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Buying Process

Buying a Home Can Be an Exciting and Emotional Experience

As local experts, you can rely on us to guide you through the process so you can feel comfortable and confident each step of the way.

First Time Buyers Love
Livermore, CA

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Step 1: Get Pre-Approved

The first step to buying a home is to understand your buying power and establish a price range. A licensed lender can help evaluate your financial standing and provide a pre-approval. They will review your income and credit history to determine how much the bank will lend you, which will help you determine the price range for your search. Having a pre-approval letter in-hand can also increase the attractiveness of your offer, particularly when a seller has multiple offers to choose from.

A living room with a large, gray sectional couch facing a fireplace.

Step 2: The Home Search

You can start your search for the perfect home right here with up-to-date MLS listings in your favorite neighborhoods. Create your free account to save your favorite properties, request showings and more! As your real estate agent team, we will also search for homes on your behalf. When you find a home that you like, we'll schedule a showing tour for you to preview the property in person.

A bright and cheerful living room with a gray couch, glass coffee table, and gray carpet.

Step 3: Going Under Contract

If your offer is accepted, you will be officially under contract. The purchase will not be complete until closing, but the home cannot be sold to anyone else while the contract remains in effect. At this point, unless you are making a cash purchase, it will be time to make an earnest money deposit and secure your mortgage loan. Lenders offer a wide range of loan programs, so it's important to work with a lender you trust to help you determine the best loan for your specific circumstances.

A kitchen with a white quartz island countertop with a wicker pendant lamp hanging from the ceiling.

Step 4: Home Inspection

Inspecting the physical condition of your next home is a vital part of the home-buying process. A licensed home inspector will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the entire property and report any problems with the condition of the home's structure or systems. The inspector will also investigate potential issues such as pest infestations or mold. Depending on the purchase agreement, we may enter additional rounds of negotiation to resolve any problems discovered during the inspection.

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Step 5: Home Appraisal

Your lender will arrange a professional appraisal of the home. An appraisal is an unbiased estimate of the true (or fair market) value of a home and is conducted by an independent third party. The appraiser will confirm the appraisal value of the property for all parties involved. If the home appraises at less than the expected value, you may have the option to renegotiate the purchase agreement or terminate the contract.

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Step 6: The Final Walkthrough

Prior to closing, we will conduct a final walkthrough of the home to ensure that all negotiated repairs have been completed, and that the home is in the same (or better) condition as when the original offer was made. This is the final opportunity to call out any problems identified with the home before closing. Depending on the purchase agreement, you may sign a formal contract addendum confirming that the walkthrough is complete, and the condition of the home is acceptable.

Modern living room with sliding glass doors leading to a backyard with a pool and lush greenery.

Step 7: Closing!

Time to celebrate! Your lender will provide a final closing disclosure that summarizes the loan terms, monthly payments, taxes, and other costs associated with the closing. They will also confirm that you are clear to close, and you will sign all of the paperwork required to complete your purchase and loan agreement. Once the paperwork is signed by all parties and your loan is funded, you will receive keys, and you'll be ready to move into your new home!

Congratulations!

After signing the final paperwork to complete the purchase, you are now the owner of a new house. It may take a few days for your loan to be funded once the paperwork has been returned to the lender, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams.

