Speak to your accountant and/or mortgage brokerahead of time to fully understand the ideal price range in which to focus your home search. Our team has trusted mortgage brokers to recommend if necessary.
Conventional mortgages are 80% inanced, 20% down payment. Other inancing options are available.
In New York State, buyers and sellers must have attorney representation. Once you have an accepted offer on a property, you will need to engage an attorney. See our vendor list for recommendations.
Our team of experts are happy to give you a tour of the area so you can understand the geographics and lifestyles of each town. Tours are usually 1-1.5 hours and include schools, main streets, playgrounds, residential neighborhoods and 1-2 homes that are in your price range.
We will send you properties through our database with descriptions, loor plans and photos. Your feedback is extremely valuable to help us learn more about what houses could be a it for you. We will set up a time to view homes at your convenience. If there is a home that you are interested in that we think will move very quickly, we will lag it for you so you can get in to see it ASAP.
Contact us if you see
something of interest on
Zillow. Keep in mind
information on Zillow is
not always accurate –
we can help point out
discrepancies.
If you go to Open
Houses, write our names
so the agent knows you
are represented - going
unrepresented
does NOT get you
a better deal.
98.6% of listings are
available on MLS
Some people are attracted
to FSBOs as they think they
will get a better deal.
FSBOs can hold risks not
found in transactions on
the MLS. Often owners will
not know or be advised
on what needs to be
disclosed, and buyers
won’t know their rights,
what to look out for during
the inspection, etc.
If you do see a FSBO
you are interested in, we
encourage you to send
it to us so we can guide
you on best next steps.
Get ready to move
quickly - limited inventory
means things that are
priced well tend to move
quickly. Having your
proof of funds or pre-
approval ready is crucial.
When you are ready to
submit an offer, we will
send you comparable
sales to help determine an
offer price. We are here
to guide you – ultimately
the decision on how much
to offer is yours to make.
Below are contingencies
that are often – but
not always – included.
We will explain each
contingency to help you
determine what you do or
do not want to include.
•Inspection
•Radon
•Additional inspections
(Septic, Pool)
•Financing
As your agent, we will
check records to get as
much information on the
property as possible,
including tax roll, property
cards, open permits, etc.
Note that an accepted
offer is a handshake
agreement - you are
not legally bound in
any way nor is the
homeowner. Most houses
will continue to show until
the home is in contract.
Once you have an
accepted offer, buyer/
seller agents will prepare
a deal memo to be sent
to the attorneys. This is
not a legal document, but
serves as a guideline as
the contracts are drafted.
Schedule your inspection
- ideally within 72 hours,
remember the house is on
the market until you are in
contract. Inspections take
approximately 2-5 hours.
We will send you a list
of thorough and honest
inspectors that we
recommend you use.
Typical costs range from
$800-$1500 depending
on the size of the house
New York is a “Buyer
beware state” – the
inspection is used to gather
as much information about
the house as possible
before going into contract.
Inspectors will look out
for everything from
smaller cosmetic issues to
major structural, health
and safety issues.
We encourage you to be
present - Inspection is a
perfect opportunity to
spend valuable time in the
house. Additionally, it can
serve as a guide for you in
the future as the inspector
will point out key things
such as water shut-off,
HVAC components, etc.
Once the inspection is
done, contracts will be
finalized and sent to your
attorney for review.
Other items handled by
your attorney include
Title Report and Survey
requests as well as review
of Meeting Minutes
and HOA Financials
where applicable.
If financing is put as a
contingency on non-
financed offers, an
appraisal will take place.
If there is a waitlist for
the town, now is a good
time to get on the list for
train parking permit.
If registering your child in
school you can call the
administration office to
get necessary paperwork.
This is also a good time
to start lining up any
work for when you close.
This includes scheduling
cleaners, painters, and
any other contractors
you might need.
The closing day is a Date/
Time agreed upon by the
attorneys and their clients
(you). Agents do not need
to be present, but we try to
have a representative from
our team go when we can.
Note that in New York
State either party
can extend 30 days
without penalty.
Your attorney will provide a
list of checks and amounts
needed for closing. Typical
closing costs include
(where applicable):
•New York State
Mortgage Tax: 1.05%-$30
•Mansion Tax: 1% of
purchase price if over 1M
•Attorney Fees:
$1000-$2500
•Homeowners Insurance
•Title Insurance
•Real Estate Taxes
That day you will need to
call the utility companies to
set up electric, water, etc.
Prior to closing, your agent
will accompany you to do
a final walkthrough of the
house. This is to verify that
the home is in the same
or better condition as
when you inspected and
any repairs outlined in the
contract are complete.
Closings typically take 1-2
hours. The keys are handed
over at closing. Once the
closing is complete, the
deed has transferred and
you now own the property.
Welcome to your new
home! Our team prides
ourselves on being a
resource to clients long
after the closing takes
place. We are here to serve
as a resource for vendor
recs, local information, and
any other questions that
come up along the way.
Our business is largely
based on referrals.
We hope you will keep
us in mind should
any family, friends or
colleagues be looking
to move to Westchester
or Connecticut.
Address
27 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
Sheila Stoltz
