Find Your Dream Home
Home is where the heart is. Let us help you on your search in the peace and comfort of your own home.
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU!!
Team Whitney's real estate business has been built on the guiding principle: IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU! It is about your finances, your dreams, your concerns, your questions, your needs, your time, and your life.
It is our mission to build wealth for families by guiding our clients successfully through the intricate processes of either selling or investing in real estate. Most importantly, our clients' needs always come first. We will strive to continuously provide value far in excess of your expectations. Our unrelenting goal is mutual respect, and building long-term relationships beneficial to all parties. Our aspiration is to earn your business as a client for life!
FREE Buyer Consultation with a
Team Whitney Expert
We offer a FREE no obligation Buyer consultation. Take advantage of an informative one-on-one presentation with one of our Buyer Specialists and learn about the real estate purchase process. We will cover topics such as:
Current Market Conditions
Types of Inventory (Standard Sales, Probate Sales, Short Sales, Trust Sales, and REO/Foreclosure Sales)
Financing
Pre-Qualification vs Pre-Approval vs Underwritten Approval
Interest Rate Locks
Buying Down Your Interest Rate
Fixed Rate vs. Adjustable Rate Mortgages
Closing Costs
Monthly Payment (PITI + MI + HOA)
Tax Benefits of Owning vs. Renting
Details of the Purchase Agreement and Escrow: Terms, Contingencies, Earnest Money Deposit, Allocation of Costs, How to Make Your Offer Stand Out, Seller Rent Backs, Types of Counter Offers, Home Warranty, Inspections and Repair Requests, Termite Report, Appraisal, Preliminary Title Report, CD, Loan Documents, etc.
Post-Closing: Setting up a Trust, Supplemental Property Tax Bill, etc.
Renting VS Owning
There are many factors to consider, including your current financial resources, market conditions, the price of the home, how long you plan on staying in the home, and other lifestyle conditions. Owning can have many advantages over renting.
Benefits of Renting:
Lower housing costs
Shorter-term commitment
No/minimal maintenance and repair costs
Benefits of Owning:
Tax incentives
Future equity (savings)
Privacy
Stable housing costs from year to year
Pride in ownership
Strong community ties
How Much Do I Need to Purchase A Property?
Initial Deposit
- Your earnest money deposit [EMD] is due within 3 days after offer acceptance
- EMD is typically 1-3% of total purchase price
- You can receive a gift from a family member for your EMD
Down Payment
- The amount paid is usually a percentage of the purchase price, and can be as little as no money down
- You can receive a gift from a family member for your down payment
Closing Costs
- Closing costs are fees due to escrow, your lender, title, etc.
- Closing costs are estimated at about 2-2.5% of the purchase price
- You can ask the Seller to cover a portion or all of these costs
Other Costs
- Buyers also need to budget for inspection fees, repair estimate fees, and appraisal costs, which are not included in closing costs
Sample Breakdown of Costs
Purchase Price: $650,000
Down Payment (5%): $32,500
Closing Costs (2.5%): $16,250
Physical Inspection: $500
Termite Inspection: $150
Sewer Camera Inspection: $325
Appraisal Fee: $600
Total Out of Pocket: $50,325
(Seller/Giftor can assist with these costs)
Supplemental Property Tax Bill
The Supplemental Property Tax Bill is the difference between the prior owner's assessed value of the property and the value of the property at your time of purchase. This one time bill is NOT included in your monthly mortgage payment, and will need to be budgeted for accordingly. We will give you an estimate for it during escrow.
LA Supplemental Tax Calculator
