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Buyer'sHOME GUIDE225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.comNIKKI PITRE, REALTOR®
ContentsBUYER'S GUIDEThe Home Buying ProcessOffer Accepted!Closing DayMortgage GuideWhat Not to DoSuccess StoriesAbout The BrokerageMeet Your AgentHouse Hunting TipsMaking an OfferFinal Steps Before ClosingHouse Wants & Needs ListBut 1st, Get Pre-Approved!Questions to Ask LendersTrusted LendersLoan Application Checklist225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
Experience The Difference!Honesty & IntegrityLoyalty & RespectResponsive & TimelyExpert GuidanceWHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM USLike every client and every real estate advisor, we toohave a unique story. It's one steeped in iconic heritagethat drives our resolve to change the way consumersexperience the properties, neighborhoods and the overallprocess of buying and selling a home.The world of Engel & Völkers was created and continuesto grow around the mission to possess the highest levelsof competency and client service. Through unrivaledbrand consistency, sophisticated systems andinnovations, we've done what no other European luxuryreal estate franchise has been able to do—successfullyestablish itself in the Americas.225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
MEET YOUR REALTORHi, I'm NikkiLet's ConnectNikki.pitre@cox.netnikkipitre.evgeaux.com6401 Bluebonnet BlvdBaton Rouge, LA 70836You can also find me on:225.439.1815 (C) | 225.331.8011 (O)Nikki has a passion for real estate, and helpingclients achieve their goals. She has been alicensed Realtor since 2005 and a top-performing agent in the Baton Rouge area.Nikki has dedicated herself to helping clientsbuy and sell properties, providing guidance,support, and expertise. She goes above &beyond to ensure her clients’ needs are met andthat they have a positive experience.In her free time, Nikki is a member of theLivingston Parish Chamber and Women’sCouncil for Realtors. She enjoys being outdoorsfishing, camping, and spending time with family& friends.225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
Get YourKeys!THE HOME BUYING PROCESSSteps to Finding Your Dream HomeHouseShoppingGet Pre-ApprovedMeet withAgentUnderContractInspection& AppraisalMake anOfferSAVE FOR A DOWN PAYMENTCHECK YOUR CREDITDETERMINE HOW MUCH YOU CAN SPENDGET PRE-APPROVED FOR A HOME LOANWhere to Start225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
BUT 1ST, GET PRE-APPROVED!Be Ready to Make an OfferHouse shopping is an exciting time!To be pre-approved, the lender will pull your credit and ask youfor documentation to verify your finances. Before making anoffer on a house, it is best to get pre-approved to show sellersyour offer is serious and that a lender has already approved youfor enough money to purchase the home.Pre-QualifiedIn order to be pre-qualified, a lender may or may not check yourcredit score and won't require documentation, only going offwhat you tell them. This will give you an idea of what you couldqualify for, but when you're serious about buying, you'll need toget pre-approved.Pre-ApprovedPRE-QUALIFIED VS PRE-APPROVEDGet pre-approved for a loan first so you can beready to make an offer when you find a home youlove.VS225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
DOWNPAYMENTMINIMUMCREDIT SCORETERMS3 - 20%3.5 - 20%NoneMORTGAGEINSURANCE640580640620MORTGAGE GUIDECONVENTIONALTYPE OF LOANFHAVAUSDANone15-30 YearsOn downpaymentsunder 20%None15-30 Years15-30 Years15-30 Years NoneFor 11 years orlife of the loanThe most common type of home loan, which is offered through private lenders.CONVENTIONAL LOANLoans designated for veterans, spouses, and reservists, offered through privatelenders and guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.VA LOANLoans designed for those with high debt-to-income ratios and low credit scores,and most commonly issued to first-time homebuyers. Offered by FHA-approvedlenders only and backed by the Federal Housing Administration.FHA LOANLoans for homebuyers in designated rural areas, backed by the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture.USDA LOANWhich Type of Loan is Right for You?225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
QUESTIONS TO ASKWhen Choosing a LenderNot all Lenders are the Same.What will my interest and annual percentage rates be?Do I qualify for any special programs or discounts?Which types of home loans do you offer?What estimated closing costs can I expect to pay?What is your average loan processing time?QUESTIONS TO ASK LENDERS the type of loans available, interest rates, andfees can vary. Interviewing lenders is an importantstep in determining what type of home loan is bestfor you.225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
