Buying a house is a process that takes patience, planning, commitment and determination.
The first step is to get your credit in order, learn about mortgage financing, understand the costs involved and determine what you can afford to buy. It is always good to have a down payment – that reduces the loan amount . However, there are programs that help first time buyers buyers with down payment and closing costs.
You will need the help of an agent to find the house that you will call home. I am committed to help you find a house when you sign a buyer agency agreement. This is an agreement you make to keep a steady flow of information about your needs, houses that you want to see, changes in your criteria, etc. With a buyer agreement, I know that you have placed your confidence in me to find you a home and I will work to make it happen by providing you with first rate representation and protecting your interests in the process.
You may wonder “why do I have to sign a buyer’s agency agreement?” If you do not have a written agreement with an agent, that agent is not bound to represent your interests and has no obligation of confidentiality. A buyer’s agent with whom you have an agreement will provide information about the property, provide property value information and trends and a market analysis to help you make informed decisions about properties of interest.
A sellers agent has signed an agreement with the seller to represent the interest of the seller and therefore owes a fiduciary duty to the sellers so information that would help a buyer but that would be detrimental to a seller is not available from a seller’s agent. As a result, as you talk to them , they are gathering information for the benefit of the seller. Should you decide to buy the house listed by such an agent, you could have divulged enough to help the seller in the transaction and not yourself. Would you go to court without a lawyer? It is the same principle at work when you buy a house.
What People Say About Pauline
We chose Pauline to help us find a home because she knew a lot about Brentwood.
Although we’d purchased homes in other states before, Pauline’s up-to-date information and detailed knowledge about home ownership in Tennessee and specifically Brentwood, facilitated the home buying process. She skillfully negotiated the price and terms that were acceptable to us in a relatively short time. We always recommend Pauline to our friends.
MK, Brentwood, TN
“I was introduced to Pauline 3 years ago when, due to a change in my personal life, I needed to purchase a new home. Pauline was very knowledgeable of my local real estate market and supportive of me. After we discussed my needs, she delivered potential prospects that were all within my criteria. Once I had narrowed my search, she provided as much information as she could to help me to exercise the care I needed to protect myself and avoid future issues relating to my purchase of an asset.
This Realtor is willing to go the extra mile.
As we worked through the closing process, what impressed me most was that she let me know what all my options were up front, which allowed me time to opt out of the deal if necessary. I never felt pressured to purchase and she was truly interested in knowing that I would be happy with my purchase after I closed.
Because I had such a positive experience working with Pauline, a year later when I was in the market for a residential investment property I once again turned to Pauline to get the deal done. Once again Pauline did her research based upon my wants and needs and worked closely with me to successful completion of the contract.
Based upon my experiences with Pauline I recommended her to a family member who needed to sell a home quickly in a downward turning real estate market. No hoop was too high or obstacle too large to keep her from successfully completing closure of the contract. I actually think she enjoyed meeting all the challenges. She worked hard to get the contract closed on time and we will be forever grateful for her success.
I have been pleased with all the transactions Pauline has handled on my behalf and I would not hesitate to call upon Pauline for advice on a real estate matter or for buying or selling another property.”
Marcia, Franklin, TN