Real Stories, Real Results

Testimonials

"Julia recently sold our home and from the beginning to the end she was the utmost professional in both helping us through the listing, staging and selling processes. She and her team were a joy to work with. She is very aware of the market and helped us set a price that wasn't too high getting us several offers. We found her (and her team) to be very organized, detail orientated and moved quickly with exceptional follow through on everything. The sale went smoothly. I highly recommend her to anyone."
"Julia recently sold our home and from the beginning to the end she was the utmost professional in both helping us through the listing, staging and selling processes. She and her team were a joy to work with. She is very aware of the market and helped us set a price that wasn't too high getting us several offers. We found her (and her team) to be very organized, detail orientated and moved quickly with exceptional follow through on everything. The sale went smoothly. I highly recommend her to anyone."
Dave M.
"Julia helped me to sell my late mother's Pleasanton property. Julia understood that this was an emotional time for me and gave me ample time to process each and every step. All of my questions were thoroughly explained. I was very pleased with the outcome. I highly recommend the Murtagh Team."
"Julia helped me to sell my late mother's Pleasanton property. Julia understood that this was an emotional time for me and gave me ample time to process each and every step. All of my questions were thoroughly explained. I was very pleased with the outcome. I highly recommend the Murtagh Team."
Lori W.
"Julia Murtagh and her team are total pros! From the moment we started working together she was proactive, responsive, and always considered my needs, wants, and goals. Once we narrowed down a property, I got to see the true experienced professional in action. From the offer, to the negotiations, to the contract and closing process, Julia and The Murtagh Team were on top of every detail and timeline, always keeping me informed as if I was the only client they were working with. Absolutely amazing. I highly recommend The Murtagh Team!"
"Julia Murtagh and her team are total pros! From the moment we started working together she was proactive, responsive, and always considered my needs, wants, and goals. Once we narrowed down a property, I got to see the true experienced professional in action. From the offer, to the negotiations, to the contract and closing process, Julia and The Murtagh Team were on top of every detail and timeline, always keeping me informed as if I was the only client they were working with. Absolutely amazing. I highly recommend The Murtagh Team!"
Terrill S.
"Julia just helped us sell our property in spring of 2024 out in the Livermore Valley. Her attention to detail and marketing blitz made all the difference enabling us to sell the home for Top dollar. We then worked together to purchase a home in Pleasanton (This was our 4th transaction together). She helped us negotiate an amazing deal and we were able to purchase this beautiful home in the time frame that was needed. She is a dedicated, hard-working Real Estate Professional, if you are considering selling or purchasing a home in the Tri-Valley she will make it happen!"
"Julia just helped us sell our property in spring of 2024 out in the Livermore Valley. Her attention to detail and marketing blitz made all the difference enabling us to sell the home for Top dollar. We then worked together to purchase a home in Pleasanton (This was our 4th transaction together). She helped us negotiate an amazing deal and we were able to purchase this beautiful home in the time frame that was needed. She is a dedicated, hard-working Real Estate Professional, if you are considering selling or purchasing a home in the Tri-Valley she will make it happen!"
Nikki M.
"We decided to sell our beloved family home in Pleasanton this Spring. We interviewed numerous agents and decided to work with Julia. She motivated us to move quickly to time the sale of our home in the Spring market. We worked together closely for months to get our home ready and in prime condition. Julia was dedicated to making our selling experience seamless and she personally oversaw the overall process. She was able to sell our home for top dollar and get us the much needed rent back to ease the timing of moving out. If you are thinking of selling your home in Pleasanton or the Tri-Valley and want a very dedicated person - she is the one to call!"
"We decided to sell our beloved family home in Pleasanton this Spring. We interviewed numerous agents and decided to work with Julia. She motivated us to move quickly to time the sale of our home in the Spring market. We worked together closely for months to get our home ready and in prime condition. Julia was dedicated to making our selling experience seamless and she personally oversaw the overall process. She was able to sell our home for top dollar and get us the much needed rent back to ease the timing of moving out. If you are thinking of selling your home in Pleasanton or the Tri-Valley and want a very dedicated person - she is the one to call!"
Debbie S.
"I can't express enough gratitude to Julia Murtagh during my fiancé and I’s journey as first-time homebuyers. From our very first meeting, it was clear that Julia genuinely cared about our needs and concerns. She was a true advocate for us and educated us on every step of the home-buying process, making what could have been an overwhelming experience feel manageable and exciting. Not only did Julia patiently walk us through market trends and the buying process, but she also negotiated fantastic terms for our purchase. She was always available to answer my questions, no matter how small and shared with us invaluable insights that gave us the confidence to know we were in the right hands during a very stressful, but memorable decision for our future. Julia, your unwavering support and kindness is something I hope every first time homebuyer gets to experience. I wholeheartedly recommend Julia Murtagh and her team at Compass to anyone looking to buy a home. Thank you for being apart of this next chapter in our lives, we love our new home and couldn’t have done this without you."