TRUSTED LENDERSASSURANCE FINANCIAL / RENE CROCHET225-413-7143rcrochet@assurancemortgage.comhttps://assurancemortgage.com/assurance_officers/renee-crochet/KEY LENDING / SKIP SHOWS2225-802-3953ashows@keylendingsolutions.comwww.skip.keylendingsolutions.comGMFS / JASON VICK225-218-5423jvick@gmfslending.comGUILD MORTGAGE / MORGAN HARRIS225-614-3988mharris@guildmortgage.netwww.guildmortgage.com/morganharrisAREA HOME LENDING / CHRIS LEWIS225-408-9238chris@areahomelending.comwww.chrislewisloans.comwww.https://gmfsmortgage.com/loan-officers/jason-vick/225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
to determine loan eligibility, lenders typically requirethe following types of documents from each applicant:W-2s: last 2 yearsPay stubs: last 2 monthsBank statements: 2 most recent checking and savings account statementsAddresses for the past 2-5 years and landlord's contact info if applicable401(k) or retirement account statement and summaryAny additional income documentation: pension, retirement, child support,Social Security/disability income award letters, etcOther assets: statements and summaries of IRAs, stocks, bonds, etc.Documents relating to any of the following if applicable: divorce,bankruptcy, collections, judgements or pending lawsuitsFederal tax returns: last 2 yearsStudent loan statements: showing current and future payment amountsCopy of driver's license or ID and Social Security cardINCOME DOCUMENTSASSET DOCUMENTSOTHER DOCUMENTSLOAN APPLICATION CHECKLISTDocuments Typically Required by Lenders225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
Determine the features you are looking for in your ideal home and prioritizewhich items are most important to you. No house is perfect, but this willhelp us find the best match for you.____ Bathrooms____ Car GarageIdeal Square Footage:____ BedroomsDesired Location/Neighborhood/School District:Single Family Home Townhouse CondoMove-In Ready Some Work Needed is OKTYPE OF HOMECONDITION OF HOMEFixer UpperSmall or Large YardDESIRED FEATURESMust Have Would Like to Have(Circle)HOUSE WANTS & NEEDS LISTImportant Features You're Looking for in a HomeOther ___________225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
HOUSE HUNTING TIPSWhen you find a home you want to buy, keep in mind there may beothers interested in it as well. Be ready to make a solid offer quickly inorder to have the best chance at getting that home.When you visit multiple houses it gets difficult to remember specificdetails about each one. Take photos and notes while touring housesso that you can reference them later when comparing the propertiesthat you've seen.Talk to family, friends and co-workers to see if anyone might know ofa house for sale in an area you're interested in. One of them may evenknow of someone that's thinking about selling but hasn't put thehouse on the market yet. Drive around neighborhoods that interest you to get a feel of the area,how the homes are cared for, what traffic is like, etc.Be Ready to Make an OfferTake Pictures & NotesAsk AroundFinding your dream home isn't always an easy task! Have a prioritieslist but keep an open mind when viewing houses. Keep an Open MindInvestigate the AreaTips for Finding Your Ideal Home225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
MAKING AN OFFERFactors that can Make an Offer More EnticingCurrent market conditionsComparable properties recently sold in the areaThe property value of the houseThe current condition of the houseWhen we have found a home that you're interested inbuying, we will quickly and strategically place an offer. ADD A PERSONAL TOUCHInclude a letter to the sellers with your offer, letting them know whatyou love about their home. Adding this personal touch can give you anadvantage over other offers by making yours stand out from the rest.PUT DOWN A LARGER DEPOSITAn offer that includes a larger earnest money deposit presents a moreserious and competitive offer.PAY IN CASH VS. LOANPaying in cash versus taking out a loan offers a faster closing timelineand less chances of issues arising, making it more appealing to sellers.OFFER A SHORTER CLOSING TIMELINEAn offer with a shorter timeframe for closing is generally more attractiveto sellers over one with an extended time period with a house salecontingency. A typical closing timeframe is 30-45 days.PUT IN A COMPETITIVE OFFERWe will decide on a reasonable offer price based on:225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
