home inspectors, insurance agents and title and escrow experts.

In the event I can’t find the perfect space I can help you create it by putting you in touch with our incredible team of designers and architects.

Explaining the process and defining expectations is the key to my collaborative success so let's get started!

NOTABLE SALES

3076 W Lake Sammamish Rd | Redmond | $6,100,000

512 Catspaw Ln | Orcas Island | $14,000,000

7333 Miller Road | Anacortes | $5,500,000

712 3rd Lane S | Kirkland | $3,985,000

5634 39th Ave W | Seattle | $3,600,000

12530 7th Ave NW | Seattle | $1,985,000

JEN CAMERON MANAGING PARTNER, SEATTLE BROKER JEN.CAMERON@THEAGENCYRE.COM 425.305.9400

A top-producing real estate agent with more than 24+ years of experience serving both the Pacific Northwest and New York Metropolitan markets, Jen Cameron has been involved with more than $1B worth of real estate sales and has amassed a strong network of clients and contacts across the globe. Having built some of the most noteworthy brands in the industry, she brings unrivaled expertise to her role as Managing Partner of The Agency Seattle.

A lifelong Seattle resident and Eastsider for more than two decades, Jen has cultivated an in-depth understanding of the region, from its varied offerings to its evolving market landscape. Her areas of expertise encompass the Seattle area and include the Eastside, Bellevue and the San Juan Islands, with a special focus on the Kirkland region. Jen’s notable successes are many and include the recent off-market sale of the highest-priced property on Orcas Island, previously owned by Oprah Winfrey, and the sale of NBA Allstar Zach Lavine’s home in the Pacific Northwest.

“Experience is the most valuable benefit I provide to my clients. Every real estate transaction is unique. Property types, price points and people are different each time. Our clients can rely on my experience to resolve any unforeseen obstacles along the way and make their experience as streamlined, stress-free and profitable as possible.”

Renowned for her record-breaking sales across the Pacific Northwest, Jen is consistently ranked as one of the top agents driving the greater Seattle area real estate market and recognized as one of the top realtors in the US as ranked by Real Trends Inc. annual report.

Known for her exceptional work ethic, brilliant negotiation skills and quick problem-solving. Jen brings both tenacity and strategy to each transaction while providing her clients with compassionate, thoughtful service at every step of the buying or selling process.

As a gesture of gratitude and of simply doing the right thing, Jen has a policy of donating a portion of each sale to charity. She is an avid supporter and committee member of The Cure ALS Golf Classic tournament in support of Augie’s Quest to find a cure for ALS, and dedicated advocate for increasing awareness and services for people with autism spectrum disorder.

In her free time, Jen can be found paddle boarding, biking, and enjoying the best of the Pacific Northwest Lifestyle with her husband Scott, their family and two pups.

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS "Navigating the housing marketing can be a daunting and exhausting task. Jen made it a breeze with her wealth of knowledge and professionalism."

Jen is a pro through and through! She was very quick to respond to any questions I had throughout the bidding and purchasing process and continued to help put me in contact with contractors/companies I needed for work done around our house. If you're serious about purchasing a home I highly recommend her.

— Derry

"In the craziest housing market in decades, Jen helped us close our first home on our first bid!"

As recent Bay Area transplants to the Seattle area, working with Jen has been a true pleasure. Right from our first meeting with Jen, her diligence and passion for her job was obvious to us. She took great pains to understand my wife and I, our wants in a home and plans for the future. Armed with this information, she was able to find multiple homes that appeared tailor made for us, and once we decided on a home to make an offer on, Jen connected us with an excellent mortgage broker and guided us through the bidding process with great skill. She enabled us to put in a very competitive bid without feeling like we overpaid for our home.

Although Jen is the only realtor we’ve worked with, discussing our experiences with friends and family has informed us that a realtor of Jen’s ilk is very rare. Most people we talk with are astonished as to how good Jen is! “I wish I had Jen when I was looking for my home” is a common phrase we hear. Jen is a superstar realtor and I strongly recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell a house. With Jen by your side, you would have taken the first big step towards getting the home of your dreams.

— Dibieo

"Working with Jennifer to find our home made all the difference in the world for us."

Buying a house is one of the most exciting and harrowing things you can ever do. And that overall experience is often predicated on the relationship with your realtor. If you are looking for someone who is knowledgeable, creative and kind to the core, she’s a great match.

