Steps to Owning

 

01

Location, location, location!

  • Think and discuss with Avenue Realty where you want to buy and why.

  • Leverage our expertise regarding neighborhoods, schools, local attractions, and property values to determine the best location for you.

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    02

    Key Attributes

  • Work with us to explore and evaluate your goals and needs.
  • We will advise and guide you based on oftenoverlooked details and help you better understand the home-buying process.
  • All these factors will be used to build a search for you by your Avenue Realty team.

    • 03

    Pre-Approval

  • Get pre-approved by a mortgage originator/loan officer or banker – check out what Betsy Lowther and her team can do for you.

    •  

    04

    Set up an MLS Search

  • Based on your desired location, search criteria and our experience, we will set up an MLS OneHome search with daily listings, price changes, and more.
  • Timing and other search criteria can be customized to your specific needs.

    •  

    05

    Showings "Maybe the Favorite Part of our Job"

  • The Avenue Realty team will take you to see the houses you identify as prospective options.
  • We'll typically suggest additional listings that are not on the MLS (pocket listings from our network) or what we think might work based on your search criteria.

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    06

    Purchase Agreement

  • When you find your dream home, we will draft a purchase agreement that is used to make an offer on the home.
  • We will walk you through the dos and don'ts regarding price, earnest money, personal property and other important factors when making an offer.
  • It's common that with your offer you need to include earnest money (which will go towards closing cost) in an amount of 1-2% of the purchase price.
  • Along with your purchase agreement, we normally coach our buyers to write a letter, create a video or make some other personal connection to the sellers; the Avenue Realty team will coach you through the entire process.

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    07

    Home Inspection

  • Following an approved purchase agreement, we bring in the big guns – it’s time to work with the inspector to really check out the guts of your new home.
  • Avenue Realty can help you choose the right professional and will be present to help understand the inspection report and what should and shouldn’t be negotiated as part of this process.
  • Your inspection may include some or all of the following: stucco testing, radon testing, chimney inspection, sewer scope, etc.

    •  

    08

    Loan / Insurance / Utilities

  • Contact your mortgage originator/bank to confirm the home inspection is complete, proceed with your new loan and order your appraisal.
  • Compile current paperwork (paystubs, bank statements, down payment documentation, etc.) for your mortgage originator.
  • Arrange the purchase of homeowners insurance for your home or condo/townhome.
  • Set up the utilities in your name for the day of closing.

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    09

    Final Walk Through

  • The day before closing, Avenue Realty will do a final walk through of the property.
  • The goal of the final walk through is to verify that everything is in place, personal property has been removed, all inspection work has been completed and appliances are working.

    •  

    10

    Closing

  • We made it! This is our favorite part, turning a house into YOUR HOME!
  • This is when you sign your mortgage and get the keys to your new home. It's time to celebrate!

    • Steps to Owning

     

    01

    Location, location, location!

  • Think and discuss with AR where you want to buy and why!

  • Leverage our expertise regarding neighborhoods, schools, local attractions, and property values to determine the best location for you

    •  
     

    02

    Key Attributes

  • Work with us to explore and evaluate your goals and needs
  • We will advise and guide you based things that are often overlooked and help you better understand the home-buying process
  • All these factors will be used to build a search for you by your AR team

    • 03

    Pre-Approval

  • Get pre-approved by a Mortgage Originator/Loan Officer or Banker – check out what Betsy Lowther and her team can do for you

    •  

    04

    Set up an MLS Search

  • Based on your desired location, search criteria and our experience we will set up a MLS OneHome search with daily listings, price changes, etc.
  • The timing and other search criteria can be customized to your specific needs

    •  

    05

    Showings (Maybe our Second Favorite Part of our Job)

  • The AR team will take you to see the houses you identify as prospective options
  • We may even suggest additional listings that are not on the MLS (pocket listings from our network) or we think might work based on your search criteria

    •  

    06

    Purchase Agreement

  • When you find your deam home, we will draft a purchase agreement that is used to make an offer on the home
  • We will walk you through the dos and don'ts regarding price, earnest money, personal property and other important factors when making an offer
  • It is common that along with your offer you should anticipate having to include earnest money (which will go towards closing cost) in an amount of 1-2% of the purchase price
  • Along with your purchase agreement, we normally coach our buyers to write a letter, create a video or some other personal connection to the sellers; the AR team will coach you through the entire process

    •  
     

    07

    Home Inspection

  • Following an approved Purchase Agreement, we bring in the big guns – it’s time to work with the inspector to really check out the guts of your new home
  • AR can help you choose the right professional and will be present to help understand the Inspection report and what should and shouldn’t be negotiated as part of this process
  • Your inspection may include some or all of the following: stucco testing, radon testing, chimney inspection, sewer scope, etc.

    •  

    08

    Loan / Insurance / Utilities

  • Contact your Mortgage Originator/Bank to confirm the Home Inspection is complete, proceed with your new Loan and order your Appraisal
  • Compile current paperwork (paystubs, bank statements, down payment documentation, etc.) for your Mortgage Originator
  • Arrange the purchase of homeowners insurance for your home or condo/townhome
  • Set up the utilities in your name for the day of closing

    • 09

    Final Walk Through

  • The day before closing, AR will do a final walk through of the property
  • The goal of the final walk through is to verify that everything is in place, personal property has been removed, all inspection work has been completed and appliances are working

    •  

    10

    Closing

  • We made it! This is our favorite part, turning a house into YOUR HOME!
  • This is when you sign your mortgage and get the keys to your new home. It's time to celebrate!

    • Let’s chat about your goals

    We’d love to talk to you about how our comprehensive marketing strategy will help meet your real estate needs.

    “

     

    What people are saying

    “Jessica is, in my opinion, the best realtor in the Twin Cities. She was incredibly patient with me as we went to showing after showing, as this was first home. She was the one who found the home I ended up purchasing. She answered every one of my questions during the closing process. There is no one I would rather have gone through this process with.”

    – Libby G.