From finding your dream home to closing day, learn more about the homebuying process.

This is an exciting time! Buying a home is a major endeavor and it’s likely the biggest purchase you will ever make. We understand the importance of both finding and securing the right home for you and enjoying the journey along the way. We're ready and eager to make that happen. This guide is designed to provide all the necessary information upfront to help you make this important decision.

RE/MAX Shoreline is committed to service excellence. We achieve this through partnerships.

We partner with agents. RE/MAX Shoreline is over 80 agents working together to achieve service excellence for all clients throughout Maine and New Hampshire. Our positive, supportive, collaborative environment helps agents succeed. A team concept leads to improved results. When you work with a RE/MAX Shoreline agent, you are assured of the best possible outcome.

We partner with clients. Our clients deserve the best experience. There is always a solution. We are here to help find it. With headquarters in Portland, Maine, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, RE/MAX Shoreline is the combined local expertise of over 80 agents with the global reach of the RE/MAX brand. Give us a call or stop in today to schedule a consultation with one of our agents.

We partner with communities. RE/MAX Shoreline helped more than 900 families and businesses make their move in 2021, and RE/MAX Shoreline-sponsored events and programs raised over $185,000 for local Maine and New Hampshire nonprofits in 2021. We support the communities in which we serve with the purpose of seeing a better tomorrow and knowing that we helped make it happen. When you work with a RE/MAX Shoreline agent, you help make it happen, too!

We love what we do. Our team specializes in local home buying and selling. We effectively coordinate the purchase and sale of real estate properties: Residential homes, commercial properties, townhomes, condos, new construction, and land, based on our clients’ needs.

We're Here to Help:

• Prioritize your needs and wants
• Find and analyze homes that fit you
• Negotiate the best terms for you
• Walk you through the entire process from touring homes to closing on ‘the one.’

Throughout the process, we are always just a call, text, or email away.

• Select a real estate agent
• Obtain lender pre-approval
• Find a home
• Negotiate and get mutual acceptance
• Open escrow, deposit earnest money
• Inspect the home
• Review title, HOA docs (if applicable)
• Complete loan application
• Obtain lender appraisal, underwriting, and final approval
• Review loan docs and sign
• Conduct final walk-through
• Loan funds and the new deed is recorded with the county

• Type: Single family/Townhouse/Condo

• Location: Where you want to be, and for how long?

• Commute:
-How far are you willing to commute?
-Is your work location likely to change in the near future?

• Desired features:
-Interior and exterior square footage
-Number of beds, baths
-Layout: two-story/rambler/split entry...
-Year built
-Garage attached/detached/carport/street parking
-School district
-Price range

• Desired move time

• Do you have a home to sell first?

The pre-approval process, which entails full documentation and a credit check, is the best way to determine the home buying budget that is right for you. Early in your search, you can identify any potential hurdles and focus only on homes that fit your desired price range.

This is an unofficial estimate of how much house you can afford. A loan officer will make an educated guess about your ability to buy a home based on your verbal or written submissions of income, finances, and credit history. This process does not give you any real credibility with lenders or sellers.

In order to obtain pre-approval for a loan you must provide your preferred lender with documentation including pay stubs, W-2’s, bank statements, asset verification and business licenses among others. Your lender will analyze your income, assets and expenses then produce a pre-approval letter that certifies you have the resources to buy a home up to a particular price point. You also have the option of being “pre-underwritten” before pinpointing the specific property you are going to purchase. Sellers will want to see you are at least pre-approved, and will look even more favorably upon being pre-underwritten.

This is how we arrive at the recommended purchase price for your home. It is both an art and a science.

The Science

We find and analyze the comparable neighborhood homes by number of bedrooms, baths, square footage, lot size, and an untold number of additional features. Using information about how much those homes listed for and sold for, we will determine your home’s fair market value.

The Art

Decisions must be made about how to adjust the value of the subject property as compared to other homes. As an example, if an active listing
has been on the market for over 30 days, it’s safe to assume it’s overpriced and that people won’t pay that much for your home unless it’s in better condition or has more premium features. On the other hand, if the subject home is the only one on the block with a view, its value goes up as compared to the others.

We Will Advise You On:

• Market climate, timing, pricing and strategy
• Potential for multiple offers and strategies to successfully compete against other buyers
• When applicable an action plan to strengthen your offer including pre-inspection, altered contingencies, earnest money, closing timeline, seller rent back, and more

Once an Offer Has Been Accepted by Both Parties, We Will:

• Keep you updated on all timelines and milestones
• Keep track of all contingency due dates and expirations
• Assist with the earnest money deposit
• Stay in close communication with your lender to ensure a smooth closing
• Advise and represent you in all further negotiations
• Facilitate all appointments
• Ensure that contractual deadlines are met and your overall experience is as smooth and enjoyable as possible

Buying a home is one of the single largest investments you will make in your lifetime. To minimize unpleasant surprises and unexpected expenses, you need an objective, detailed examination of the physical structure and systems of the house, from the roof to the foundation.

A Home Inspection Generally Covers:

• Exterior features: walls, roof, decks, chimney, drainage conditions, etc.
• Interior items: windows, plumbing, electrical panel, appliances, heating/cooling systems and big ticket areas like the crawlspace, foundation and attic
• Structural pest inspection

Additional Items to Consider:

• Sewer scope or septic inspection if applicable
• Lead-based paint for homes built before 1978

An appraisal is a comprehensive look at a home’s location, condition and eligibility for federal guarantees. For example, a home that doesn’t meet safety requirements, such as handrails on steps, will not be eligible for FHA or VA loans until the handrail is installed or repaired. Appraisers are members of the MLS, like real estate agents, but they must abide by additional guidelines that minimize risk to the buyer’s lender.

When the appraisal is finished, the lender will determine the home’s value. They may also require the seller to fix certain items before proceeding toward closing. If the property doesn’t meet the lender’s parameters, the lender can decline the loan. Although stricter lending practices have been implemented over the last decade this has resulted in improved appraisal standards. Most buyers’ loan applications result in a successful closing.

Closing is when the seller signs over ownership and gives the new homeowner the keys to their new home! Typically, closing takes four to six weeks from when your offer is accepted. During this time, purchase funds are held in escrow, where the money is held safe until the transaction is complete.

We will do a final walkthrough of the home together within 24 hours of closing to check the property’s condition. This final inspection takes about an hour. We will make sure any repair work that was agreed to be done has been completed.

Who will be there:
 • Real estate agents
 • The seller
 • Title attorney & notary
 • Loan officer

• Government-issued photo ID
• Checkbook (just in case!)

The title company will issue your preliminary settlement statement prior to the closing so you know how much to wire or bring to closing in the form of a certified check.

As a top producing team in the Greater Portland market, we are tapped in to every facet of this market area and are experts at locating and negotiating the best price on your dream home.

When things arise during home inspections and beyond, we will be your guide and handle negotiating repair requests, appraisal issues, title issues, and any one of the countless other bumps that occasionally pop up during the selling process.

Buying a home involves many types of documentation. We have the experience and knowledge to navigate even the most complicated real estate contracts. Ensuring that nothing is overlooked, and that you truly understand what a paper means before ever signing on the dotted line.

A buyer's agent will represent your best interests. With a pulse on the local market and a sound understanding of how various amenities affect the value of a home, we will make sure we find your dream home at the best price.

Working daily in neighborhoods with inspectors, contractors, and negotiating with sellers, we have the market knowledge you need to get the best results from your purchase. Understanding the local real estate market will go a long way when it comes time to buy.

We will work hard to protect all of your interests and take on any issues that may arise throughout the entire process. Buying your home should be a fun and stress-free process.