SANTA FE AREA HOME BUYING SERVICES
Buying a home is one the biggest investments that most people will ever make in their life. There are many questions you may have before purchasing a home? How and when should we choose a mortgage lender? What neighborhoods and schools are best for our family? What style and size of home do we want/need? Every family is unique and has different questions and we understand that. We work with every family individually to find out what is most important to you. Keeping your best interest at mind, we will design a strategy to match your family’s needs and desires with the right home in the right neighborhood. Our website is designed to be a powerful tool to help you start the process, but we are excited to step in and help answer the many questions that you may have.
Why Should You Work With a Realtor?
Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions that most people will ever make in life. With transactions typically ranging from $200,000 into the millions it is important to work with a professional Realtor that has a thorough understanding of the buying and selling process and that will work diligently on your behalf. Working with a Realtor will not only make for a more seamless and less stressful transaction, but can also mean thousands more in your pocket in the end.
Here are a few reasons that choosing a professional Realtor to represent you is great idea:
- Determining Buying Power & Coordinating Financing Options - One of the most important steps in purchasing a home is determining how much home you can afford and getting pre-approved for a loan. A professional Realtor will help you gather information needed to make financing decisions and will be able to connect you with the lenders that are most qualified to help you.
- Local Market Expertise & Resources - A Realtor will be able to provide you with a wealth of knowledge regarding the local community including schools, zoning, local amenities, local housing market trends and statistics & much more. They will help you determine if the community offers the things that are most important to your family and can give you a good idea if the property will have resale value in the future when you decide to sell.
- Negotiation - There are countless things that can be negotiated in real estate transactions and Realtors are highly skilled in this area. Everything from pricing, terms, date of possession, financing, repairs, inclusion or exclusion of furnishings and a multitude of other things are up for negotiation. Having a Realtor will assure you that you are getting the best possible deal and walking away a winner.
- Due Diligence in the Evaluation of Properties - This could include everything from termite inspections, asbestos, roof conditions, structure problems, septic tank and well issues & the list goes on and on. Your Realtor works with a network of professionals that will do these investigations on your behalf and provide you with the finding to assist you in making the right decision. A Realtor will also make sure that there are no problems with the title and help fix any issues that could potentially cause a problem at the closing table.
- When selling your home a Realtor will provide you with local market information regarding pricing, terms, conditions and average days on market of comparable properties. This will allow you to effectively price your home to sell in the quickest amount of time for the highest price.
- Marketing - One of a Realtor's most important jobs is the marketing of your home to potential buyers. Presenting your home to the largest number of qualified buyers in the shortest amount of time is the ultimate goal. A Realtor will utilize the latest technology in order to get your property the exposure that it needs to sell quickly. Your home will be listed on the Realtor's listing service (MLS), through internet listing syndications on hundreds of websites, virtual tours & videos of your home & by posting on websites like NextBigMoveOrlando.com, which gets thousands of unique visitors each month.
- A good Realtor will always keep your best interest at mind. Focusing on your goals, your wants, your needs and the things that are important to your family will create a win-win situation during the buying or selling of your next home.
Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Real Estate News
BUYING IN THE SANTA FE REAL ESTATE MARKET
Santa Fe is a very complicated market. Due to its 400 year old history, Santa Fe has developed organically along rivers and trails, rather than being laid out on a grid like most American cities. As a result in the older areas of town, many of the homes were built by family members, room by room, as their families grew. Some of those families were competent and even exceptional builders, others were not. Some homes in the area were built entirely by professional builders, this is important information when making the decision to buy.
Over the years I have come to know Santa Fe buildng, its people and its culture. As a result, I understand the subtle nuances intrinsic to Santa Fe's real estate market. My long term connection with the business community and my close connection with local lenders, craftsmen, inspectors, contractors and other realtors affords me the ability to provide exceptional service before, during and after your real estate buying transaction.
THE HOME BUYING PROCESS
In my experience, a home isn't a dream home because of its room dimensions. It's about how you feel when you walk through the front door, and the way you can instantly envision your life unfolding there.
This is about more than real estate - it‘s about your life and your dreams.
I understand you are looking for a new home, and I want to be the real estate professional to help you. I work with each of my clients individually, taking the time to understand their unique needs and lifestyle, and I want to do the same for you.
It's incredibly fulfilling to know I am helping my clients open a new chapter of their lives. That's why I work so hard to not only find that perfect home, but also to handle every last detail of the purchase process, from negotiating the terms of sale to recommending moving companies.
This page has sidebar links that provide helpful information for home buyers, including an overview of the entire purchase process, answers to frequently asked questions, and fact sheets to help us discover the home and neighborhood characteristics most important to you.
After you've had the chance to review this information, lets meet to go over the entire process and get started on finding your new home. I’ll prepare an in-depth, customized package of homes for you to review, highlighting properties that meet your criteria in neighborhoods that suit your lifestyle.
I am so excited to get started on finding you the perfect home.
Affiliated Team of Specialists
A large part of our success is due to our elite team of real estate affiliates, including escrow, inspections, lending, legal support, and more. Our team is comprised of only the best of the best in their field, a theme you will find interwoven throughout our business.
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Testimonials
Buyers - David and Janet Dennison
September, 2013
To Whom It May Concern:
During the summer of 2012 in order to more fully diversify our investment assets my wife and I began to look for investment properties to purchase in Santa Fe, New Mexico. During a property inquiry we had the very good fortune of meeting Tom Fitzgerald of Keller Williams Realty. Tom, unlike a lot of other real estate agents, thoroughly understands the substantial differences between purchasing a personal residence and purchasing investment properties. Initially, we were looking at condominium type units that were reasonably priced but Tom with his great knowledge of the real estate market in Santa Fe Tom convinced us that multiple unit properties were probably more likely to provide better cash flow than condominiums. He listened intently to our desires and within a few days sent us specifications on several multiple unit properties that matched our investment criteria.
