6. Home Ownership
The closing is over, you have the keys – congrats! But unlike most agents, Thrive Advisors will stay with you…for as long as you’ll have us! Homeownership is a fantastic way to build wealth. But it can be a love-hate relationship! Furnaces break, water heaters wear down, roofs go bad, trees fall, basements experience water damage, floors need sanding, gutters need cleaning, toilets need tightening, grass needs maintenance, and the list goes on (and on and on). And then there’s also the financial aspects to pay attention to: when to refi, when to drop PMI, when to get a HELOC, when to remodel (and to what extent), when and how to buy an investment property, when to contest your property taxes, and the list goes on (and on and on). Your Thrive Advisor will be with you for all of it and will help clear the path for you with ALL aspects of owning your home.
1. Financing
Did you know that when you buy a home (unless you’re paying cash), you’re actually making TWO purchases? You’re buying a home and you’re buying the money to buy the home. Both purchases have costs involved. And the two purchases are bound together – you can’t have one without the other. The mortgage industry is confusing at best and slimy at worst. Interest rates, closings costs, hidden fees, extra fees, margin, points, and on and on. You definitely want a professional working on your behalf. Someone who has a robust track record, a solid reputation, who is local, and who will give you their cell phone number. We have an extremely high standard for our lender partners. We don’t get anything for referring them to you, except for the peace of mind knowing that you’re in very good, competent, professional hands. Click here to gain access to our top rated lenders.
2. Home Search
Finding the right home, at the right time, in the right location can be overwhelming. The good news is we weave together technology and boots-on-the-ground expertise to accomplish your vision. Our home search platform has a direct connection right to the MLS. It also has 100% of all listed homes on the market, and is updated every 15 minutes. We guarantee same day showings for you as well. If you’re not available (lets face it, life gets in the way sometimes) no problem – we’ll do a commentated video walk thru and share it with you that day (subject to seller’s agent approval). Click here to discover your home!
3. Negotiations
Many buyers (and agents too unfortunately) negotiate with only one tool in their toolbelt: price. But did you know there are actually two other powerful negotiation tools? The first is timing, and the second is terms. Thrive Advisors are trained to leverage your best timing and terms so that you DON’T necessarily have to be the highest price offer to win the home you want. Sound too good to be true? We assure you it’s not, and we look forward to sharing the strategies with you – they’re yours to use, even if you don’t choose to work with a Thrive Advisor (gasp!). Click here to connect.
4. Due Diligence
Finding the right house and getting through negotiations can be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. But, once you’re under contract, the road can get even tougher. It is critical to perform the proper due diligence to understand what it is you’re buying. It’s one thing to know what to look for, but it’s even more important to know what to look out for. We use the best inspectors in the city to perform highly forensic due diligence to reveal possible red flags or unknown defects. Sometimes we even discover reasons to terminate and pursue a different home. Through it all, your Thrive Advisor remains your advocate – we treat your money as if it were our own.
5. Closing
The closing is the final step in the process. It’s also a financially charged event where a LOT of puzzle pieces must come together. The main parties involved in your closing will be you, your Thrive Advisor, your lender, the title company, the seller, the seller’s agent and your Transaction Concierge. To prepare, we gather and coordinate all the necessary financial documents in advance of your closing so that you have plenty of time to ask questions, understand each document and consult with your Thrive Advisor to make any adjustments needed. We also provide all the real estate documents to you in advance as well for the same reason. That way, you can walk into your closing with confidence and clarity.