First and foremost, Jennifer took the time to get to know us, which is hugely important with such a personal purchase as a home. She led us confidently through the complex web of Seattle’s real estate market, helped us think outside of the box, kept us grounded throughout the process and best of all, got us into the house of our dreams. We often remark to one another that if it weren’t for Jennifer’s tenacity and obvious love for her job, we wouldn’t be in the home we are today. Thank you Jen! — Donnell and Kevin Coomes

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS "She listened to us very intently, providing us with amazing support and partnership through every part of the process."

Jen Cameron is absolutely amazing. My wife and I were first time home buyers and about to be first time parents and Jen was the perfect person to help us find our new home. She went above and beyond when our due date and closing date coincided, making sure we could have our baby and new home with the greatest of ease. We would highly recommend her to anyone looking for an amazing partner in the homebuying process!

— Evan

"Long story short because of her connections we were able to win our dream home just in time to get settled with our brand new life as a new family."

I have known Jen for a really long time. I’ll always remember the first time I met her ... that late summer day when she brought her daughter in to see my classroom and for us to meet before beginning kindergarten! Fast forward to years later ... when my husband and I got married and started our family (a very pregnant ME!) ... and we decided it was time to look for our dream home to bring our babes home to. After working with a few agents we enlisted Jen as THE agent to help us get the right home for us. After realizing that we needed to be more aggressive in our efforts to find a home when prices were escalating and everyone was receiving multiple offers we went out on our search. I believe it was because of her connections (and thus meaningful relationships) she was able to convince the listing broker (who it is said had nearly 75 different groups of people through to look at the home that day!!) that he should look at OUR offer before any other offers and before the review date. I still remember Jen capturing a video of me finding out we were under contract ... it may have put me into labor I was so excited!! We now live in our beautiful home with our two children and sweet dog (who she made sure would have space just for him)! We love Jen. Relationships are so important and she’s got this talent!

— Matt and Lyndsy

"She has my highest recommendation."

Jen Cameron was my agent when I purchased a home that closed ten days ago. She called me within five minutes of when this house went on the market on a Friday evening. We had a private showing the next day and by Sunday morning had agreed on a contract with the seller. By this point, we had been working together for a couple of months and had looked seriously at several other places, even paying for an inspection on one. Jen was always available within just a couple of hours or less and bear in mind that I was not her only client during this time. Her knowledge of the market and the other agents working in that market was invaluable when it came time to move quickly.

— S. Connelly

THE HOMEBUYING JOURNEY AT A GLANCE So You’re Ready to Make Your Move?

We’ll Roll Out the Red Carpet.

As the jewel of the Pacific Northwest, Seattle, also known as “The Emerald City”, is a vibrant destination with a diverse set of residential offerings and an ever-evolving mix of cultural attractions, world-renowned dining and invigorating outdoor activities. Choose from downtown lofts with views of the Space Needle, waterfront estates overlooking Puget Sound and suburban homes with access to leafy parks and miles of hiking and biking trails.

While the homebuying process may seem daunting, here’s what you need to know: your agent and brokerage have your back. We will be with you every step of the way, providing invaluable support and guidance to make the transaction as smooth and seamless as possible.

And yes, that’s entirely possible.

01

BEFORE THE SEARCH BEGINS Choose an Agent Well, hello. Selecting an agent is a highly personal decision. You trust them to advise you through one of the biggest decisions of your life. And it’s not a responsibility we take lightly. Through personal and diligent work with our clients, we’ve come to understand what’s important to them, establishing a sense of confidence and comfort.

The First Consultation Shall we begin? Now is the time we get to know you, your needs, hopes, and dreams for homeownership. From spearheading your search to providing crucial feedback along the way, your agent is your partner from start to finish, and then some.

Financing Pre-Approval When it comes to real estate, money talks. Before you begin the search, you’ll want financing pre-approval.

Pre-approval is different from pre-qualifying, as it means a full loan approval, not just an opinion letter. Determining the loan amount you qualify for will help you set your price range. Unless you’re paying in cash, of course.

We’ll connect you with a mortgage broker, who’ll determine how much a bank will lend you. This process will help you understand the variety of financing options and what your down payment will be while placing you in a better negotiating position in the seller’s eyes.