"I can't express enough gratitude to Julia Murtagh during my fiancé and I’s journey as first-time homebuyers. From our very first meeting, it was clear that Julia genuinely cared about our needs and concerns. She was a true advocate for us and educated us on every step of the home-buying process, making what could have been an overwhelming experience feel manageable and exciting. Not only did Julia patiently walk us through market trends and the buying process, but she also negotiated fantastic terms for our purchase. She was always available to answer my questions, no matter how small and shared with us invaluable insights that gave us the confidence to know we were in the right hands during a very stressful, but memorable decision for our future. Julia, your unwavering support and kindness is something I hope every first time homebuyer gets to experience. I wholeheartedly recommend Julia Murtagh and her team at Compass to anyone looking to buy a home. Thank you for being apart of this next chapter in our lives, we love our new home and couldn’t have done this without you."
Rachael M.
"Julia and her team did an incredible job with our purchase and sale transactions. As the available product was dwindling where we wanted to move and prices dropping where we needed to sell, we still ended up completing the purchase below market rate and an over-asking price sale on the first weekend. Her team helped keep us focused on all action items to assure that everything moved forward in a timely manner. Julia is a leader in her field for obvious reasons. I heartily recommend Team Murtagh for your home sale and purchase."
"Julia and her team did an incredible job with our purchase and sale transactions. As the available product was dwindling where we wanted to move and prices dropping where we needed to sell, we still ended up completing the purchase below market rate and an over-asking price sale on the first weekend. Her team helped keep us focused on all action items to assure that everything moved forward in a timely manner. Julia is a leader in her field for obvious reasons. I heartily recommend Team Murtagh for your home sale and purchase."
Blair E.
"This has been our third time working with The Murtagh Team, and they continue to exceed our hopes and expectations. Julia and Lauren helped us sell quickly in a slower winter market for all cash. When the perfect home came on the market in Livermore, we were able to pounce fast and beat out multiple offers to secure our beautiful new home. I truly believe that without their connections and expert knowledge of the housing market, selling and buying would have been a much more grueling process. Instead, everything felt exciting, organized, and efficient. My family and I cannot recommend Julia and the rest of The Murtagh Team more!"
"This has been our third time working with The Murtagh Team, and they continue to exceed our hopes and expectations. Julia and Lauren helped us sell quickly in a slower winter market for all cash. When the perfect home came on the market in Livermore, we were able to pounce fast and beat out multiple offers to secure our beautiful new home. I truly believe that without their connections and expert knowledge of the housing market, selling and buying would have been a much more grueling process. Instead, everything felt exciting, organized, and efficient. My family and I cannot recommend Julia and the rest of The Murtagh Team more!"
Courtney U.
"From our first call Julia Murtagh was responsive, caring, compassionate, and relentless in the quest to sell our home. She gave us great advice that led to multiple offers above our asking price with a very quick sale. Julia responded quickly and honestly to any questions and concerns we had. We would highly recommend Julia and her team for any real estate needs you have."
"From our first call Julia Murtagh was responsive, caring, compassionate, and relentless in the quest to sell our home. She gave us great advice that led to multiple offers above our asking price with a very quick sale. Julia responded quickly and honestly to any questions and concerns we had. We would highly recommend Julia and her team for any real estate needs you have."
Sally W.
"My wife and I recently worked with Julia Murtagh and Amy Mayerson from The Murtagh Team to sell our home in Pleasanton. Having worked with Julia 10 years ago to buy this home, we trusted her completely. Julia's experience prioritizing the steps to get ready and Amy's attention to detail in getting the house ready to sell were outstanding. We learned that preparing a house for sale is not the least expensive thing you'll ever do. Some of the investments include: repairs, inspection fixes, landscaping, painting, cleaning and staging. While a significant up-front investment, we strongly believe it was off the charts worth it and that we got a great price and a quick sale that went very smoothly. Additionally, Julia is outstanding at working with other Realtors. The buying agent was a great guy and did have some detailed requests along the way. Julia built and preserved that relationship to the point that we were invited to show the new owners the house systems. Meeting them was lovely and we feel great all around with the new owners and that the house will be loved. A big part of that was Julia navigating through the sale. Finally, Julia and Amy were lovely, understanding that we were leaving a home we loved, and very kind balancing that with getting ready to sell. All in all, we highly recommend The Murtagh Team. And, recommend listening carefully to all of their recommendations! They hands down know what they're doing representing you."
"My wife and I recently worked with Julia Murtagh and Amy Mayerson from The Murtagh Team to sell our home in Pleasanton. Having worked with Julia 10 years ago to buy this home, we trusted her completely. Julia's experience prioritizing the steps to get ready and Amy's attention to detail in getting the house ready to sell were outstanding. We learned that preparing a house for sale is not the least expensive thing you'll ever do. Some of the investments include: repairs, inspection fixes, landscaping, painting, cleaning and staging. While a significant up-front investment, we strongly believe it was off the charts worth it and that we got a great price and a quick sale that went very smoothly. Additionally, Julia is outstanding at working with other Realtors. The buying agent was a great guy and did have some detailed requests along the way. Julia built and preserved that relationship to the point that we were invited to show the new owners the house systems. Meeting them was lovely and we feel great all around with the new owners and that the house will be loved. A big part of that was Julia navigating through the sale. Finally, Julia and Amy were lovely, understanding that we were leaving a home we loved, and very kind balancing that with getting ready to sell. All in all, we highly recommend The Murtagh Team. And, recommend listening carefully to all of their recommendations! They hands down know what they're doing representing you."
Ed M.

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