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GUIDEHome BuyerHomeConnectionsGroup.com

OPENING DOORS TOHELP YOU UNLOCKWEALTH POTENTIAL

TABLE OF CONTENTSO U R P A R T N E R SW E L C O M E L E A D E R S H I P T E A M M E E T O U R A G E N T SG E T T I N G S T A R T E DK E Y B U Y E R T E R M ST R A N S A C T I O N C Y C L ER E N T I N G V S O W N I N GM O R T G A G E T I P SY O U R H O M E S E A R C HC L I E N T S F O R “ L I F E ”D O C U M E N T S & F O R M S4 671 01 81 92 02 22 32 72 93 0

P A R T N E R SB U I L D E R SI N S U R A N C E  I N S P E C T I O N  M O R T G A G E & L E N D I N G  C O N N E C T I O N S T O E N S U R E S E A M L E S S T R A N S A C T I O N S 

464646151515404040EXPERIENCE GETS YOU TO THE CLOSING TABLE homeconnectionsgroup.comyears ofagentexperiencemillion inhome salesin 2024OUR NUMBERS LAST 12 MONTHSOUR NUMBERS LAST 12 MONTHSOUR NUMBERS LAST 12 MONTHSnew doorsopened

On behalf of the Home Connections Group, we are excited you have given us the opportunity towork with you!We hope you find the information in our Buyer’s Guide informative and valuable.We cannot wait to work with you on your journey!ABOUT HOME CONNECTIONS GROUPThe Home Connections Group was formed with core values in mind. We offer honesty, integrity,and outstanding service as a commitment to all of our clients. We work FOR YOU to get to theclosing table with your best interests in mind. Not all transactions will be easy or seamless, butwith us by your side, we promise to navigate through it all with expertise and professionalismwith you at the center of our purpose. With over 41 years of experience selling homes in Central Ohio, over 70 million in sales and over200 five-star reviews, we have a solid track record of proven success for our clients.VALUABLE INFORMATIONThis entire book is filled with vital tips and tricks to help you better position yourself as a buyerin this ever-changing real estate market. From structuring a strong offer to navigating homeremedy and appraisal, we want to be your partner on this journey to the closing table. Do we remain in a Sellers market? Yes, Central Ohio lacks enough homes to truly change from asellers market to buyers market. So what does this mean for you? You need a trusted advisor tohelp you through every channel of the home buying process. Remember, our entire team is here to help answer questions, from financing to home inspection– we’re ready to help make your next home a reality! We look forward to meeting with you soonand helping to get your home SOLD!

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A D V A N T A G EAward Winning Agents41 Years of ExperienceCountless Dreams RealizedCommitted to the communitieswe serve, because we live and sell Real Estate in Central Ohio.We're in Your Neighborhood! Dedicated ServiceTrusted PartnersIndustry Expertise Clients receive around the clockaccess to answers & informationthroughout the selling process.Proven professionals, that will workto earn your business and know howto get the deal done, on time.Pricing accuracy & market expertiseso you never have buyer's remorsefor any transaction. Your HOME CONNECTION inColumbus & all of Ohio Greg Waite Vicki Russell L E T ' S G E T Y O U S O L D !

R E A L T O R  RT E A M L E A D  D I R E C T O R O F O P E R A T I O N SGreg Waite is an award-winning, top producing Realtor and Co-Team Lead of the Home Connections Group. He is one of thefounding members of this new team created in 2022 to helpbuyers and sellers in Central Ohio navigate the growing andchanging market. His professional background and dedication to advocating for hisclients help make him a top agent in the Columbus market. Helearned at a very young age that to achieve what you want in lifeyou must work hard and stay committed. He shares all this insightand experience with his team to model the best work ethicaround! When Greg isn’t selling houses, he oversees the HomeConnections Group’s operations, including marketing, socialmedia, and compliance. The rest of the time he is most likely enjoying a walk with his twodogs or taking in a concert or a show near his own new home nearDowntown Columbus. Greg’s passion for his clients and his teamis second to none!GREG WAITE2023Columbus, Ohiogreg@homeconnectionsgroup.com(614) 620-4168gregwaiterealtor.com

