The document provides information to guide home buyers through the process of finding and purchasing a new home. It discusses making buyers well-equipped with up-to-date information for their big decision. The guide offers helpful information before, during, and after the transaction to serve as an invaluable reference. It emphasizes focusing on the complete satisfaction of buyers and earning their referrals through good service.

1. BUYER
GUIDE
___________
FINDING YOUR
NEW HOME

2. 2
Home Buying Made Simple
You are about to embark on th􀀥e exciting journey of f inding y our new home. Whether it is y our􀀥 f irs t home or tenth
home, a retirement home or inves tment property , w e w ill make y our home-buy ing journey a g reat experience.
We can help y ou f ind the ideal home w ith the leas t amount of has s le, and w e are devoted to us ing the expertis e
and f ull res ources of our team to achieve thes e res ults !
Purchas ing a home is a very important decis ion and a big undertaking in y our lif e. In f act, mos t people only choos e
a f ew homes in their entire lif etime.
We are g oing to make s ure that y ou are w ell-equipped and armed w ith up-to-date inf ormation f or y our big
decis ion. We are prepared to g uide y ou throug h every phas e of the home-buy ing proces s .
This g uide g ives y ou helpf ul inf ormation f or bef ore, during , and af ter y our trans action. We hope y ou w ill f ind its
ref erence to be an invaluable g uide during y our home-buy ing experience.
Our real es tate bus ines s has been built around one g uiding principle: It’s all about you.
Our f ocus is on y our complete s atis f action. Our team w orks to g et the job done s o w ell that y ou w ill w ant to tell
y our f riends and as s ociates about y our experience w ith us . That’s w hy s o much of our bus ines s comes f rom
repeat clients and their ref errals : g ood s ervice s peaks f or its elf . We look f orw ard to the opportunity to earn y our
ref errals !
- How soon do you want to move into your new home?
- How much time do you have to search for your new home?

3. 3
Knowledgeable,
professional, and proven
team of REALTORS who
represent you
Personally touring homes
and neighborhoods
with you
Committed allies who will
complete your purchase
contract, present your offer
and negotiate on your behalf
Thorough consultation to
determine your unique
wants and needs in a home
Keeping you informed about,
and delivering,
opportunities to view homes
not yet on the market
Preparation of all disclosures
and documents, and guidance
through the escrow process
Organizing and scheduling
homes to view based upon
your specific criteria
Advice on making offers
based on an expert market
evaluation and analysis of
other homes sold
Assistance with any
post-closing questions
Our Value

4. 4
SERVICES / DUTIES PROVIDED BUYER AGENT
Protect Buyer’s Interests at ALL Times

Advise and/or Disclose to Buyer ALL MATTERS
(even if it means pointing out reasons NOT to Buy!) 
Prepare Property Value Study or CMA for Buyer (even if low)

Keep BUYER’S Financial capabilities, thoughts & willingness
to pay more for a property strictly confidential 
Represent BUYER’S on MLS Listed properties PLUS
Foreclosures, FSBOs and even OFF MARKET Properties 
Negotiate Home Inspection, Repairs, Occupancy Dates
& Buyer Credits & Costs in BUYER’S Favor 
Owe Fiduciary Obligations and Responsibilities to Buyer

“We love the way they treated my family like we
were their family.”
“Very knowledgeable about the properties that we were
interested in. They explained the process in its entirety and
ensured us that they would be there if we had any questions or
issues. They were quick to respond to our messages or emails
within the same day. If we have to ever sell our house and/or
buy a new house, we would most definitely use again.”
Dustin & Brittany
Benefits of Buyer Agency
NOTE: Buyer’s agent commission is paid by the seller at closing once we find you the right home. Our win is your win!

5. 5
Strategy
ƒ Find a REALTOR® you can trust
ƒ Strategic home buyer consultation
ƒ Set up tailored search
Financing
ƒ Mortg ag e application
ƒ Obtain pre-approval
letter or proof of funds
letter
Showings
ƒ View your favorites
ƒ Find your home
Your new home!
Offer & Negotiations
ƒ Market analysis
ƒ Write your offer
ƒ Negotiations & counter offers
Protection
ƒ Offer accepted
ƒ Earnest money/due diligence
ƒ Inspections
YOUR
HOME
BUYING
ROAD
MAP
ƒ Appraisal
ƒ Final underwriting
ƒ Title work
ƒ Insurance
ƒ Utilities in your name
ƒ Final walk through
ƒ Close on your home
ƒ Deed recorded
ƒ Get your keys
Closing