OFFER ACCEPTED!What's NextCOMPLETE YOUR MORTGAGE APPLICATIONRENEGOTIATE IF NECESSARYOnce you've come to an agreement on the final offer, it's time to finalizeyour loan application and lock in your interest rate if you haven't done soalready. You may need to provide additional documentation to yourlender upon request. The home inspection will tell you if there are any dangerous or costlydefects in the home that need to be addressed. You can then choose toeither back out of the deal completely, ask for the seller to make repairs,or negotiate a lower price and handle the repairs yourself. SCHEDULE A HOME INSPECTIONHome inspections are optional but highly recommended to make surethat the home is in the condition for which it appears. Inspections aretypically completed within 10-14 days after signing the sales agreement.ORDER AN APPRAISALAn appraisal will be required by your lender to confirm that the home isindeed worth the loan amount. The appraisal takes into account factorssuch as similar property values, the home's age, location, size andcondition to determine the current value of the property.PUT YOUR DEPOSIT INTO AN ESCROW ACCOUNTYour earnest money deposit will be put into an escrow account that ismanaged by a neutral third party (typically a title company or bank) whoholds the money for the duration of the escrow period. They will manageall the funds and documents required for closing, and your deposit willgo towards your down payment which is paid at closing.Once the seller has accepted your offer, both parties signa sales agreement and you're officially under contract.225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
BUY OR LEASE A CARWHAT NOT TO DODuring the Home Buying ProcessIt's extremely important not to do any of thefollowing until after the home buying process iscomplete:Any of these types of changes could jeopardize yourloan approval. It's standard procedure for lenders toalso do a final credit check before closing.MAKE A MAJOR PURCHASECHANGE JOBSMISS A BILL PAYMENTOPEN A LINE OF CREDITMOVE MONEY AROUND225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
FINAL STEPS BEFORE CLOSINGYou're Almost there!Insurance RequirementsMost lenders require both homeowner's insurance and title insurance.Homeowners insurance protects your home and possessions againstdamage and theft, while title insurance protects the lender and/orhomeowner from financial loss against claims regarding the legalownership of a home. Policies vary so it's recommended to get quotesfrom multiple companies to compare price, coverage and limits.Closing DisclosureAt least 3 days before closing, lenders are required to provide you with aClosing Disclosure with your final loan terms and closing costs for youto review. Closing costs for the buyer typically range from 2-5% of thepurchase price, which can include lender fees, lender's title insurance,and HOA dues if applicable.Within 24 hours of closing we will do a final walk through of the homebefore signing the final paperwork. This last step is to verify that nodamage has been done to the property since the inspection, that anyagreed upon repairs have been completed, and that nothing from thepurchase agreement has been removed from the home.Final Walk throughNext Step: Closing!225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
CLOSING DAYCongratulations, You Made it to Closing!ITEMS TO BRING TO CLOSING:Government Issued Photo IDHomeowner's Insurance CertificateCertified Funds or Cashier's CheckFinal Purchase AgreementOn the day of closing you'll be going over and signing the finalpaperwork, and submitting a cashier's check (or previouslyarranged wire transfer) to pay the remaining down paymentand closing costs.Enjoy your new home!Closing is the final step of the buying process.Property ownership is then officially transferred fromthe seller to the buyer.225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
SUCCESS STORIESHere's what our Clients are SayingMrs. Nikki never gave up on selling ourhome even though the surrounding areawas not in our favor. She was alwaysthinking of ways to help us sell or get thebest deal for our home. We recommendher for anyone selling their home!- Melanie SearsNikki was excellent to work with! VeryProfessional and very patient! Nikki wasvery understanding to my needs andwhat I was looking for. She was alwaysupbeat and positive that the right placewould come along for me and she wasright! I am blessed not only to have heras my realtor but also as a friend.- Debbie CasonJoseph & Angie BennettThis lady went above and beyond getting us into this house.Everything I asked for she took care of in record time! I have bought afew homes in the past and I have never had someone go to the lengthsshe has. I will recommend Nikki to anyone that is buying a home. Shegave us a beautiful housewarming gift and even sent me a Fathers daycar and book of Dad Jokes! A month after we closed! We love youNikki!225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com
Buy withConfidenceReal Estate Is Trick, Call Nikki!225-439-1815 | nikki.pitre@cox.net| nikkipitre.evgeaux.com