Helping You Buy Your Home

Buying a home is one of the most important commitments people make in their lives. The process can be stressful and full of unexpected details and tasks. We are here to assist you every step of the way, and we're committed to developing an excellent working relationship with each of our clients.

At Roots Realty, we can guide, counsel and educate you along the way to buying your home. And please keep in mind that we can help you buy almost any property.

But to get started, please take a few minutes and read the Oregon Agency Disclosure Pamphlet. This document will help you begin to understand the importance of Agency relationships and our fiduciary duties to you. Also, the  Oregon Property Buyer Advisory has a huge amount of great information for anyone considering a real estate purchase. Then we will follow the steps outlined below.

Choosing a Mortgage Broker & Getting Pre-Approved

After doing your preliminary reading, you will need to speak with a Mortgage Broker about getting preapproved for a loan. It is important to choose someone who is licensed, and has experience and integrity. Please see our list of recommended lenders and ask your friends and family about their experiences. Interview a few mortgage brokers before you make a decision. Again, take the time to read this brochure about shopping for a mortgage.  Research will help you make decisions you are comfortable with.

Other questions you might ask a mortgage broker are:

• How long have you been in the business?
• Are you licensed in the State of Oregon?
• How long have you worked at your current company?
• What fees are associated with getting a loan?

Since you will be sharing all of your financial information with your lender, it’s important to us that you develop a good relationship with that person. Please get preapproved for your loan and make sure you provide your lender with all pertinent documentation promptly.

Finding Your Home

After you are preapproved, the real fun begins! We will meet with you and discuss your desires and needs for your new home. We have the technology to set up an automated search in the local RMLS so daily we can check for new properties that meet your desires. We then forward the link to listings to your e-mail or we can make other arrangements to get you the information. You will find out about new listings immediately and have the chance to view these new properties right away.

Making an Offer

When we have found your home with you, we will write the offer and handle all the negotiations. We’ll explain everything along the way, present all of the options and possible consequences, and then leave it to you to make the decisions. It’s your house after all! Since these decisions can affect you for years to come, we want you to feel informed and confident about your choices. So please always ask questions as they come up. We are happy to always point you in the right direction. Please read the following PDF for more information - The Real Estate Sales Agreement: What Buyers and Sellers need to know.

Arranging Escrow

Once the offer has been accepted we will arrange for escrow to be opened for the transaction. Typically, your Earnest Money will be deposited with this escrow officer, until closing. There is a "Time is of the Essence" clause in the Real Estate Sales Agreement so all parties are to act promptly to meet all deadlines.

Home Inspections

The next step is having the home inspected. We have the good fortune to have established great relationships with local inspectors and contractors. We will be present with you at each inspection, review the written report with you and discuss your options for further negotiation of the contract. If repairs are necessary we can recommend contractors we have worked well with in the past, schedule the work and arrange for payment. You are certainly not limited to contractors we know, so talk with your family, friends and co-workers about their experiences with local contractors.

Having the Property Appraised

The appraisal will be ordered after the home inspection is complete. An appraiser is there to ensure the value is correct so your lender can further process your loan. Each sale that includes a loan is subject to a satisfactory appraisal of the property. An appraiser will evaluate the home by measuring, taking note of any major repairs needed and comparing it to other homes recently sold to establish a value.

Finalizing Your Purchase

The last few days of the transaction are a flurry of activity. Once we get confirmation of final loan approval, documents will be drawn by your lender and sent to the escrow officer. We will assist you to review your estimated settlement statement, schedule your signing appointment and of course attend the signing appointment with you. Lastly, we will make arrangements to get you the keys for your new home, and then you celebrate!