We immediately began the purchase of a short sale duplex which looked great from an investment standpoint. Short sales are notoriously difficult and Tom stood by us throughout the entire process and worked tirelessly throughout the process to help resolve any problems that came up during the sale. We closed on the property in less than 11 weeks which was incredible for a short sale situation. During that same time frame we also initiated the purchase of another great duplex investment property that was a conventional sale. Again with Tom’s incredible help that sale closed in about 6 weeks. The closings for each property actually occurred only one day apart and Tom was right there with us during each of the closing meetings continuing to support us as we signed all the paperwork.
During our due diligence research on each property Tom helped us to arrange detailed inspections, suggested possible loan sources, suggested reputable contractors, and made suggestions as to how we might resolve some of the maintenance and upgrades needed on each of the properties. He was very honest in laying out possible issues with radon gas upgrades, roof repair issues, and many other property condition issues. He was very good at leaving no stone unturned and informing us as to what we were getting into with each property. Thanks to Tom’s incredible expertise and diligence there were no surprises on either property after our purchases.
Thanks to Tom’s incredible real estate knowledge we already have a very good cash flow on one of the properties and will have a positive cash flow on the second property by the end of this year. Tom is an incredible real estate agent that works tirelessly for his clients and if we decide to purchase more property in Santa Fe or even sell our personal house he will definitely be our agent. We highly recommend Tom to anyone who wants to purchase either personal or investment real estate in Santa Fe.
Sincerely yours -- David and Janet Dennison
Buyer - Megan Jade Gonzalez
September 2013
I want to take a moment to thank you Tom for your invaluable knowledge, wisdom, professionalism, gentle guidance & encouragement. My search for a home could have turned out to be a very different experience but because of the time you took to compile so much good information, I felt comfortable in my knowledge of the market before I made my first offer. I also felt secure in knowing I had looked at every option available. You guided me so that I knew my family and my money would be in the best place possible at this time. Your knowledge of Santa Fe, Eldorado & horse properties helped me maximize my time so that I saw what type of home best suited us. I appreciate the extra time you put into your goal to find us the perfect house. I don’t know another who would be as good to my two year old after being stuck in the car with for day upon day through no naps & boredom. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the heart you put into finding us a new home. I have worked with wonderful agents in the area in the past but there is no other recommendation but you!
Buyers - David Bristol & Linda Henke
February 9, 2013
Two years ago, in anticipation of Linda’s retirement, we started looking for a home in Santa Fe and contacted Prudential Real Estate in Santa Fe. We
walked into the company’s office on South Guadalupe and asked to speak to an agent about buying a home in Santa Fe. To our good fortune, the agent we met was Tom Fitzgerald.
Over the ensuing two years Tom was a great help to us. We visited Santa Fe
several times, and each time Tom spent days with us looking at homes and acquainting us with Santa Fe. He was gracious, direct and open in the process and quick to answer our questions not just about Santa Fe real estate, but our many inquires about living in Santa Fe.
When we finally found the Atalaya Hill Road home Tom was invaluable in guidingus through the many details of negotiating the purchase. Due to Linda’s job requirements in St. Louis, a part of the negotiations was a delayed occupancy and finding financing to bridge the sales and occupancy dates. Tom crafted a real estate contract that served our needs. Ultimately we purchased the property nearly $25,000 under the property’s appraised value. When we were ready to move from a contract to a mortgage, Tom helped us find a high quality broker.
In relocating to Santa Fe we sold our St. Louis home and our cabin in Cloudcroft and worked with Tom in making the Atalaya Hill Road purchase. Of the three agents we worked with, Tom was by far the most accommodating, creative and professional. We would recommend him to anyone wanting to buy or sell propertyin Santa Fe. He is an outstanding professional who knows his market and gets to know his clients. Buying a house with Tom’s guidance turned out to be anideal way to begin our lives in Santa Fe.
Buyers - Frank Bennett & Judy Roberts
January 2013
Our association with Tom (My wife Jud and I) began in September of 2012, when we spent a week in Santa Fe on vacation. We had some idea we might want to retire to the city, and contacted Tom through his agency for general information. Although we were not positive about the move, Tom treated us like hot prospects for an estate buy (we were looking for a two-bedroom condo). Tom introduced us to the city, its delights, its neighborhoods and its real estate reality, over the next several months. After we had made the decision to relocate to Santa Fe, Tom was invaluable in locating the right property for us, including communications with him even while he was on vacation.??We are moving into our dream house, in no small part to Tom's suggestions, guidance and friendship. We couldn't be happier with his service. Tom is a true professional.
Buyer - Rod Johnson
July 2012
About one year ago I started searching the internet with an interest in Santa Fe real estate. I gathered a few listings that interested me and contacted several agents in an attempt to flush out the best person to deal with. Upon arriving in Santa Fe, we met with several agents who showed us the listings I had gathered. From the start, Tom advised that the listings I had selected weren't the best quality, price or location. He suggested we view these properties and then come by because he had something to show us. Tom told us that he had been trying to sell this house to a friend because it was the best location and property in our price range. A couple of months after we bought this house, his friend contacted us asking if we would sell it to him for more than we paid. I am satisfied that we could not have done better. Tom knows the market and doesn't waste time. Good straight forward communication and a smooth transaction. Tom is the best.