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Making an Offer

[ai_client_name] Making an
Offer

Now that you’ve found the right home, it’s time to put together an offer to purchase the home. The purchase offer contains all of the terms of the sale. Some of the decisions you will make when you are making the offer include:

  • Purchase Price
  • Amount of Good Faith Deposit
  • Financing Terms
  • When the Purchase will Close
  • What Contingency Periods to Include
  • Allocation of Costs
  • Additional Items Included in Sale

How Much Should I Offer?

Deciding on a price to offer involves a few steps. How long has the home been on the market? What have comparable homes in the area been selling for? Is there more than one offer on this home? We will show you all comparable sales in the area and give you all necessary information and guidance for you to make a good decision.

What Are Contingencies?

Contingencies are your protection in the purchase contract. There can be numerous different contingencies in the contract, requiring that the property meet certain guidelines, before you go through with the sale. Some common contingencies include:

Loan Contingency
For a time specified in the purchase offer, you may cancel the agreement if you are unable to secure the loan specified in the purchase offer. Many sellers are requesting or requiring that a buyer be pre-approved for a loan and may not accept a contract that includes a loan contingency.

Appraisal Contingency
The lender will typically order an appraisal to insure that the purchase price you offer is reasonable based upon comparable homes in the area. This protects their interest in the property. If the property fails to appraise for the price offered, the lender may refuse to do the loan, or may require additional down payment funds or may offer you less favorable terms.

Physical Inspection Contingency
For a time specified in the contract, you have the opportunity to do any inspections on the property that you consider necessary to confirm the value of the property. Based on the results of those inspections, you may request that the seller perform repairs. The seller is not required to perform any repairs not specifically designated in the purchase contract, but if they refuse your request for repairs, you will have the right to withdraw from the contract without penalty. The only costs at that point would be any inspections you have had performed, and for the appraisal, if that has been completed.

Ready to Buy Your Home?
[ai_client_name] Client
Testimonials

Our experience with Ken was the best experience we could have ever hoped for! Ken is such a knowledgeable, experienced, patient, and trustworthy agent. We were first-time homebuyers who decided to buy in CA’s toughest market when it was molten hot due to the pandemic, sending people out of the city and into the burbs. We could not have been more clueless, but Ken coached us and gave us the space to learn what it really was we wanted; never rushing or pressuring us into decisions. Every time we were met with disappointment and every time wanted to give up, Ken reassured us it was going to work out. It did, and we are glad we listened to him. Thank you, Ken!

John K.—Walnut Creek

I don't usually write reviews but the experience I had with Ken Jacobs was such an amazing one, I really felt the need to. As we looked for a new home, Ken paid close attention to what we did and did not like to really formulate the vision of our perfect home. Multiple times when we thought we wanted to put in an offer, Ken would review the disclosures and issues with each home, even warning us when he thought it wasn't the right house for us. We never once felt rushed and now that we are in our new home, I can't even begin to explain how happy we are that we waited for the right one. Before we submitted an offer, Ken thoroughly explained everything, from the types of contingencies to the fine print in each document. Once our offer was accepted, I thought Ken's role in the process was nearly complete but I was wrong and in the best way possible. Ken continued to help us from coordinating post-offer inspections to facilitating different contractors coming to the house for minor repairs, and everything in between. Even after we moved in, Ken came to the house to answer miscellaneous questions. I dreaded that deciding on the biggest purchase of my life would be stressful and complicated, yet Ken made buying a house such a better experience than I could have imagined. Now I have a trusted agent for any home I buy or sell in the future. Thank you for such an amazing experience!

Daniel & Livia P. - Pleasant Hill
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