The Buying Process, Mountain Edition
Nine steps, and you’ll always know who to call
Buying in the mountains has a few extra steps, mostly in the inspections. Here’s the whole path. Your lender handles the loan, I handle the house, and I keep everyone on the same page.
- Get pre-approved (your lender). A real pre-approval, not an estimate. Wells, septic and solar can bring extra lender questions, so it helps to flag them up front.
- Find your town (Jessica). We talk commute, land, winter, budget and how you’ll actually use the place. This is my favorite part. Start with the town match if you haven’t yet.
- Come up and tour (Jessica). Drive the towns, then see homes. I look at every one through a mountain lens: driveway, sun, water, roof, internet. Can’t make the trip yet? I’ll tour for you on video.
- Write the offer (Jessica). I know which homes have been sitting and which sellers are motivated. We make sure the numbers work for you.
- Loan application (your lender). Once you’re under contract, your lender submits the full file, including well, septic and insurance paperwork.
- Mountain due diligence (Jessica). The standard inspection plus septic, well, radon, wildfire, driveway and snow load. Budget about $800 to $1,500 for the whole package. I coordinate all of it. Get your insurance quote now.
- Underwriting (your lender). Mountain homes get extra questions from underwriters. A lender who knows mountain homes answers them before they slow you down.
- Final numbers and walkthrough (together). You get your Closing Disclosure three days before closing. I do the final walkthrough with you.
- Closing day. You sign, the money moves and I hand you the keys.
How long it takes
Paying cash with clean inspections, you could be in fast. With a loan, plan on about 30 to 45 days from accepted offer to keys. Mountain homes sometimes need a little extra time for well or septic paperwork. That’s part of the process.