Buying a Home Shouldn’t Be Difficult

Start your home buying journey with us.

  • "Michael goes above and beyond for his clients, and makes you feel like you're the only client he is working with. You would be hard pressed to find someone who is as dedicated to the job nor as genuine of a person as he is."

    - Happy Eastside Buyer ★★★★★

  • "Michael was a fantastic agent and I would 100% recommend to anyone looking to buy a house especially if you were a noobie like me. He took me through the entire process and was very honest with me the whole time. Michael really took care of us, and is someone I'd trust."

    - Happy Eastside Buyer ★★★★★

  • "He took me through the entire process and was very honest with me the whole time. As someone who didn't know what they were doing, I really valued transparency both good and bad and Michael was always there to be up front with us."

    - Happy Eastside Buyer ★★★★★

  • "You would be hard pressed to find someone who is as dedicated to the job, nor as genuine of a person as he is. We are now nearly one month into living in our dream home and are so happy. We truly believe we couldn't have done it without Michael."

    - Happy Eastside Buyer ★★★★★

  • "After well over a year of looking for a home and meeting realtor after realtor during the process - I'll tell you, Michael is RARE."

    - Happy Eastside Buyer ★★★★★

  • "“I highly recommend working with Michael Smythies. Michael was very helpful and professional in assisting with my condo purchase."

    - Happy Seattle Buyer ★★★★★

What do winning offers look like?

Our grading system ensures you know how to write the most competitive offer that will win the home of your dreams.

    • Offer over asking price

    • Waive 22A (Financing Addendum)

    • Waive 35 Inspection

    • Release earnest money as non-refundable

    • Close in two weeks or sooner

    • 20%+ Downpayment

    • Waive Title & Form 17

    • Offer at asking price

    • 3-5 day Inspection

    • Pass/Fail Inspection

    • 3% Earnest Money Deposit

    • Waive Title

    • Pre-approved

    • Offer at asking price

    • 10 Day Inspection

    • Close in 30 days

    • 10%+ Downpayment

    • 5 Day Title Review

    • Pre-approval letter

    • Offer below asking price

    • 10 Day Inspection

    • Close in 30+ days

    • 3% Downpayment

    • 5 Day Title Review

    • Request Closing Costs

    • Request seller remedies of deferred maintenance

    • No pre-approval

Curious to see my past transactions?

Our 10 Step Buyer Process

01

Buyer Consultation

The goal of this meeting is to educate you on the market, give you a chance to ask any questions you may have about the process, and give us an opportunity to get to know each other. Topics to be discussed your goals, property criteria, our process, Compass search tools and collections, financing options and more.

02

Get Pre-Qualified

Before beginning your search, your first step is to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan (unless you will be paying the full price of your home in cash). I can recommend mortgage brokers. Based on your income and credit history, the mortgage broker will determine how much a bank will lend you, which will help determine the price range for your search.

03

Education Day & Home Tours

I also like to set up an Education Day where we tour 5-6 homes in a few different neighborhoods. This gives me a chance to ask you questions and observe your true desires as we tour homes. After Education Day, we'll tour houses as they come up. My goal is to guide and instruct you during these viewings to ensure you find the right home for you.

04

Submit an Offer and Negotiate

Once you identify a home you like, you can put in an offer, which is an agreement to pay a certain price for the home. This offer is packaged with a Proof of Funds (POF) and Pre-Approval Letter. Note: if your offer is lower than the list price or with terms not acceptable to the seller, the seller can return with a counter-offer price which you can accept, reject, or make another counter offer. I will provide guidance and advice throughout.

05

Review Building Financials and Regulations

If buying a condo or townhome with an HOA, you will have the chance to review the resale certificate and financials of the HOA. Our team has a vetted network of professionals should you need a referral to an attorney to assist with the review.

06

Home Inspections

An inspection is either done once the contract has been mutually agreed upon by the buyer and seller or a pre-inspection is conducted by the buyer prior to making an offer on the home which therefore waives the inspection contingency. I will thoroughly guide you through this contingency.

07

Pending Transaction Milestones

  • Earnest Money Deposit ~ 3 Days

  • Submit Loan Application ~ 5 Days

  • The bank will organize the appraisal, search the title and finalize the paperwork so your loan is “cleared to close.”

  • Inspection Period ~ Up to 10 Days

08

Final Buyer Walkthrough

A final walkthrough of the property is scheduled and completed just before closing. The walkthrough confirms that no damage has been done to the home since the time of inspection and that the major systems and appliances are in working order.

09

Signing and Closing

Closing typically takes about 21-30 days and signing of loan documents occurs 2-4 days before agreed upon closing date.

10

Closing

Congratulations! You are a new home owner. This is where you get the keys to your new home and we celebrate!

Bonus Step

Welcome to the RSG Family!

What does this mean for you?

  • Tap into our vast network of professional contractors. From plumbers to painters, we have built strong relationships that we want you to have access to.

  • Continued education through our client appreciation program. Get invited to special events, receive market updates and more.

  • We work almost 100% by referral. If you have a friend or family member that needs our services, send them our way!

Work with Us

Take the next step in finding the home of your dreams