RE-IMAGINE HOME BUYING

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Five Step Home Buying Process

No matter where you are looking to call home, having a qualified real estate agent by your side as your advocate and local expert will help streamline your efforts and bring ease to what may be one of the biggest purchases of your life.  
 
If you are just starting out on your search, or you have been at it for awhile and still have questions, scroll down to learn more about our 5-step approach for buying a home in our local market.  For a more thorough explanation, click on the button below to view and download our free, quick reference guide to home buying.  
View the Quick Reference Guide
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Step 1: CONNECT & DISCUSS OPTIONS

In our initial conversation (in person or virtually), this is the time where we’ll get to know each other and decide if we’d like to work together. You’ll learn more about how I work and I’ll understand more about your life, your specific circumstances, the timing for when you want to be in your new home, and your expectations about your home purchase.

From this discussion we’ll create your ultimate wish list that includes the criteria of what you’d like in a home, what you dislike, plus some of your must-haves.

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Step 2: GET PRE-APPROVED

If you plan to purchase your new home with a loan, the next step is for you to get pre-approved by a trusted, local lender so you know your home buying budget.  The lender will have you fill out a loan application and will request you provide documents that support your financial strength in borrowing for a loan.  Once the lender completes their due diligence they will issue you a pre-approval letter, which is a key component in putting in an offer on a home. 

The last thing you want to do is fall in love with a home or neighborhood outside your price range, or more commonly, find your dream home only to find out there are several other buyers competing for the same home and you've not yet completed the lender pre-approval process!

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Step 3: FIND YOUR NEW HOME

Once you have been pre-approved, we're ready to get started finding you a home! I’ll be sending you listings that meet your wishlist criteria and I’ll also be setting you up on our MLS listing alert system where new listings will be sent straight to your inbox automatically. This will be an integral part of your home search process as it will allow us to collaborate on properties you’d like to see more of or less of. After browsing homes online, we’ll visit those that you like in person to see if it’s a match.

Some buyers find their perfect home on our first property tour, and some take a little more time to narrow down their ideal neighborhood and overall characteristics of what an ideal home has or doesn’t have! Whether it takes 1 week or 1 year to find your ideal home, I’ll be with you every step of the way so you feel confident in your home purchase.

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Step 4: WRITE AN OFFER

When you find the home that checks all your wishlist boxes, the next step will be to do our due diligence and learn as much as we can about this home and the market prior to writing an offer. This is often a time-critical step, especially if there are other potential buyers. You can rest assured that I will go above and beyond for you, and provide you as much information as is available so you can make an informed decision about your offer.

Once we’ve submitted your offer I’ll work tirelessly to negotiate, on your behalf, the best terms and sales price until you have an accepted offer.

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Step 5: ESCROW & CLOSING CELEBRATION

Once all the negotiations and contract documents are signed, I’ll be coordinating any inspections and access into the home. You'll also be responsible for depositing (typically) 3% of the home's purchase price (your earnest money deposit) into “escrow” at the Title Company.
 
Your lender will be finalizing your loan and completing their due diligence on you and the home, including an appraisal to validate the market price. Once all contingencies and conditions have been removed, you and the sellers will sign the final escrow documents and the County will record you as the new owners of this property.
 

Congratulations!

The home is now officially yours and you’ll receive the keys to your new castle.

TAKE THE FIRST STEP TODAY

Ready to get started? Our team will take the stress out of buying your home.
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RECENTLY SOLD PROPERTIES

Represented Seller

19790 Junipero Way
$3,900,000

19790 Junipero WAY, SARATOGA, CA 95070

  • 5 BEDS
  • 2 BATHS
  • 2,572 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

200 Loma Alta Ave
$2,700,000

200 Loma Alta Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030

  • 4 BEDS
  • 3 BATHS
  • 2,122 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

4485 Sally Dr
$2,550,000

4485 Sally Dr, San Jose, CA 95124

  • 4 BEDS
  • 3 BATHS
  • 1,985 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

4073 El Coral CT
$2,515,000

4073 El Coral CT, SAN JOSE, CA 95118

  • 4 BEDS
  • 2.5 BATHS
  • 2,003 Sq.Ft.

Represented Seller

18545 Vina Drive
$2,400,000

18545 Vina DR, LOS GATOS, CA 95033

  • 3 BEDS
  • 2 BATHS
  • 2,301 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

3237 Vera Cruz Dr
$2,030,000

3237 Veracruz Drive, San Ramon, CA 94583

  • 3 BEDS
  • 2 BATHS
  • 2,112 Sq.Ft.

Represented Seller

56 Euclid Ave, Los Gatos
$1,855,000

56 Euclid Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95030

  • 3 BEDS
  • 2.5 BATHS
  • 2,524 Sq.Ft.

Represented Seller

119 El Porton
$1,805,000

119 El Porton, Los Gatos, CA 95032

  • 3 BEDS
  • 2.5 BATHS
  • 1,983 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

329 Moneta Way
$1,750,000

329 Moneta Way, Campbell, CA 95008

  • 4 BEDS
  • 2.5 BATHS
  • 2,149 Sq.Ft.