R E A L T O R  RT E A M L E A DD I R E C T O R O F E D U C A T I O NVicki is an award-winning, top producing Realtor and Co-Team Leadof the Home Connections Group. She is one of the founding membersof this new team created in 2022 to help buyers and sellers in CentralOhio navigate the growing and changing market. Vicki’s previous professional work includes over 10 years ofcorporate training and communications but found her love for realestate a little over 16 years ago when she became a real estate agentin the Columbus market. She has been able to combine her love oftraining and real estate in her role as Director of Education for theHome Connections Group. She especially enjoys spending time withnew agents and sharing her passion for helping clients build wealththrough homeownership!Living in the Columbus area most of her life, Vicki shares her love forher hometown with clients and friends new to the area. When she’saway from the team and clients, she’s probably sneaking away toPittsburgh with her husband John, snuggling with her favorite pup,Ollie, or anxiously waiting for her two grown sons, Mason andDominick, to come home to visit. VICKI RUSSELLHilliard, Ohiovicki@homeconnectionsgroup.com(614) 218-5274vickirussellrealtor.com

R E A L T O R  RANGIE TRAIVSA G E N T D E V E L O P M E N TAngie Travis is an award-winning Realtor with a proven track record ofsuccess in Central Ohio. Angie has been licensed since 2010 and holdsa number of real estate distinctions including CRS, MPR and E-Pro toname a few. Angie’s background in sales, entrepreneurship andmarketing is what brought her to real estate as it allows her to providewell-rounded expertise to her clients and help get them to closingtable.Angie is well known for her volunteer work serving on the Women’sCouncil of Realtors including proudly serving in 2018 as President ofthe Council. Outside of Real Estate, Angie can be found watchingreality TV, reading books, traveling and spending time with her familyand dog. Living in a small hub between Grove City, Galloway and the43228-zip code, she finds the best of all areas including a variety ofhomes, shopping and dining. Luckily its easy to get where she needs togo to best serve her clients.If your looking to buy or sell, Angie should be your first call. Connectwith Angie today and she can help get you Sold.Grove Cityangie@homeconnectionsgroup.com(614) 364-3810angietravisrealtor.com

R E A L T O R  RB U Y E R S P E C I A L I S TThe Home Connections Group welcomed Nate in 2023 and he hitthe ground running with energy that is infectious. It didn’t take himlong to make connections with people looking to buy homes andhis business quickly grew to the successful place it is today. Herealizes each client has their own special dream and he takes thetime to listen and help them create realistic expectations duringthe homebuying process. Nate’s clients are most impressed with his communication skills anddedication to them as individuals, which is seen in all his raving fanreviews and numerous referrals. When it comes time for the homeinspection phase of any contract, Nate has helped the teamnavigate remedies and negotiations like a pro and become theexpert on how to work to do what is best for our buyers, so theyfeel comfortable before they move into their new home. Nate is a foodie and a devoted Buckeye fan. He loves exploringplaces with his family to experience new and different types offoods. His passion, though, is spending time with his wife, Laura,daughter, Skylar and son, Tyler. Nate is always on call and eager tohelp you, even during Buckeye games! NATE ROGERSOhio State Universitynate@homeconnectionsgroup.com(614) 984-6673naterogersrealtor.com

R E A L T O R  RB U Y E R S P E C I A L I S TDenise grew up in Springfield and Dayton and moved to Columbus in2008. She was fascinated at a very young age watching hercommunity and neighborhoods within it, grow and change. Thisinspired a passion for home ownership and creating unique andspecial spaces with everyone in mind. She started rehabbing homesthroughout Central Ohio to bring this passion to reality and thendecided to get her real estate license to help others do the same.Denise joined the Home Connections Group in 2023 and knew rightfrom the start how to get in front of the right people to make thingscome together for her clients. She has worked tirelessly to connecther clients with the list of resources she has to help them make theright decisions in financing, title, and inspections. One of her greatestskillsets is communication. She follows through on every promise. Inthis business time is of the essence and Denise pushes to make sure adeadline is never missed. She knows how to navigate a contract andmake sure her client is always on track to get to the closing table. Denise loves to travel and one of her dreams is to explore the worldand document her experiences. As mentioned above she also lovesworking with her family to rehab homes in Central Ohio. She wouldalso like to have her own TV show one day to share all herinspirations! DENISE BROWNColumbus, Ohiodenise@homeconnectionsgroup.com(614) 756-1034denisebrownrealtor.com

