Buying a Home in the Tri-Cities
Ready before you tour, the real costs up front, and a hard negotiation after the inspection and appraisal.
Buying a home in the Tri-Cities, one step at a time
Buying a home in the Tri-Cities is one of the biggest decisions you'll make. My job is to make sure you understand every step before you take it. Some of my clients have bought before, some have never done it, and some are moving here from out of town. Every one of them gets the same thing: each step explained, and me pushing hard for them at the inspection and appraisal.
I'm Brandon Muzatko, a REALTOR® and Washington Managing Broker with TKO Realty Group at Real Broker, LLC. Before real estate, I spent 14 years in law enforcement, including as a detective. I check everything, and I'll tell you what I see in a home even when it isn't what you want to hear.
The five steps
- Finances. Get pre-qualified with a lender before we tour. I'll give you a few names of lenders who dig for programs instead of just saying no. They're options, never a requirement, and I don't receive anything for a referral.
- Home search. Build your needs and wants list. You can't change the lot, the location or the price you paid. Everything else can change later.
- Offer. We price it on comparable sales, write it strong and negotiate the terms.
- Under contract. Earnest money, inspection, appraisal and your loan, each on a deadline I track for you.
- Closing. Clear to close, the final walk-through, signing with your escrow closer, and your keys.
Every detail is on how I help you buy.
Knowing how hard to push
The same offer can win or lose depending on the market. The number I watch most is months of supply. Under about 3 months, homes go fast and your first offer often needs to be your best. About 6 months or more, you have room to ask for repairs, credits or a better price. It changes by price range, so I check the numbers for yours, not the headlines.
I also run the Real Number Check on every home you like. Days on market online can reset when a home is pulled and relisted, so I pull the total from the MLS. A home that has really been sitting for 60 days gives you more room to negotiate than one that just listed.
Where I fight hardest for you
The inspection. It usually happens in the first ten days, and I'll be there. Lately my clients pay about $500 for a home inspection, and I recommend a sewer scope, which many agents skip. Small stuff, we usually let go. Big stuff, like a roof, wiring or foundation, we ask the seller to fix, lower the price or give a credit.
The appraisal. If it comes in low, we go back to the table. I trained in appraisal, so I bring my own comps to the conversation. One low appraisal I negotiated saved my buyer $12,000.
The money. Seller credits can cover part of your closing costs. I've had first-time buyers come away with about $29,200 in negotiated concessions. And I will never email you a change to wiring instructions. Call the title company at a number you looked up yourself before you send any money.
Buying across the Tri-Cities
I help buyers across the Tri-Cities, including buying a home in Kennewick, buying a home in Richland, buying a home in Pasco and buying a home in West Richland. Buying for the first time? Read first-time home buyers, or watch The Tactical Buyer Course, free short videos on each step.
Ready to start buying a home in the Tri-Cities? Contact me and we'll set up your first conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to sign anything before we tour homes?
Yes. Before I can tour you through homes, we sign a Buyer Representation Agreement. It makes it official that I work only for you, and it spells out how I'm paid, in writing, before we start.
How much earnest money do I need?
Traditionally it's around 1% of the price, but it's negotiable and set as part of your offer. Plenty of my buyers put down less than 1%.
Should I waive the inspection to win a home?
I will never recommend waiving an inspection contingency. If you're considering it, I'll walk you through exactly what risk it carries first.
Buying a Home by neighborhood
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Ready to make your move with TKO Realty Group?