Buy With Us

A Step-by-Step Buyer's Guide

Purchasing a home is one of the most important decisions you’ll make, and the right advice and guidance is of utmost importance. Experience and expertise matter, and they can make a difference in making sure that you not only find the right house, but that you also pay the best price. Currently, real estate is extremely dynamic, which can seem complex and confusing at times. Consider partnering with us to ensure you have access to a thorough understanding of the market, and access to many off market opportunities and awareness of properties about to be listed. We hope to partner with you from the beginning of the search process to beyond the closing table. We are here for you!

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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.

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Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

Notice we 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.

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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.

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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 agents like us to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will we help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but we also have knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where our expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let us show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.

Our goal is to provide you with the most personalized service that is designed to help you buy your dream home

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Step 5: Find the Right Home

This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). We 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.

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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. We 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.

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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. We 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Congratulations!

After signing the final paperwork to complete the purchase, you are now the owner of a new house. It may take a few days for your loan to be funded once the paperwork has been returned to the lender, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams. 

Our Testimonials

Hannah H.

Hannah H.

I don’t even know where to begin! Words can’t even begin to express the amount of gratitude my husband and I have for Rachel and Molly. They truly are the most incredible, kind, intelligent, efficient, and all-around just amazi...
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Holland L.

Holland L.

During my early childhood, I was lucky enough to call Park City home and Molly a good friend. My husband and I dreamed of moving back to Park City to raise our young children so they could enjoy the idyllic small-town mountain ...
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Meghan T.

Meghan T.

Without hesitation, Molly and Rachel are the go-to real estate professionals in Park City. I’ve worked with them on several transactions now and couldn’t be more impressed with their expertise and extensive experience in this s...
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Gary F.

Gary F.

Rachel and Molly, Selling the Slopes Creators, are industry changers when it comes to social media strategies. I love tuning in to their market videos to stay up-to-date on real estate action. Also, their new Show Stopper Serie...
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Jordan G.

Jordan G.

We had a wonderful experience with Molly, Rachel, and Kristin. They went above and beyond for us during the purchase of our new home. They took care of every detail and got creative to ensure our transaction went smoothly. We w...
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Stacy B.

Stacy B.

Rachel and Molly were invaluable to me in the sale of my home. In a dynamic, changing market, they helped me navigate the process with ease. Their team executed the sale flawlessly, handled all of the details, and ensured we go...
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Julie S.

Julie S.

Anytime I get to be on the other side of a transaction with Rachel and Molly I am thrilled. This is because I know the transaction will go smoothly as Rachel and Molly are seasoned agents with a lot of knowledge. They communica...
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Chloe J.

Chloe J.

Rachel and Molly are awesome! Their knowledge of the market, pricing strategies, and responsiveness to anything that comes up is outstanding. They utilize all the newest digital and social media tools to market their listings a...
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Kim D.

Kim D.

Professional, intelligent, and responsive. I've worked with Rachel over the years in several real estate transactions. She is top-notch.
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Dougan J.

Dougan J.

Molly is a talented, insightful Manager. Full of life, wisdom, and a powerful work ethic. Smart.
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Work With Us

Join Rachel Retzer and Molly Crosswhite of Selling the Slopes, where their unparalleled expertise in Park City real estate will help you expand your investment portfolio or discover the extraordinary outdoor lifestyle, from world-class skiing to backcountry adventures.

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