Natalie Shaw, Licensed Real Estate Professional at Pacific Sotheby's International Realty, talks with host John Chapman of the John Chapman Show about how to prepare to buy real estate. Natalie also explains how to “date a neighborhood” you might want to buy in, the preapproval process, negotiations, the importance of working with a real estate agent, and the costs you should be aware of in advance.

Episode Highlights:

•          How is the buying and selling market looking in Spring 2019 in Orange County?  
•          Where and how long has Natalie Shaw been a real estate agent?
•          If a couple is looking to buy their first home, how should they prepare?
•          What types of financial institutions should first-timers go to for mortgage loans?
•          What are the common steps to looking for a home?
•          What is the standard time-frame for closing on a house?
•          Why should you spend plenty of time looking for properties?
•          What are some of the pitfalls to avoid when looking at properties?
•          Isn’t it an awkward situation if an agent represents both the buyer and the seller?
•          What are the common commission percentages?
•          What does Natalie recommend when scouting out a future neighborhood?
•          How early in the process should you engage with a real estate agent?   
•          Has Natalie had clients that took over a year to decide on a home?
•          What is a good benchmark for how long people tend to stay in their first home?
•          What does a real estate agent have to do to help clients deal with their emotions?
•          How can you estimate the amount you should save for repairs in the first year?   
•          What is involved in doing thorough inspections?
•          What are the different contingencies that are involved in closings?
•          Which final things does Natalie Shaw recommend before buying a home?

3 Key Points:

1.     Loan brokers will ask potential homeowners for past tax documentation and credit reports to generate a pre-approval letter that maps out what price point they can purchase it.  
2.     For a standard purchase with a loan, a good time-frame is 30-45 days.
3.     Look at as many properties as possible to build a strong relationship with your realtor and to narrow down what you like.

Tweetable Quotes:

•      “If I was working with a couple who was interested in purchasing a home, the first thing I would recommend they do is to meet with a loan broker.”– Natalie Shaw
•      “When you are going through the process of looking at different properties and you find one that you just absolutely fall in love with, It’s best to go in with the strongest offer possible.” – Natalie Shaw
•      “You don’t pay any of the commissions. The seller of the property will pay the commission to the listing agent and to the buyer’s agent.” – Natalie Shaw

Resources Mentioned:

• Linkedin: John Chapman
• Linkedin: Natalie Shaw