Buyer Resource Package
Purchasing Your Home with the Zehm Team
Table of Contents
The Zehm Team Difference .....................................................................................3
By The Numbers ...............................................................................................4
Our Services for Buyers ....................................................................................5
Our Process for Buyers ...........................................................................................7
Your Homebuying Team ..........................................................................................9
Mortgage Information ............................................................................................10
Types of Loans ..................................................................................................11
Your Mortgage Payment ...................................................................................12
Payment Estimator ...........................................................................................13
Escrow....................................................................................................................14
Title ........................................................................................................................15
Transaction Expenses for Buyers ............................................................................16
What Happens Once Your Make an Offer ................................................................17
Pending to Closing Flowchart ............................................................................18
Frequently Asked Questions ...................................................................................19
What to Ask Other Agents ................................................................................20
Testimonials ...........................................................................................................21
Direct: 206-999-3724 I OfÏce: 425-483-5100 I aaronandkaren@windermere.com I www.thezehmteam.com
Open and honest communication, a tireless dedication to fulfilling the needs of their clients and a commitment to educating
their clients about the real estate process that describes the foundation upon which Aaron and Karen have built their successful
real estate business that has flourished since 1999.
Both Karen and Aaron are Washington natives and are not only familiar with why people want to live in the Pacific Northwest,
but also why many of those who leave, eventually return.
The Zehm Team Difference
Areas of Expertise
The Zehms work Seattle, the Eastside and Snohomish County, both condominium and residential markets. Aaron’s expertise
also includes the commercial market, working with clients looking for investment properties. “We know both the Seattle
and the Eastside markets and how each one ticks,” says Karen. In addition, both have taken staging training and investment
property analysis training. Aaron is e-Pro certified, a technical program that trains real estate agents to make the most of
technology and the internet to best serve and keep in communication with their clients.
Commitment to Action…and Community!
Karen and Aaron share a very active lifestyle and the discipline and commitment required to sustain this lifestyle has them
well-prepared for the rigors of real estate. Aaron had a previous career as a personal trainer and his other fitness interests
include weight lifting, Cross Fit and martial arts. Karen is an avid runner and has completed several marathons and Ultra
Runs. Karen is currently the President of the Bothell High School Volleyball Boosters Club. The Zehms are also active in their
commitment to enriching the community in which they live and work. Both Karen and Aaron also participate annually in the
Windermere Community Service Day in which agents in every community served by a Windermere ofÏce work on several
projects to improve their local neighborhoods.
The Aaron and Karen Zehm “Get it Done Right” Difference
Aaron and Karen Zehm put their hearts, combined brainpower and even elbow grease into finding best solutions for buyers
and sellers. When you work with the Zehms, you get two very experienced, different and complementary agents working
the solutions. Aaron is calm, a great listener, good with the details and market trends. Karen is more outgoing, equally
knowledgeable, patient and an awesome contract writer.
“We strongly believe in educating our clients on the real estate process and how the market works,” says
Aaron. “At the same time, we listen carefully to what our clients want and don’t work on our own agenda.”
BUYERS
HELPED
COMMERCIAL LEASE
TRANSACTIONS
SELLERS
HELPED
INVETMENT PROPERTY
TRANSACTIONS
TOTAL
TRANSACTIONS
COMMERCIAL
TRANSACTIONS
160
35
374
39
214
25
By The Numbers
Awards
Certifications and Designations
Memberships
Community Support
Five-Star Award 2004-2009 and 2020
Staging Training through
Our Services for Buyers
Direct: 206-999-3724 I OfÏce: 425-483-5100 I aaronandkaren@windermere.com I www.thezehmteam.com
Home Search
We know the local markets and neighborhoods
inside and out and will use our skills to find
properties that suit your search parameters.
We will research existing neighborhoods and new
developments in areas you may be interested in.
We will focus in on the areas that have the greatest
possibilities for finding a home at the price you
want.
To save you time, we will organize, expedite, and
review the property documents. Homes that don’t
meet your specific needs are removed.
We will make appointments, preview homes, look
at properties with you, and help you determine
which homes best fit your needs.
We will supply information and make appointments
to see any property listed for sale. We will get
detailed information, or an appointment, no matter
what company the home is listed with.