R E A L T O R  RB U Y E R S P E C I A L I S TAngela has called Central Ohio home for most of her life, after movingfrom Philadelphia when she was 10 years old. Her professionalbackground includes managing people and processes to providefantastic front-end experience for customers. She prides herself onbuilding a strong foundation for her teams so they can provideexemplary service to their customers. Angela’s skills from her background have translated beautifully to herreal estate career. She is comfortably working with both first-timehome buyers and repeat buyers and does not miss a beat. They aremost appreciative of the time she takes to make sure they understandevery step of the way. Angela’s kindness and empathy also play ahuge part in understanding that this process can be overwhelming fora buyer if this is their first purchase. She takes all the time needed toput them at ease. When Angela isn’t with clients or in the office, she loves spendingtime with her three children and her granddaughter. She loves totravel and enjoys her favorite sports, bowling and billiards. Since becoming a Realtor, Angela has unlocked her true passion ofhelping people fulfill their dreams of homeownership. Seeing thesmiles on faces as she hands over the keys is her favorite part of herday. Her hard work and dedication can help fulfill your dreams too!ANGELA GARNEROhio State Buckeye Football Teamangela@homeconnectionsgroup.com(614) 705-5407angelagarnerrealtor.com

R E A L T O R  RB U Y E R S P E C I A L I S TLaura was born and raised in Galloway and now lives in WestJefferson with her husband and two children. She has always workedin fast- paced environments serving clients and that dedication andtenacity makes her a perfect fit for the Home Connections Group. Shejoined the team in 2023 and has proven to already have a successfultrack record!Laura does well with deadlines and is able to communicate accuratelyand effectively. She is a force to be reckoned with when negotiatingterms of her client’s offers. The passion behind the skillset is hersecret weapon. She loves what she does!Laura has always been curious about real estate and was inspired at ayoung age by the craftsmanship of Frank Lloyd Wright. She has an eyefor unique design and spaces and can spot a diamond in the rough forher clients! Laura loves touring homes with her clients but when she does stepaway, she enjoys spending time with her family exploring all theamazing corners of Central Ohio including COSI and the ColumbusZoo. An animal lover, Laura and her family have two cats and aGerman Shepherd. Laura’s clients all agree that her kindness,knowledge, and dedication make her a wonderful asset when buyingyour next home!LAURA PALMWest Jefferson, Ohiolaura@homeconnectionsgroup.com(614) 949-1100laurapalmrealtor.com

Now that you’re excited about homeownership andwe’ve cleared the hurdles that could be holding youback, let’s get tactical. Here’s a look at several key termsyou’ll need to know and some essential information onwhat to expect from the homebuying process.

KEY TERMS IN AHOME PURCHASE

t h eTHE TRANSACTION PROCESSCLOSING DAYAPPRAISALFINAL WALK-THROUGHINSPECTIONS &REMEDYDELIVERY OFEARNEST MONEYCONGRATULATIONS!$$CONTRACTACCEPTANCEPRICENEGOTIATIONSOFFER SUBMITTEDHomeConnectionsGroup.com

Once you’ve decided on the home of your dreams, our team will help you construct the best offer for you.This will include price, any contingencies, loan type, closing date, and possession. The offer will be submittedto the seller via Dotloop, and we will wait for a formal response.OFFER SUBMITTED1Your earnest money will be collected and deposited according to the terms and conditions of the agreed uponcontract. The amount and where and when this is deposited are very specific to each agreement. We willremind you and help you get this done!4DELIVERY OF EARNEST MONEYDuring this time, we will guide you to help you get the proper inspections on the property.Again, yourinspection period is determined by what is in the agreed upon contract so we will make sure we stay in thosetimeframes while allowing you time to make informed decisions.Once the inspections are done, you may wantsome items that were uncovered to be repaired. Remember, this phase is also part of our negotiations. We willalways work with you and advocate for you. At the end of the day, it is always YOUR decision how to proceed!5 INSPECTIONS & REMEDYYour lender will order an appraisal for the home. They want to make sure their investment in the property isvalued for the purchase price. This phase is also a contingency of your contract. If the home does not appraisefor the purchase price, we have expert negotiators to jump in and help come up with possible solutions.6APPRAISALThe contract also allows us to do a final walk through a few days before you close on your new home.This is tomake sure the home is in the condition it was promised per the contract. This includes checking to make surerepairs are completed, if any, that were agreed upon in the home inspection/remedy phase.7FINAL WALK-THROUGHCONGRATULATIONS!!!! You have signed all the documents from the lender for your mortgage and from title totransfer ownership. Your lender has wired funding. The property is being recorded at the county auditor’soffice. Once again, you will get the keys to move in according to the terms of what is in the agreed uponcontract.8CLOSING DAYAfter your offer has been received by the seller, it may be necessary to negotiate terms they will accept. Ourteam of expert negotiators will discuss with you different options and tactics we can use to make sure you’regetting what works for you. TERMS NEGOTIATIONS2The buyer and seller have agreed upon the terms and price to purchase the home. The contract is fullyexecuted with signatures from both parties.Our team will make sure this contract is sent to the lender and thetitle company and a timeline will be sent to all parties. Time is of the essence in any transaction! You areofficially IN CONTRACT!CONTRACT ACCEPTANCE3