Represented Seller

15400 Winchester Boulevard Unit: 11
$1,690,000

15400 Winchester BLVD 11, LOS GATOS, CA 95030

  • 3 BEDS
  • 2.5 BATHS
  • 1,800 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

6418 Camden Ave
$1,570,000

6418 Camden Ave, San Jose, CA 95120

  • 7 BEDS
  • 2 BATHS
  • 2,258 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

340 Pine Wood Ln
$1,370,000

340 Pine Wood Ln, Los Gatos, CA 95032

  • 4 BEDS
  • 2.5 BATHS
  • 1,891 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

3580 Jarvis Ave
$1,370,000

3580 Jarvis Ave, San Jose, CA 95118

  • 3 BEDS
  • 2 BATHS
  • 1,497 Sq.Ft.

Represented Seller

3224 Kilo Ave
$1,330,000

3224 Kilo Ave, San Jose, CA 95124

  • 4 BEDS
  • 3 BATHS
  • 1,860 Sq.Ft.

Represented Seller

14601 Big Basin Way
$1,305,000

14601 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070

  • 2 BEDS
  • 2.5 BATHS
  • 1,482 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

863 Celebration Dr
$1,295,000

863 Celebration Dr, Milpitas, CA 95035

  • 1,369 Sq.Ft.

Represented Seller

125 South 16th St, San Jose
$1,255,000

125 S 16th ST, SAN JOSE, CA 95112

  • 5 BEDS
  • 2 BATHS
  • 1,604 Sq.Ft.

Represented Seller

1132 Apache Court
$1,230,000

1132 Apache CT, GILROY, CA 95020

  • 4 BEDS
  • 3 BATHS
  • 2,658 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

3825 Electra Wy
$1,134,000

3825 Electra Way, San Jose, CA 95118

  • 4 BEDS
  • 2 BATHS
  • 1,455 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

556 Clover CIR
$1,080,000

556 Clover Circle, MILPITAS, CA 95035

  • 2 BEDS
  • 2 BATHS
  • 1,449 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

2209 Renfrew Ct
$1,020,000

2209 Renfrew Ct, San Jose, CA 95131

  • 3 BEDS
  • 2 BATHS
  • 1,326 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

7154 Calero Hill Ct
$1,010,000

7154 Calero Hill Court, San Jose, CA 95139

  • 3 BEDS
  • 3 BATHS
  • 1,674 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

16345 Los Gatos Blvd 4
$1,001,000

16345 Los Gatos Blvd 4, Los Gatos, CA 95032

  • 2 BEDS
  • 1.5 BATHS
  • 1,017 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

161 Doris Dr
$875,100

161 Doris Drive, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

  • 3 BEDS
  • 1 BATH
  • 1,042 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

78 Essendon Wy
$875,000

78 Essendon Way, San Jose, CA 95139

  • 3 BEDS
  • 2 BATHS
  • 1,286 Sq.Ft.

Represented Seller

20790 4th St 3
$830,000

20790 4th St 3, Saratoga, CA 95070

  • 2 BEDS
  • 1 BATH
  • 876 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

2639 Yerba Vista Ct
$792,000

2639 Yerba Vista Ct, San Jose, CA 95121

  • 2 BEDS
  • 2 BATHS
  • 1,050 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

808 Laurel Ave 110
$755,000

808 Laurel Ave 110, San Mateo, CA 94401

  • 2 BEDS
  • 1 BATH
  • 1,032 Sq.Ft.

Represented Seller

1101 S Main St 407
$720,000

1101 S Main St 407, Milpitas, CA 95035

  • 2 BEDS
  • 2 BATHS
  • 1,015 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

465 Ribbonwood Ave
$660,000

465 Ribbonwood Ave, San Jose, CA 95123

  • 2 BEDS
  • 2 BATHS
  • 981 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

3186 Kimber Ct 91
$625,000

3186 Kimber Ct 91, San Jose, CA 95124

  • 2 BEDS
  • 1 BATH
  • 886 Sq.Ft.

Represented Seller

754 Teatree Ct
$562,500

754 Teatree Ct, San Jose, CA 95128

  • 2 BEDS
  • 2 BATHS
  • 922 Sq.Ft.

Represented Buyer

5695 Makati Cir G
$550,000

5695 Makati Cir G, San Jose, CA 95123

  • 2 BEDS
  • 1 BATH
  • 924 Sq.Ft.

Represented Seller

2613 La Terrace Cir
$429,000

2613 La Terrace Circle, San Jose, CA 95123

  • 1 BED
  • 1 BATH
  • 543 Sq.Ft.
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Work With Janet

Fundamental to how Janet Souza views her role as her client’s real estate advisor, she seamlessly blends her former professional worlds that span consulting, engineering, marketing, strategy, and executive sales negotiations as her frame of reference, bringing a premier standard of performance and uncompromised integrity to her clients.

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Contact Details

JANET SOUZA | CA DRE# 02079264

(408) 805-3349

[email protected]



214 Saratoga-Los Gatos Rd.
Los Gatos, CA 95030