Create an online account for you that allows us to
coordinate your home search allowing us to share
listings, save favorites, and make comments so we
are all on the same page.
Provide you with additional documents on any
available property you want to investigate further.
Represent you if you want to buy new construction
from a builder (let’s discuss the process for this).
We will communicate with you based on your
communication style and preferences.
Mortgage
If you are getÝng a mortgage and are in need of a
lender referral, we will provide you with references
who have done a great job for our buyer clients.
We will keep in touch with you and your lender on a
regular basis to ensure your loan is processing and
is on track.
We will communicate with the listing agent as
needed regarding the status of the loan.
When the appraisal is scheduled, we will assist as
needed.
Pending to Close
You will receive transactional excellence from
beginning to end.
We will make sure you receive the Seller Disclosure
statement and dive deeper into any questions or
concerns you may have.
We will make sure you receive your Title Report and
will review any questions or concerns you have.
We will coordinate the closing process with you,
the listing agent and escrow company.
When it is time to schedule the signing, we can
coordinate the location with you and the escrow
company or closing agent should you need.
Should you need a moving company, we can
provide references.
If you are buying and selling, we will lend a hand
in coordinating closings to correspond if possible.
We will coordinate the possession details and
timing, working with the listing agent and seller
on everything from keys to garage remotes and
instructions for any systems and appliances left
behind.
We will coordinate your final walk-through prior to
closing.
We will closely track all the details with all parties
with the goal of a “no surprises” closing.
Let you know when the property ownership change
has been recorded with the county and deliver the
keys to you.
If you are in need of an inspector referral, we will
provide you with local inspectors who have done a
great job for my buyer clients.
We will coordinate a professional home inspection
with the listing agent and inspector and will be on
hand to provide access and talk with the inspector.
When your inspector has provided their report, we
can review this with you and provide our feedback.
Based on any items and issues you would like to
work on with the seller, we will draft an inspection
response and negotiate work items with the listing
agent and the seller.
If needed, we will recommend contractors to
perform any negotiated or required repairs.
We’ll oversee the completion of all required repairs
on your behalf, if needed.
Inspection
Our Process for Buyers
Are you buying your first home? A condo? A recreational property? A waterfront home? An investment
property or second home? We have the expertise to get the job done!
We bring our own expertise to the table – expertise that will be put to work for you. Solving the numerous
challenges that can come up during the transaction is something we have become known for. Our unique
skillset as well as our ability to make your home-buying experience fun and memorable hopefully will make
us your go-to real estate consultants for life.
Here is a bit more about what you can expect when buying a home with us:
Direct: 206-999-3724 I OfÏce: 425-483-5100 I aaronandkaren@windermere.com I www.thezehmteam.com
Relocating to the Area?
We will help you every step of the way, showing you the
different neighborhoods and areas so you can get a feel for
your options. The Eastside has so many neat neighborhoods
and amenity-rich properties that it will be hard to choose!
Homebuying Needs
Do you need a single story home with a fenced yard? A
three or four bedroom home in a newer neighborhood? A
condo with a view? Whatever you are looking for, we will
strategize with you to find you the perfect home.
Mortgage Options
We have connections to great local mortgage lenders. It is
important to get pre-approved before we really begin our
home search, but with a great lender at your side, you will
know what to expect from the financial side.
Home Search
We will make a plan for seeing homes that meet your
criteria in a way that suits your schedule. We are both very
used to making a quick schedule adjustment when a great
property comes on the market!
Direct: 206-999-3724 I OfÏce: 425-483-5100 I aaronandkaren@windermere.com I www.thezehmteam.com
Research
As you find homes that may be a good fit, we will supply
you with additional information on each property as well as
anything you should be concerned about. Our goal is to find
you a great investment both for your pocketbook as well as
peace of mind.
Making an Offer
Once we find the home that is the right fit, we will work with
you on the offer by educating you on market conditions and
what is expected in our area. There are items besides price
that can be included in the offer such as closing date, down
payment, earnest money, and more.
Negotiations
If needed, we will negotiate on your behalf, pointing out
the strengths of your offer to the seller, working with you to
see where there is wiggle room, and approach negotiations
with a win-win atÝtude. We have your back!
Pending to Close
Once your offer is approved and contingencies met, we will
work with you on all the steps of the process between your
contract acceptance and closing. Rest assured that we are
both looking out for you every step of the way!