RENT VS HOME OWNERSHIP

When looking for a home, the temptation to fall in love with a house that’s outside yourbudget is very real. So, before you start shopping around, it’s helpful to know your pricerange and how much money you can borrow for your loan. Pre-approval from a lender isthe best way to do this. Plus, there are so many lending programs available. Connectingyou with a lender can open a door of financing opportunity.Here’s how it works. According to NerdWallet, pre-approval is a letter that:“. . . states the amount and type of mortgage the lender is willing to offer, along with the terms."To get this written confirmation, you’ll need to provide information about your financials,including your income, employment information, your credit history, and more.NerdWallet explains:“Preapproval requires you to provide proof of your financial history and stability. The lender willverify your income, employment, assets and debts, and will check your credit report. You'llprovide information in the form of W-2s, a current pay stub, two years of IRS tax forms, asummary of your assets and your total monthly expenses.”While it may sound like a lot of documentation, the right professionals will make theprocess easy for you. Your pre-approval will help you know not just what you can borrow,but it’s also a great tool to help you set a budget and really understand your financialoptions. This way, you can begin your home search with a clear picture of what you wantto look for. WHY BEING PRE-APPROVED ISIMPORTANT IN THIS MARKET?R E C O M M E N D E D L E N D E R S 

AVOID THESE AFTERAPPLYING FOR A MORTGAGEOnce you’ve applied for a mortgage, there are some key things to keep in mind. While it’sexciting to start thinking about moving in and decorating, be careful when it comes tomaking any big purchases. Here’s a list of things you may not realize you need to avoidafter applying for your home loan.

NAVIGATING THEPATH TO HOMEOWNERSHIP

Soon you will begin receiving customized homesearch e-mails. Our home search portal works 24/7to identify new properties that may be of interestbased on your search criteria. Look at all homes asyou never know what hidden gem may be out there.It's important to go into your home search with clear priorities. This includes knowingwhich features and amenities you "need" versus "wants".Our website and emails feature a favorite button. Thiswill alert us when you find a property of interest.Immediately, we will research that home and setup ashowing. The more we know about your likes & dislikes,the more efficent we can be in the search process.CUSTOMIZED HOME SEARCHCOMMUNICATE YOUR FAVORITESBE REALISTIC IN YOUR HOME SEARCH•Must-Haves – If a house doesn’t have these features, it won’t work for your lifestyle.•Nice-To-Haves – These are features you’d love to have but can live without. •Dream State – Features that aren't necessary, but if found in your budget, it’s a clear winner.

CLIENTS FOR LIFE COMMITMENTMonthly Home Value E-mailNewsletters to Keep You InformedInfo on Community EventsResource for Home Warranty Issues Home Maintenance RemindersInvites to Client Appreciation EventsAvailable by Phone when you need us

D O C U M E N T SOhio is a “Buyer Beware” State andrequires the buyer to understand andbe fully informed on all aspects of thetransaction prior to closing.Your agent can and will explain allaspects of these documents prior tosigning. Should you have anyquestions on any forms please ask.All parties of any transaction mustsign all documents with full legalnames per government identification Forms will be signed and storedelectronically via DOTLoop®Copies of all signed forms can beprovided by your Realtor®Consumer GuideWire Fraud DisclosureFair Housing DisclosureState required doucment outlining the role ofBroker & Agent in this real estate transaction. State required guide to educate you aboutwire fraud and safeguard your sensitiveinformation before and up to closing time.State required document outlining the lawabout fair housing and legalities of any type ofdiscrimination during a real estate transaction. T H I N G S T O R E M E M B E RTeam DisclosureState required document outlining all membersof the Home Connections Group and that allare here to support your transaction. Home Inspection PolicyInformation about getting your future homeinspected and 3 state required inspectors theHome Connections Group recommends using.Agency DisclosureState required document outlining who are thelicensed agents representing the Buyer(s) andSeller(s) in any real estate transaction. Purchase ContractLegaly binding contract that puts in writing theterms of your real estate purchaseSeller DisclosuresResidental Property Disclosure and LeadBased Paint Disclosure if required Buyers AgreementDocument outlining commission structure foryour buyer’s agent and costs for their services.

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