Lifestyle:

• Location: Where do you live? (city, state) What do you like or dislike about your location?
• Pets: Do you have any pets, and if so, what are their needs?
• Age: How old are you and your partner/family (if applicable), and what are your home or investment needs?
• Kids: Do you have any children, and if so, what are their ages and needs?
• Work: Where do you work, and is your commute important?
• Occupation: What is your profession, and how stable is your income?
• First-time buyer: Are you a first-time home buyer, or have you owned property before?
• Current ownership: Do you currently own real estate, and if so, do you need to sell in order to buy?

Property Type and Goals:

• Purpose: Are you looking for an owner-occupied home, investment property, second home, or vacation home?
• Search duration: How long have you been actively looking for a home?
• Current home: Describe your current home and what you like or dislike about it.
• Desired location: Do you have a specific area or city in mind for your next home?
• Timeline: What is your ideal timeline for buying a home?
• Motivation: What is driving your desire to move?
• Living duration: How long do you plan to live in your next home?
• Ownership preference: Do you plan to own your next home, or are you open to other options?
• Future plans: Do you anticipate future changes in your family or lifestyle that might impact your housing needs (e.g., growing family, downsizing)?

Communication and Next Steps:

• Meeting preference: Do you prefer to meet in person with a real estate agent or start the process virtually?

Financing Needs:

• Do you need financing? Are you planning to finance your home purchase with a mortgage, or will you be paying in cash?
• Who will be buying with you? If purchasing with others, their financial information and contributions will need to be included.
• Receiving gift funds? If you are receiving financial gifts towards your down payment, be sure to understand the source, amount, and any associated requirements.
• How much do you owe on your current home? If selling your current home, factor in the outstanding balance into your overall financial picture.
• Have you talked to a lender? Consulting with a mortgage lender early on can help you understand your borrowing capacity and pre-qualify for a loan.
• Would you like for a lender to contact you? If you haven’t already, let me know if you’d like me help or if you would like to connect with another qualified lender.

Lender Information (if applicable):

• Lender name and contact info: If you have already chosen a lender, please provide their name and contact info in order to align all parties.

Budget and Funding:

• Max purchase price: What is the absolute maximum you are willing to spend on a home?
• Max loan amount: What is the largest mortgage amount you are comfortable with?
• Min or Max down payment required: Do you have a specific minimum or maximum down payment amount in mind?
• Buyer to pay points not to exceed: Are you willing to pay points to lower your interest rate, and if so, what is the maximum amount you’re comfortable with?
• Interest rate not to exceed: What is the highest interest rate you are willing to accept on your mortgage?

Lender’s Timeline and Contingencies:

• COE days needed: How many days does your lender require between an accepted offer and the final closing of the sale?
• Loan approval contingency days needed: How many days does your lender need to secure loan approval before the contract becomes binding?
• Appraisal contingency days needed: How many days does your lender need to order, complete, and approve an appraisal?
• Ok to write offer without loan contingency: Are you comfortable waiving your loan contingency, assuming it increases the strength of your offer?

Fees and Costs:

• Total lender fees: Have you researched and budgeted for all lender fees associated with your mortgage (originating fee, appraisal fee, etc.)?
• HOA certification cost: If the property has a homeowners association (HOA), have you factored in the cost of obtaining an HOA certificate?
• Total closing cost estimate: Do you have a realistic estimate of all closing costs you will be responsible for (inspection, title insurance, property taxes, etc.)?
• Max buyer closing cost credit limit: Is the seller offering any credits towards your closing costs, and if so, what is the maximum amount your loan product can accept?
• FHA/VA funding costs: If using FHA or VA loan options, have you budgeted for any specific associated costs (funding fees, etc.)?

Mortgage Details:

• Monthly mortgage insurance estimate/rate/terms: If required, have you researched and understood the estimated monthly mortgage insurance cost, rate, and terms?
• Upfront mortgage insurance cost: If applicable, have you factored in the upfront cost of mortgage insurance into your budget?

Purchase Agreement:

• Names on agreement: What names will be on the purchase agreement, and how do you want your name recorded on the title?