6. 6
Mortgage Pre-Approval
How Much Can You Afford? Key Factors to Consider
LOAN TYPE
DOWN
PAYMENT
DETAILS
CONVENTIONAL 5%+
You can put as little as 5% down and as much as you want. Anytime you put less
than 20% down, you will have to pay some mortgage insurance.
FHA 3–5%
The lowest traditional down payment program; there is additional mortgage
insurance.
SECU/LGFCU 0–20%
A program for members of the local State Employees Credit Union or Local Gov’t
Federal Credit Union that offers loans from 0% down with low closing costs.
VA 0%
A special program for military buyers that allows them to put almost nothing
down toward the purchase.
USDA 0% A government insured loan program for low-mid income buyers.
*There are many down payment assistance programs available through our preferred vendors,
just ask us for more information to find out if you qualify.
Closing Costs
You will be required to pay fees for loan processing and other closing costs. These fees must be paid in full at
the closing, unless you are able to include them in your financing. This is called “Seller Paid Closing Costs” and
we will determine with the help of your lender if this is appropriate for your situation.
Examples of closing costs
ƒ Prepaid Insurance ($300–$1500)
ƒ Prepaid Taxes (up to 6 months)
ƒ Prepaid HOA Fees (when applicable)
ƒ Mortgage Origination Fee (1%)
ƒ Appraisal Fee ($450)
ƒ Title Fees ($500–$1000)
ƒ Closing Fees ($750)
$250,000 - $5,000 = $245,000
YOUR OFFER
(Total amount of your purchase price)
SELLER’S CONTRIBUTIONS
(Amount of your closing costs
you ask the seller to pay for you)
NET OFFER
(Final amount the seller is actually
receiving, viewed as your actual offer)
ƒ The down payment
ƒ The interest rate
ƒ Your debt-to-income ratio
ƒ The closing costs associated with the transaction
Down Payment Requirements

7. 7
“We are happily closed and look forward to enjoying our
new cabin for years and generations to come.”
“Our experience was positive. We had unique
challenges on the seller side of the transaction. They helped us to
navigate through these unchartered waters and went above and
beyond their typical duties to acquire the information needed to
satisfy all parties involved. We are happily closed and look forward
to enjoying our new cabin for years and generations to come.”
Tim & Kerry
.
We Put YOU In Control
1. YOU get access to the properties you want BUT without any sales pressure!
2. YOU get to pick the homes you want to see.
3. YOU get to choose when you see them and drive by at your leisure!
4. YOU get all the info that the Realtors® can see including how much the present owners paid for the property and
ALL the data from MLS system (not just the limited info the public can see).
5. YOU tell us which properties you are interested in and we will do additional research and arrange a showing of
ONLY the properties YOU want to see.
Searching
Showings

8. 8
Making an Offer
Once we’ve found the home you wish to purchase, you’ll need to determine what offer you are willing to make on
the home. After all, you are the one making the payments!
A Note about Multiple Offers
It is important to remember that the more competition there is for the home, the higher the offer will have to be,
sometimes even exceeding the asking price. Remember, be realistic, but it all comes down to market value and
solid comparable sales. Make offers you want the other party to sign!
Offer Terms
ƒ Sales price
ƒ Comparative market analysis (comps)
ƒ Earnest money
ƒ Due Diligence Fee
ƒ Due Diligence/Inspection Period
Ways to Make Your Offer Stand Out
Position of Strength
ƒ Loan Pre-approval in hand
ƒ Ty pe of f inancing
ƒ Ag g res s ive Due Dilig ence period
ƒ Comparable s ales to s upport of f er
ƒ Walk aw ay leverag e
Multiple Offer Strategy
ƒ “Dear Seller” letter/video
ƒ As-Is condition
ƒ Increased earnest money
ƒ Closing date
ƒ Seller possession after closing
ƒ Financing terms
ƒ Closing date
ƒ Personal property
ƒ Other applicable addendum like HOA/POA disclosures
ƒ Seller contribution to YOUR closing costs (if requested)

9. 9
Working Towards an Accepted Offer
You Make An Offer
We will present your offer to the listing agent. The seller will then do one of the following:
By far, the most common
is the counteroffer in response
to strong offers. In these
cases, our experience and
negotiating skills become
powerful in representing
your best interests.
When a counteroffer is received, we will work together to review each specific area,
making sure that we move forward with your goals in mind and ensuring that
we negotiate the best possible price and terms on your behalf.
.
Seller Accepts
the Offer
Seller Counters
the Offer
Seller Rejects
the Offer