Inspection
The inspection is an important step in the buying process.
We have great inspectors we can refer you to and we will be
there during the inspection to note any red flags. You may
have an opportunity to work with the seller to get some of
the items corrected before closing.
When you are getÝng ready to buy a home, it is important to make sure you have the right people who can
get the job done ready, willing, and able to work seamlessly on your behalf. It isn’t enough to just have us
by your side and we look forward to helping you create your dream team!
LENDER
GetÝng pre-approved with a lender is one of the most important steps you can take to
make yourself buyer-ready. The lender you choose should have a reputation for being a
problem-solver and for getÝng the transaction to close.
APPRAISER
Although the appraiser will be assigned by the lender, doing a great job of choosing your
lender is a good indicator of the strength of the appraiser in terms of getÝng the job
done in a timely manner and utilizing great local data to make sure your investment is a
sound one.
INSPECTOR
You are able to choose the inspector who will be conducting the inspection on your
home. You want to find someone who is thorough, provides you with a written report
and photos, charges market rate, and who can be scheduled within a few days of your
offer.
ESCROW
Escrow makes sure that all the documentation is correct, timelines are met, and all the
details are adhered to in the transaction. They will also make sure all parties sign the
correct forms and that all monies are distributed correctly.
TITLE
Title will review the property history, verify legal description matches what is being sold,
make sure the seller has the right to sell the property, identify other possible lienholders,
identify easements, codes, covenants and restrictions, and more. You want to make sure
the title company has a reputation for identifying all potential problems.
While you can’t choose all of these team members, we will help you with referrals for the ones you can.
The more team members you can secure up front, the better. Often, once you make an offer, things can get
fast and furious in a hurry. During the transaction is not when you want to be checking online reviews of an
inspector and hoping for the best. Do your vetÝng up ahead of time and you will not be sorry!
Let us know if you would like to start building your team now and I will send you some referrals!
Your Homebuying Team
Direct: 206-999-3724 I OfÏce: 425-483-5100 I aaronandkaren@windermere.com I www.thezehmteam.com
Mortgage Information
Buyers can easily get overwhelmed by the options they are confronted with when it is time to apply for a
loan. Conventional? Government-backed? Fixed rate? Adjustable rate? Even within these categories there
can be several options.
Before you can determine which loan is right for you, you need to have an understanding of how each work
and the costs and benefits of each. Let’s start with definitions:
• FIXED RATE MORTGAGE: Fixed rate mortgages are exactly that – the mortgage rate remains fixed
for the life of the loan. Monthly payments are fixed (for the principal and interest – if property taxes
and homeowners insurance are paid as part of your payment, these are paid through an “escrow”
account which can fluctuate from year to year).
• ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE: These are also called ARMs. This type of loan has the potential
to have monthly payments that change since the interest rate can change. There is usually an initial
period of time where the interest rate does not adjust. This might be a 3-year, 5-year, or 7-year ARM.
How often the interest rate adjusts will also depend on the loan. Since interest rates do change over
time, the payment can either be higher or lower depending on the difference in the interest rate. For
example, if someone took out a loan now when interest rates were at record-low levels, it is unlikely
that interest rates will continue to be this low when the interest rate adjusts. Furthermore, ARMs
generally start out with a lower interest rate than a fixed rate loan.
It is important to know your future plans when determining the type of loan
which is ideal for you. For example, if you are planning on staying in your
home for only seven years, it might save you money to use an adjustable
rate mortgage with the expectation that you will be moving and taking out
a new loan before the interest rate is adjusted. However, what happens if
there is a health issue or something else which prohibits you from moving
in seven years? What if you cannot move into a fixed-rate mortgage? These
things must be taken into consideration when determining whether you
can afford your monthly payment – now and later.
In addition to the fixed rate mortgage and adjustable rate mortgages,
mortgages may also be either “conventional” (meaning funded by
the private sector – usually a bank) or a “government-backed” loan.
Government-backed loans are backed by the federal government, including
the Department of Veteran Affairs or the Department of Housing and Urban
Development. The government agency is “insuring” the loan, although the
funding may still be by a bank.
Direct: 206-999-3724 I OfÏce: 425-483-5100 I aaronandkaren@windermere.com I www.thezehmteam.com