Closing and Contingencies:

• Close of Escrow (COE) days needed: How many days do you need between an accepted offer and the final closing of the sale?
• Earnest money deposit (EMD): How much will you offer as an earnest money deposit?
• Contingent sale days: If selling your current home to afford this purchase, how many days do you need to find a buyer and close that sale?
• Days to find new home/move: If contingent on finding a new home, how many days do you need to secure a new place after removing contingencies?

Inspections and Disclosures:

• Review and acknowledge seller disclosures:
  • Preliminary title report
  • CCRs (if any)
  • Natural Hazard Disclosure
  • If requested, Clue Report (Insurance Claim History)
  • Seller’s Affidavit of Non foreign Status or QS – Qualified Substitute
  • Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure – Listing Agent
  • Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure – Buyer Agent
  • Exempt Seller Disclosure
  • Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
  • Seller Property Questionnaire
  • Transfer Disclosure Statement
  • EQ Safety Guide & Report
  • Home Energy Rating & Receipt
  • Hazard Booklet & Receipt if home built <1960
  • Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home:
  • Fire Hardening and Defensible Space Advisory, Disclosure, Addenda
• CO2/Smoke detectors installed: Verify installation of required carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. (State requirement)
• Home warranty: Who will pay for a home warranty (buyer or seller)?
• Order & review recommended inspection reports: Review the results of all completed inspections.
  • General inspection
  • Wood Destroying Pest Inspection
  • Sewer lateral inspection
  • Roof inspection
  • Chimney inspection
• Appliances/items included: Verify which appliances and items are included in the sale.
• City ordinances/disclosures: Review and verify city ordinances and county disclosures.
• Closing costs: Verify the estimated closing costs.
• CMA: Verify the accuracy of the Comparative Market Analysis (CMA).
• Permits: Verify the existence and validity of any permits for improvements on the property.
• Property tax bill/Mello Roos: Verify the property tax bill and any Mello Roos special assessments.
• Public tax report/living area/room count: Verify the accuracy of the public tax report, living area square footage, and room count.
• Schools: Verify the assigned schools for the property.
• Fire zone: Determine if the property is located in a designated severe fire zone.
• Verify insurability: Confirm the property is insurable with your chosen insurance company.
• Order & review HOA documents: If applicable, order HOA-related documents.
  • HOA Buyer Advisory
  • CA Form 4528
  • Required Statement of Fees – Demand (Required Civil Code Sec. 4525)
  • Annual Budget Report (Required Civil Code Sec. 4525)
  • Articles of Incorporation (Required Civil Code Sec. 4525)
  • Bylaws (Required Civil Code Sec. 4525)
  • CC&Rs-Condo Declaration (Required Civil Code Sec. 4525)
  • Financial Statement Review (Required Civil Code Sec. 4525)
  • Minutes of Regular Board Meetings over the previous 12 months, if requested. Make sure to ask for 24 months. (Required Civil Code Sec. 4525)
  • Operating Rules (Required Civil Code Sec. 4525)
  • Rental Restrictions (Required Civil Code Sec. 4525)
  • Special Assessments (Required Civil Code Sec. 4525)
  • Welcome Package (Non Required Civil Code Sec. 4525)
  • CI Common Interest Disclosures
  • Statement of Parking/Storage Spaces
  • Disclosure of Pending Litigation
• Buyer to pay HOA docs cost? Determine if the buyer is responsible for the cost of HOA documents.
• Loan certification fee: If getting a loan, determine the cost of HOA certification.
• Agency disclosures/representations: Review and acknowledge agency disclosure documents related to the seller and buyer’s representation.

Contracts and Timelines:

• EMD receipt and escrow acknowledgment: Receive confirmation of your earnest money deposit and escrow account opening.
• Appraisal ordered: Arrange for an appraisal of the property.
• Print comps for appraiser: Provide comparative market analysis (CMA) to the appraiser.
• Appraisal contingency removal: Determine when to remove the appraisal contingency.
• Loan contingency removal: Determine when to remove the loan contingency.
• Request utility contact information: Get contact information for utility companies servicing the property.
• Find bids for work needed: Obtain quotes for any necessary repairs or improvements.
• Request repairs: Request repairs for identified issues based on inspections.
• Request photos of repairs: Receive photos of completed repairs from the seller.
• Electronically sign and acknowledge inspections: Use DocuSign or similar services to review and sign off on inspection reports.
• Investigation contingency removal: Determine when to remove the investigation contingency.