Top Alexandria VA Buyer Agent |
Tamara Inzunza Realtor CRS

Buying a home can definitely be SCARY.  There's so much information to digest, whether it's online,  on TV, or from a well-meaning relative.  As your Alexandria VA buyer agent, my mission is to provide you with a minimum of five ways to help you navigate the home buying process.

1. Help you with the paperwork that is required for the transaction.  Although you can view current homes for sale on your phone or tablet, a real estate purchase is a legal transaction so you can't just 'Add to Cart' and checkout like you would a purchase on a retail website.  There are federal required forms, state required disclosures, in addition to regional contracts.  During our initial meeting, I'll provide you with a 3-ring binder that includes copies of the real estate sales contract and forms that will be part of your transaction.  That way, when you're ready to make an offer on a property, you won't be caught off guard with the contract documents and the language included.
2. Connect you with experienced local lenders who can offer you the best financing options.  Not all buyers are alike, and not all loans are alike.  Whether you're a first-time buyer who is looking for down payment programs and grants, a military veteran looking for a luxury home with a VA loan, or an investor looking to buy and hold a property for a fixed amount of time, there's a lender and a loan that's right for you.  I work with experienced lenders who are responsive, and who are in the top of their fields.  If you're buying a home in a sellers market, often times the lender you use can mean the difference in a seller accepting your offer over another.
3. Explain current market conditions to you. The Northern Virginia metro area is small in comparison to other parts of the country, but it's does cover a lot of ground.  What's happening in Del Ray, may be different than what's happening in the suburbs of Kingstowne.  What's happening with single-family homes may be different than what's happening with condos.  In your Buyer Binder, you'll also receive statistics on the local market including the specific zip codes that you're interested in.  This will detail the average and median sales prices, the average days on market for homes, the average list price-to sold price ratios, and absorption rates.
4. Negotiate your contract offer terms. Believe it or not, it's not always about price.  An an experienced agent, I'll make time to find out what's important to the seller and help you use that to prepare your offer.  Odds are, you'll be competing with other buyers, so in order to come in strong, you offer must have competitive terms and be supported by an approval letter from a reputable lender (unless you're paying all cash).  If you're a first-time buyer and you need help with closing costs, I'll make sure you have the loan options that can help cover your closing costs so that you have an alternative to asking the seller to pay your costs.  Negotiating also goes beyond the initial offer, there's also the home inspection period and possible repair items or credits, the appraisal period and a possible renegotiation of the purchase price, and your final walk-through and closing.
5. Responsiveness.  Buying a home is exciting and stressful.  It's a time in your life where you are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars, and you want to make sure that your buyer agent is prompt and responsive to your questions and concerns.  Throughout your process, I will be responsive via phone, email, and text.  And for out of town clients, I also Skype and FaceTime.

The process of buying a home doesn't have to be an uphill battle, but with the right buyer agent, it can be a fun, exciting, and enjoyable experience.  I've been actively selling real estate since 1997, and have helped hundreds of families.  Please give me call at 703-623-8759 to talk about your next home purchase.

 Tamara Inzunza, Associate Broker
Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR)
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)