• Buyer Information and Services

Purchasing a home or property in North Carolina is usually a very smooth and enjoyable experience. North Carolina has standard "Bar Approved" and "Realtor Approved" forms that are easy to understand and with few exceptions are no more than a few pages long - a far cry from some states that literally have FEET of paperwork just to make an offer.


The majority of real estate transactions that are conducted in the Highlands area are, in the end, closed through the mail. The main factor leading to this is that we are a vacation spot. Most buyers of Highlands real estate own primary homes in other areas, coming to Highlands to escape the hustle and bustle & summer heat back home.

Agency disclosure in North Carolina is mandatory and unless notified otherwise, real estate agents have, by default, represented the Seller in any given transaction. Recent market developments have caused this to change, as more and more real estate agents and companies are offering to represent the buyer in the real estate transaction. You can now have an agent specifically committed to representing you, from the initial selection of properties, to the contract negotiations, to the settlement table!


  • Property Search
Your Preferred Properties Buyer Representative will appraise your particular criteria for a house and area, then search for properties that fit those specifications. Your buyer representative will set appointments for showings and monitor the market as new listings become available. Your agent can also perform custom searches and send you email alerts when matching properties become available.



  • Market Data
Market value is determined by many factors, including the availability of similar properties at competitive prices, location, condition, and most of all the price that a knowledgeable buyer is willing to pay. Your Preferred Properties Buyer Representative will provide market data to help you establish an offering price.



  • Offer to Purchase and Contract
Other considerations besides price are equally important in structuring an Offer to Purchase and Contract. The terms and conditions of the offer, condition of the property, amount of deposit and possession date are likely to be factors when an offer is made. Your Preferred Properties Buyer Representative will help in your preparation of an Offer to Purchase.



  • Negotiating
When an Offer to Purchase and Contract is made, the sellers may be concerned with certain aspects including the ability of the purchasers to fulfill their agreement, the terms and conditions of the offer, the breakdown of closing costs between buyer and seller and even the motivations of the prospective new owners! Your Buyer Representative will help structure a negotiating strategy that will create the desired result, a new home.



  • Handling Details
A lot has to happen between signing the Offer to Purchase and moving into a new house. Your Preferred Properties of Highlands, Inc. Buyer Representative will attend to the details and keep you in touch with the transaction each step of the way.

Sellers list their homes with real estate agents to ensure professional representation throughout the home selling process. As a Buyer, you deserve the same kind of service!




An Action Plan We Take to Find Your Home

  • First and foremost, we listen to your needs.

  • Buyers indicate criteria for community selection or specify certain desires in a home.

  • We will search the MLS and other sources available to us in order to prepare a list of potential properties.

  • We will review the ideal home and community criteria and reconcile that with your mortgage qualification if necessary.

  • If needed, we can provide a list of mortgage brokers/banks who will help you with the mortgage pre-approval process.

  • Buyer can receive email alerts when matching properties become available.

  • We will set up appointments to see the selected homes.


The remaining plan of action will depend upon our success with the initial list of potential properties. We will either proceed to the Offer process if we find the right home during our initial search, or continue to monitor the market in the event that we were unable to find the right home from those currently available for sale.

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