10. 10
Protection/Inspections
Once an offer is accepted and deposits collected we will begin our “Due Diligence”. This includes:
ƒ Inspections
ƒ Appraisal
ƒ Repair negotiations
Home Inspections
We highly recommend that you have a professional home inspector conduct a thorough inspection. Inspectors are
exceedingly thorough and detailed so as to minimize surprises for you. However, the inspection is not meant to be
used to low ball the seller post-price negotiations, as all existing homes have minor imperfections.
The inspection is intended to report on major damage or serious problems that require repair. Your home doesn’t
“pass or fail” an inspection. The inspector’s job is to make you aware of repairs that are recommended or necessary.
The inspection will include the following:
ƒ Appliances
ƒ Plumbing and Electrical
ƒ Exterior
ƒ Heating and Air Conditioning
ƒ Roof and Attic (if accessible)
ƒ Foundation
ƒ General Structure
Additional inspections may include:
ƒ Wood destroying pest/termite
ƒ Septic
ƒ Well water testing
ƒ Survey
ƒ Radon
Repair Requests
The seller may be willing to negotiate completion of repairs, or you
may decide that the home will take too much work and money and
rescind the offer during the inspection period.
COMMON PRICES
for the home inspector
1500 sq ft and less..................................$350
1500–2000.....................................................$450
2000–2500................................................... $500
2500–3000....................................................$550
3000+.......................................(Call for pricing)
Radon Testing..............................................$150
Pest Inspections...........................................$75

11. 11
What to Expect At Closing
Who Will Be There?
ƒ You, the buy er(s )
ƒ Seller(s )
ƒ Buy er’s Ag ent
ƒ Seller's Ag ent
ƒ Clos ing attorney
ƒ Occas ionally , y our mortg ag e
of f icer
What Will You Need?
ƒ Bring valid government-issued photo ID
ƒ Confirmation of Wire Transfer for closing funds
When Closing Is Finished…
Once all documents are s ig ned AND the Clos ing Attorney has recorded the Deed at the courthous e y our f unds w ill
be releas ed to the s eller and unles s otherw is e ag reed y ou w ill receive the key s and pos s es s ion of y our new home.
Congrats!
Closing On Your Home
Preparing to Close
ƒ Finalize Homeowner’s Insurance
ƒ Verify Lender has all required docs
ƒ Final Walk Through
ƒ Review Closing Statement
ƒ Potential deal killers
ƒ Transfer of utilities

12. Your Lifetime Resource
On-Going Real Estate Support
ƒ Post closing questions
ƒ Updated market information
ƒ Helping your friends and family
Trusted Contractors
ƒ Handy men
ƒ Cleaning companies
ƒ Carpet cleaning
ƒ Exterior maintenance
ƒ Painting & remodeling
ƒ Siding /Window s /Decks
ƒ If y ou need a recommendation f or any thing
I am here to help!
Thank you so much for trusting me to be part of the journey guiding you home! I work with each client
individually, taking the time to understand their unique lifestyles and needs. This is about your life.
And it's important to me. When you work with me, you get a knowledgeable and professional
REALTOR® who is a committed ally to negotiate on your behalf. I am committed to taking your
transaction from contract-to-close! I offer FREE credit and budget improvement assistance to my
clients.
I help my clients overcome obstacles to home ownership!
REALTOR®, Broker Associate
Licensed in Texas and Florida
Mobile: (281) 989-6000
email: Fern@FernSellsHouses.com
www.FernSellsHouses.com
www.HelloNewBuyer.com

