Complete Guide for Bend Home Buyers

Step 1: Research

Do you already know where you want to buy? If you want a condo, townhome, or single-family home? Which features do you like and dislike? What’s available on the market now? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to start researching. In addition to looking for homes that interest you, also take note of any changes in asking prices. This could give you valuable insight into housing trends in specific neighborhoods and help you when the time comes to make an offer.

Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

Notice I said to decide on your budget—not determine how much the mortgage company will give you. In many cases, a mortgage company will pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why you need to determine the monthly payment you feel comfortable with before talking to a lender. This likely includes doing a full household budget and taking into consideration what changes other than a mortgage payment will occur once you move into your new home. If you’ve lived in an apartment or with roommates, you may overlook new expenses like garbage, water, or HOA fees that could easily blow your budget.

Step 3: Get Prequalified

Just because you think you can afford a certain payment every month doesn’t mean the mortgage company will agree. Just as they may approve you for too large of an amount, they may also approve you for a lesser amount or deny you a mortgage altogether. Lack of time at a job, insufficient credit, past bankruptcies, or other financial issues can cause major problems when trying to secure a mortgage. Before you get your heart set on a home, talk to a mortgage professional to find out what amount you can qualify for. This will also be an advantage when you make an offer on a home, as some sellers won’t entertain offers from those who aren’t already prequalified for a loan.

Step 4: Choose a Real Estate Agent

Can you shop for, look at, and ultimately make an offer on a home without a real estate agent? Technically yes, but why would you when it costs you nothing for an agent like me to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will I help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but I also have a knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where my expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let me show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.

Step 5: Find the Right Home

This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). I will arrange showings of homes you’re interested in that are within your price range. Take notes about what you like and don’t like, and make sure to pay attention to details. Turn light switches on and off, open and close doors, and run the faucets in various rooms. Don’t limit your inspection to the home itself. Make sure to take time to explore the neighborhood and keep an eye on traffic at certain times of the day, the parking situation, and how close it is to necessities like schools and grocery stores.

Step 6: Make an Offer

Once you have selected the perfect home, work with your agent to craft a fair offer based on the value of comparable homes on the market. Depending on what the home is listed at and whether the current environment is a buyer’s or seller’s market, your offer may be below, at, or even above the asking price. I will be able to help you negotiate if you receive a counteroffer and reach an agreement. At this point, the house will go into escrow.

Step 7: Have the Home Inspected

In most cases, your offer will be contingent on having the home inspected to ensure there is no major structural damage or large repairs needed. I can help you arrange this, and you can schedule it within days of making an offer. If there are no major issues, the process goes to step eight. If there is, you can renegotiate your offer based on what needs to be fixed, or you can withdraw it.

Step 8: Select Your Loan

Now is the time to go back to the mortgage lender who pre-approved or pre-qualified you and choose your mortgage. You will be presented with various options based on your unique financial situation, including fixed-rate, variable-rate, 15-year, 30-year, or special programs such as VA loans or FHA loans. Work with your mortgage lender to select the option you feel
the most comfortable with.

Step 9: Get a Home Appraisal

Your lender will have your new home appraised so they have their independent value of it. The appraisal is to ensure that all parties involved are paying a fair price for the house.

Step 10: Finish Paperwork

No one looks forward to all the paperwork involved in buying a home, but it’s a necessary part of the process. Fortunately, everything will be arranged by your lender and title company and, when you’re finished, you’ll know you are the legal owner of your new home.

Proof of Success

Sue

Kenzie's attention to detail, competitive strategy, communication and expertise were evident at every stage that I worked with her (which was especially important being from out-of-town). When Kenzie called me about a property,...

Lauren

Kenzie was AMAZING! She was very helpful in narrowing down what i was looking for. She listened to my concerns and appropriately gave constructive feedback while also validating my feelings/concerns. Her knowledge of the area w...

Jessica & Pete

We hired Kenzie, through a referral, to sell our home in OR. We had bought and sold houses without representation before and contemplated an FSBO sale again. I'm so glad (understatement) we decided against that and made the cal...

Marlo N.

We were considering selling our home by ourselves, but then we met Kenzie. We had asked her to come to look at our property to give us a home value estimate and by the end of her visit, we were surprised that we were changing o...

Eric & Rachael

Kenzie was an absolute dream to work with. She was extremely responsive anytime we found a place we were interested in, she would get us in to look at it in less than 48 hours sometimes even the same day! Had it not been for he...

Brianna L.

Kenzie was simply amazing, she was patient with us and helped guide us through purchasing our first home. She took the time to answer all of our questions, which there were plenty of, she ensured that we knew all of our options...

Wren D.

Kenzie found me my dream home! She not only found the home but- even in the midst of the 2021 real estate craze- negotiated an amazing price and terms for me. Kenzie made what should have been a stressful process into a fun adv...

Michelle B.

Kenzie is an absolute joy to work with. She is energetic, enthusiastic, positive, professional, and extremely responsive. Being from the Columbia Gorge originally, she knows the area and the market inside and out. Because of th...

Teri

Kenzie is an amazing REALTOR that goes above and beyond every step of the way. To get my home ready to market she took care of getting the house and windows cleaned, staging, and the photography along with minor repairs and pai...

Ben K.

Kenzie is the best REALTOR you could ask for. She is very motivated, hardworking, and quick to respond to any inquiries or issues. She knows the area and the market extremely well and has many contacts that can be of assistance...

Bryan M.

I must start with Kenzie being a rock star at her craft. My girlfriend and I found her via Instagram and we were quickly able to establish a great connection with her. We gave her what our needs were in a home and showed us ove...

Molly A.

Kenzie was absolutely fantastic, very professional, extremely knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and very quick in following up and closing even the smallest of details or questions. She helped me get this house with a very creati...

Becky B.

Kenzie is very aware of the Gorge area and helped guide us through our vacant land purchase. She was able to connect us with people in the planning office to get us to answer our questions. She helped us think through our appro...

Julie G.

Dealing with Kenzie was the best! My husband and I have been involved in dozens of real estate transactions and Kenzie was one of the most professional, courteous, responsive, and knowledgeable REALTORS with whom we've done bus...

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Kenzie is a true professional. She went above and beyond to find us our perfect spot and then get it across the line. No small feat. We couldn't be happier. All emails, texts, and calls were responded to promptly. She clearly h...

Anna T.

Kenzie is a knowledgeable, professional, bundle of joy. Her personality and smile will illuminate any room and she will surely make you feel comfortable and confident in your home-buying decisions. Not to mention she is incredi...

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Kenzie is known to be obsessed with this industry. She possesses both the emotional intelligence and the professional poise that is critical to be successful in this field. Her constant communication sets her apart as well as her drive to continually go above and beyond.

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Buying with Kenzie

A Step-by-Step First Time Buyer's Guide