About SMA Executives

Getting pre-approved with a lender. By getting pre-approved, it helps you understand what purchase price you can afford which in turn helps you shop for the perfect home. Pre-approvals can also help strengthen your offer & ensure a smooth escrow process. 

Once you've gotten an accepted offer from a seller, the buying process takes approximately 30-45 days with financing. Cash purchases can close sooner in approximately 7-12 days. 

Most homes sell in approximately 30-90 days depending on the condition, price, & local demand. We'll give you a realistic estimate after reviewing your property. 

Decluttering, cleaning, minor repairs, & curb appeal matter the most. We can provide a customized pre-listing checklist and contractor referrals. 

In most transactions, the agent’s compensation is covered at closing and deducted from the sale proceeds. This means sellers don’t pay anything up front, and buyers generally aren’t responsible for paying out of pocket to work with a real estate agent.

Closing costs are the fees and expenses required to finalize a real estate transaction. They can include lender charges, title and escrow fees, prepaid taxes/HOA dues, and insurance. Sellers pay approximately 5-8% and Buyers pay approximately 2-4%. 

Options range from 0% to 5% of the home purchase price depending on the loan program you're using. VA/USDA requires 0% down, Conventional requires anywhere between 3-5% down, & FHA requires 3.5% down. Larger down payments reduce your monthly payments but is not required.  

Yes. Depending on the terms of your contract, you may request repairs, credits, or concessions—and in some situations, you may have the option to cancel escrow. 

Earnest money is a small deposit (1-3% of home purchase price) a buyer makes to show they’re serious about purchasing a home. It’s held in escrow and later applied to the buyer’s closing costs or down payment. 

The value of your home is calculated using a combination of factors including its location, age, size, condition, any improvements or renovations made, and recent sale prices of comparable homes in the neighborhood. It also factors in current market trends and local market conditions. The valuation tool is dynamic and can be influenced by data such as inventory trends, interest rates, and current buyer sentiment. 

A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)  a tool used by real estate agents to value a home. It evaluates similar homes that have recently sold in the same area. Agents find comparable sales and use them to conduct a sales comparison. In most cases, an agent will find three homes that have recently sold and are as similar to and located as close to the home being valued as possible. Each one is then analyzed to pinpoint differences between between it and the home being valued. Once these differences are priced out, the price of each comp is adjusted to see what it would cost if it was identical to the home being valued were it to be sold in the current market. 

 An appraisal is an unbiased valuation of a home based on a professional’s opinion. They are usually what mortgage companies use for home purchases and refinances. A lender usually orders a home appraisal and the cost of the appraisal, sometimes up to $500, is paid by the homeowner. An appraiser does a complete visual inspection of the interior and exterior of the home as well as taking into consideration recent sales of similar properties and market trends. The appraiser then compiles a detailed report on the home, including an exterior building sketch, a street map showing the home and any comparable sales, photos of the home and street, an explanation of how the square footage was calculated, and any other relevant information.