13. Information About Brokerage Services
Texas law requires all real estate license holders to give the following information about
brokerage services to prospective buyers, tenants, sellers and landlords.
11-02-2015
TYPES OF REAL ESTATE LICENSE HOLDERS:
A BROKER is responsible for all brokerage activities, including acts performed by sales agents sponsored by the broker.
A SALES AGENT must be sponsored by a broker and works with clients on behalf of the broker.
A BROKER’S MINIMUM DUTIES REQUIRED BY LAW (A client is the person or party that the broker represents):
Put the interests of the client above all others, including the broker’s own interests;
Inform the client of any material information about the property or transaction received by the broker;
Answer the client’s questions and present any offer to or counter-offer from the client; and
Treat all parties to a real estate transaction honestly and fairly.
A LICENSE HOLDER CAN REPRESENT A PARTY IN A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION:
AS AGENT FOR OWNER (SELLER/LANDLORD): The broker becomes the property owner's agent through an agreement with the owner,
usually in a written listing to sell or property management agreement. An owner's agent must perform the broker’s minimum duties above and
must inform the owner of any material information about the property or transaction known by the agent, including information disclosed to
the agent or subagent by the buyer or buyer’s agent. AS AGENT FOR BUYER/TENANT: The broker becomes the buyer/tenant's agent by
agreeing to represent the buyer, usually through a written representation agreement. A buyer's agent must perform the broker’s minimum
duties above and must inform the buyer of any material information about the property or transaction known by the agent, including
information disclosed to the agent by the seller or seller’s agent.
AS AGENT FOR BOTH - INTERMEDIARY: To act as an intermediary between the parties the broker must first obtain the written agreement
of each party to the transaction. The written agreement must state who will pay the broker and, in conspicuous bold or underlined print, set
forth the broker's obligations as an intermediary. A broker who acts as an intermediary:
`
Must treat all parties to the transaction impartially and fairly;
May, with the parties' written consent, appoint a different license holder associated with the broker to each party (owner and buyer) to
communicate with, provide opinions and advice to, and carry out the instructions of each party to the transaction.
Must not, unless specifically authorized in writing to do so by the party, disclose:
that the owner will accept a price less than the written asking price;
that the buyer/tenant will pay a price greater than the price submitted in a written offer; and
any confidential information or any other information that a party specifically instructs the broker in writing not to disclose, unless
required to do so by law.
AS SUBAGENT: A license holder acts as a subagent when aiding a buyer in a transaction without an agreement to represent the buyer. A
subagent can assist the buyer but does not represent the buyer and must place the interests of the owner first.
TO AVOID DISPUTES, ALL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN YOU AND A BROKER SHOULD BE IN WRITING AND CLEARLY ESTABLISH:
The broker’s duties and responsibilities to you, and your obligations under the representation agreement.
Who will pay the broker for services provided to you, when payment will be made and how the payment will be calculated.
LICENSE HOLDER CONTACT INFORMATION: This notice is being provided for information purposes. It does not create an obligation for
you to use the broker’s services. Please acknowledge receipt of this notice below and retain a copy for your records.
FATHOM REALTY, LLC 0601430 BrokerDFW@FathomRealty.com (888) 455-6040
Licensed Broker /Broker Firm Name or
Primary Assumed Business Name
License No. Email Phone
James C. Russell 0471764 JR@FathomRealty.com (469) 231-8088
Designated Broker of Firm License No. Email Phone
Jim Doyle jdoyle@fathomrealty.com 8323267678
Licensed Supervisor of Sales Agent/
Associate
License No. Email Phone
Fern Poyser 0542999 fypoyser@fathomrealty.com 2819896000
Sales Agent/Associate’s Name License No. Email Phone
Buyer/Tenant/Seller/Landlord Initials Date
Regulated by the Texas Real Estate Commission Information available at www.trec.texas.gov
IABS 1-0

14. TEXAS REAL ESTATE COMMISSION
P.O. BOX 12188
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711-2188
(512) 936-3000
THE TEXAS REAL ESTATE COMMISSION (TREC) REGULATES
REAL ESTATE BROKERS AND SALES AGENTS, REAL ESTATE INSPECTORS,
HOME WARRANTY COMPANIES, EASEMENT AND RIGHT‐OF‐WAY AGENTS,
AND TIMESHARE INTEREST PROVIDERS
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AND
CHECK THE STATUS OF A LICENSE HOLDER AT
WWW.TREC.TEXAS.GOV
YOU CAN SEND A COMPLAINT AGAINST A LICENSE HOLDER TO TREC
A COMPLAINT FORM IS AVAILABLE ON THE TREC WEBSITE
TREC ADMINISTERS TWO RECOVERY FUNDS WHICH MAY BE USED TO SATISFY A CIVIL
COURT JUDGMENT AGAINST A BROKER, SALES AGENT, REAL ESTATE INSPECTOR, OR
EASEMENT OR RIGHT‐OF‐WAY AGENT, IF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.
REAL ESTATE INSPECTORS ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN ERRORS AND OMISSIONS
INSURANCE TO COVER LOSSES ARISING FROM THE PERFORMANCE OF A REAL ESTATE
INSPECTION IN A NEGLIGENT OR INCOMPETENT MANNER.
PLEASE NOTE: INSPECTORS MAY LIMIT LIABILITY THROUGH PROVISIONS IN THE CONTRACT
OR INSPECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE INSPECTOR AND THEIR CLIENTS. PLEASE BE
SURE TO READ ANY CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT CAREFULLY. IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND
ANY TERMS OR PROVISIONS, CONSULT AN ATTORNEY.