02

APPLYING FOR A HOME LOAN What should I not do when applying for a home loan?

A little self-control goes a long way. Applying for a home loan is a sensitive process. Here’s what to avoid when seeking financing.

Don’t buy or lease a car before you apply.

Lenders look at your debt-to-income ratio. A large payment or other significant purchase can impact that ratio and prevent you from qualifying for a loan.

Hold off on buying the furniture and appliances.

You don’t want to add big, new purchases to your debt or take from your available funds for closing costs. We repeat: put the credit card away.

Don’t attempt to consolidate bills before speaking with your lender.

It’s not the time to go rogue with your finances. Talk with the experts first.

Don’t move assets from one bank account to another.

Transfers appear as new deposits, which can complicate the application process. You’d have to disclose the source of funds for each new account. So, just skip the headache.

Don’t change jobs.

A new job may require a probation period before income from the new job can be considered for qualifying purposes.

Don’t run your own credit report.

It will show up on your lender’s credit report and need to be explained in writing.

YOUR FINANCES AT A GLANCE What do lenders review when considering you for a loan?

Your Credit

Money, Money, Money

Establishing good credit with a good payment history is imperative and helps boost your credit score.

This is where the lender verifies your funds for the down payment and closing costs.

Job Stability

Property Security

A consistent job history with the same company is ideal, but a career advancement may also be acceptable.

Schooling completed in preparation for a specific vocation is considered to be a part of your job history.

The lender will require an appraisal by a certified fee appraiser to verify the property’s marketability, condition, and value, ensuring sufficient collateral for the loan.

Debt-to-Income Ratio

Don’t worry if you don’t meet all of the guidelines. Lenders work through a variety of circumstances. And we’re here to help.

The lender looks at your full income, debt, down payment, loan principal taxes, interest, and insurance to come up with an income ratio.

What are my financial parameters?

A little bit more about that money. Once you have your price range, you need to take into account closing costs, moving costs, possible HOA fees, and other numbers that can quickly add up. We’ll walk you through it.

03

NOW ABOUT THAT HOME The fun begins. What kind of property are you looking for?

A house, a condo, a townhome, a buildable lot, a log cabin, a cottage on Puget Sound—the possibilities are endless.

What are my needs, wants, and can’t live withouts?

A yard, pool, rooftop terrace, car collector’s garage, vineyard, helipad. Don’t hold back. We’re dreamers ourselves.

What are your preferred neighborhoods?

We’ll check out a range of neighborhoods and share all of our local knowledge and insight to help determine your ideal location.

When do I need to close?

Move into your new home in time for your favorite holiday.

Your downtown loft in time to start the new job. Your house before the start of the school year. We got this.

04

THE SEARCH IS ON

Home tours. We’re in this together.

Let’s go hunting. We are always happy to preview properties so you don’t have to waste a Sunday afternoon at the wrong home.

As we shop around at showings and open houses, we’ll further refine the search and adapt to your needs.

We’ve found it. Just like we knew we would.

Once we’ve found the one for you, we prepare an offer.

05

MAKING THE OFFER THE PERFECT OFFER

Not too high. Not too low.

Just right.

An offer, if accepted by the seller, creates a nonbinding agreement for the purchase of the home.

The seller will likely return with a “counteroffer,” which you can accept, reject or counter.

LOAN UNDERWRITING

The “sit back and wait” phase.

Now that your offer is accepted, the lender underwriting phase begins. They may ask for more documents along the way. The lender also orders an appraisal of the property.

ESCROW

NEGOTIATIONS

This happens to be our expertise.

Our passion. Our time to shine.

We’ll represent you at the negotiating table to reach an agreement with the seller on the final price and contract terms. In multiple-offer situations, our experience, knowledge, and strategic thinking are huge assets.

CONTRACTS & DISCLOSURES

We’ll get the details and handle them for you.

We will take the time to analyze and walk you through the contract, disclosures, and other agreements to protect your interests.

THE FINAL OFFER

Here we go.

We submit your final offer, which includes the contract and disclosure package. Once the seller approves, you’re one step closer to being a homeowner.

So what is it?

Pardon the legal jargon, but escrow is the process whereby parties to the real estate transaction deposit documents, funds, or other things of value with a neutral, disinterested third party (the escrow agent). These are held in trust until a specific event or condition takes place according to specific, mutual written instructions from the parties. In other words, escrow is essentially a clearinghouse for the receipt, exchange, and distribution of the items needed to transfer or finance real estate. When all conditions are met, a distribution or transfer takes place, the transaction occurs and the escrow is “closed.”

Don’t worry, we’ll walk you through it.

DUE DILIGENCE

We’re getting close.

This is when all final inspections are held, contingencies are removed by the deadlines requested in your offer, and final documents are signed.

06

THE CLOSING Final walk-through. Now, we’re excited.

We’re there to button up those last details.

Final approval from the lender.

Big box, checked.

The closing. Cue music: looks like we made it.

The last documents are signed, final deposits made, escrow closes.

Delivery of keys and move-in.

We did it! Drinks are on us.

We’ve only just begun.

This is only the beginning. We’re here for anything you need.

Contractors, designers, painters, plumbers, house-sitting.

Maybe we’ll pass on babysitting.

BUYING WITH THE AGENCY

SO, WHAT IS IT WE DO DIFFERENTLY? We collaborate.

The way we see it is this: no agent is an island, and no one should go it alone. The Agency’s culture of collaboration means you benefit from our strength as a whole. You have an entire team of experts in everything from the legal process to negotiation at your disposal.

And we share information like new listings before they hit the market, giving our clients a tangible edge in the marketplace.

We connect.

At the forefront of our passion for collaboration is our ability to connect, in every sense of the word. We use our proprietary technology to seamlessly communicate. We hear about new listings before anyone else. If we have a buyer looking for a house in a particular neighborhood, we’ll spread the word and hear back immediately.

committed real estate professionals. We are highly selective about who we bring to the team because every single person is a vital part of the overall vision.

We do it all.

It’s all in our wheelhouse. The Agency offers the engine in-house to cater to all of your real estate needs, whether searching for a home, commercial space for your business, an investment property, a vacation home in Mexico, or a ski chalet for the holidays.

We know our markets inside and out.

We don’t just enter a market. We conquer it. In each location, we seek out the very best real estate professionals—the agents who understand the nuances of each neighborhood. Then we back them up with our vast global reach and resources.

We do this full-time.

Weekend warriors need not apply. Unlike what you’ll find at traditional brokerages, at The Agency it’s quality over quantity. We are made up of a team of full-time,

When one of us wins, we all win.

And so do our clients.

ENOUGH ABOUT US, LET’S TALK ABOUT YOU. To help you identify your own vision of home, we’ve created this interactive worksheet. It’s a place to get your thoughts and ideas down as you start thinking about exactly what you want from your new home.

What’s your ideal location?

What would you like within moments from home, driving distance, flying distance? Would you like to be near parks, the water, airport, shopping? Let ‘er rip.

What kind of home are you looking for?

Single-family residence, condominium, townhome, land, buildable lot, new construction? You name it, we’ll find it.

What’s your style?

Traditional, contemporary, midcentury modern, farmhouse, loft—there’s no wrong answer.

What are my must-haves?

What do you need in your home? How many bedrooms? An office? Garage?

What would you love to have?

A pool, boat dock, theater, yard, wine room, garden? Dream big.

What are your deal breakers?

If we see these, we won’t bother scheduling that showing.

READY TO FIND YOUR DREAM HOME?

JEN CAMERON

JEN.CAMERON@THEAGENCYRE.COM 425.305.9400 MANAGING PARTNER | BROKER

THEAGENCYRE.COM With respect to any real estate brokerage services we provide you as the buyer, you acknowledge that The Agency makes no guarantees, representations or warranties regarding the subject property or your ability to purchase the same. Information you receive from the seller or their agent related to the property may be subject to errors or omissions. The Agency has not and will not verified the accuracy or completeness of any relevant information we or you received or will receive from any source. All information must be independently reviewed and verified by you for accuracy, and you should rely on you own investigation of the property and on such other material facts you deem necessary and prudent to complete the subject transaction. The Agency is not a law or CPA firm and cannot advise you as to any legal rights or obligations, business, or tax consequences of any provision or instrument set forth or prepared in connection with your purchase of a property. If legal or accounting advice is desired, you should consult a qualified California real estate attorney or CPA. The Agency may act as a dual agent if your agent or another agent of The Agency represents the seller.

AN INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED FRANCHISEE OF THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE FRANCHISING, LLC.