BUYER COURSE

Here's What You Need to Know About Buying a Home in the Virginia

BUYER COURSE

Here's What You Need to Know About Buying a Home in the Virginia

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Buyer's Course

Buyers Blueprint Intro

Module 1: You Need An Expert

Module 2: Buyer's Compensation

Module 3: Choosing the Right Lender

Module 4: Making an Offer and Negotiations

Module 5: Your Offer Is Accepted

Module 6: Inspections Are Complete

Module 7: The Final Steps

Module 8: Erin Brockovich Buyer Compensation

Module 9: Should Sellers Offer Buyer Compensation

Module 10: The Buyer Representation Agreement

Module 11: The Listing Agreement

Module 12: The Purchase Agreement

Module 13: Which Offer Should You Choose

market Updates


DOWNLOAD TO ACCESS:

Buying A Home From A Lender's Perspective


DOWNLOAD TO ACCESS:

The Complete Guide to Buying A Home

market Updates

buying new construction? buyer beware

Local market update

NAR's Commission Settlement:

Understanding Buyer's Agent Compensation

National Market Update

Buyer Tips

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MEET LINDA FREEMAN

Former RN, Galax Trailer Store owner, and cancer survivor, Linda delivers heart-centered care with deep local roots. This farmgirl grew up milking cows, making hay, and canning veggies – learning money's true value from her dad, Wade Smythers. She raised her own cattle herd to fund nursing school, plus sheep, cows, horses, and goats on her farm.

A lifelong learner who thrives on challenges, Linda mastered buying and transforming properties into dream homes. Her powerhouse work ethic made her a consistent top 20% producer at Keller Williams – all while working full-time as an RN. She sharpened negotiation and case-management skills to serve clients with unmatched care.

Now embracing her next chapter with Avante Realty Group – "forward-thinking and progressive" across languages. Avante channels entrepreneurial energy and cutting-edge marketing to dominate Galax's multicultural market. Ready to move forward? Let's connect!

Linda S. Freeman| Realtor & Broker

Brokered by Avante Realty Group

WELCOME TO THE VIRTUAL HOME BUYER SEMINAR LIBRARY

Enjoy the latest & most up-to-date marketing & sales tactics to help you purchase a NEW home.

Thinking About Buying?

Are you thinking about buying a home but you don't know where to start?

  • ​Learn to take advantage of Tax Saving opportunities instead of throwing your money away

  • Walk through the important aspects of purchasing a home

What to Expect When Buying a Home

Purchasing a home is most likely going to be one of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime.

  • ​We have helped hundreds of clients in the past and we can help you too

  • My team and I are free! The seller pays for our fees and they have an agent who has their best interest at heart. We are here to have yours

Home Buying Process -

First Step

The first step when looking to buy a home is getting qualified for a loan.

  • ​Before doing anything else you need to know what you can afford by getting qualified for a loan

  • ​Don’t go house hunting before going mortgage shopping

Pre-Approval vs

Pre-Qualification

Why you need an approval rather than just a pre-qualification.

  • Pre-Qualification is not a true approval but the initial step in a home loan process where you discuss your financial situation with a loan officer - nothing is verified

  • Pre- Approval is where the buyer provides the lender with the necessary documents to tell them what they are approved for, which loan option is the best for them and what the interest rate will be

10 Must Not’s When Buying a Home

Once you find your dream home, we need to make sure you get to move into it.

  • ​Don’t change jobs; becoming self employed or quit current job

  • ​Don’t buy a vehicles

  • ​Don’t use any charged cards or let your accounts fall behind

  • ​Don’t spend money you saved for closing

  • ​Don’t omit any debt or liabilities from your loan application

What are the Pros and Cons of Purchasing a Home?

Whether you’ve never owned a home before or it’s been a while since you’ve purchased, let's talk about the pros and cons.

  • Pro: Your wealth can increase as you build equity in your home through 2023 averaging about 3%

  • Con: Maintenance costs; work and money to keep a home in good condition

How Much Money Do I Need To Purchase a New Home?

Most people are afraid that it will cost them thousands and thousands of dollars to purchase a home in Brentwood.

  • ​There are various loans and grants to qualify to purchase a home

3 Tips To Get Your Offer Accepted

Are you competing with other buyers on your dream home or do you want to make sure you’ve got the best chance of getting your offer accepted?

  • Make sure you offered a competitive price on a home

  • Put down a larger earnest money deposit

  • ​Let the seller know that you have not written offers on any other properties

Offer Has Been Accepted, What’s Next?

Once your offer has been accepted, it's time to open up escrow.

  • It's time to get inspections done on the home, review disclosures, secure the loan, and get the appraisal done

WANT TO GET A FREE CUSTOM MARKET PROPOSAL?

Go to the next page to request a custom market proposal for your specific home

Community Videos

Visit our blogs for more real estate tips, home tips, and local information!

Closing costs when selling a home in Galax VA explained

What Are the Closing Costs When Selling a Home in Galax, VA?

April 01, 20263 min read

Because at the end of the day, what matters most is:

How much money you actually walk away with.

Here’s the good news:

Closing costs are predictable—and with the right plan, there are no surprises.

What Are Closing Costs (For Sellers)?

Closing costs are the expenses you pay when your home sale is finalized.

They come out of your proceeds at closing—not out of pocket upfront in most cases.

Typical Closing Costs for Sellers in Galax, VA

While every situation is a little different, here are the most common costs:

1. Real Estate Commission

This is usually the largest cost.

  • Typically 5%–6% of the sale price

  • Split between the listing agent and buyer’s agent

This covers marketing, negotiation, and managing the entire process.

2. Closing / Settlement Fees

Paid to the attorney or settlement company handling the transaction.

  • Title work

  • Document preparation

  • Recording fees

These are usually a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars.

3. Title-Related Costs

You may pay for:

  • Title search

  • Title insurance (in some cases)

4. Seller Concessions (Optional)

Sometimes sellers agree to help buyers with:

  • Closing cost assistance

  • Repairs or credits

This is negotiable and depends on your situation.

5. Repairs (If Needed)

After inspection, you may:

  • Make repairs

  • Offer a credit instead

6. Mortgage Payoff

If you still have a loan:

Your remaining balance gets paid off at closing.

7. Property Taxes (Prorated)

You’ll pay your share of property taxes up to the closing date.

What Percentage Should You Expect?

In general:

Most sellers in Galax can expect total closing costs around 6%–10% of the sale

price

This depends on:

  • Commission

  • Repairs

  • Negotiations

  • Specific transaction details

What You Actually Walk Away With

This is what most sellers really want to know.

Your net proceeds =

�� Sale price

➖ Closing costs

➖ Mortgage payoff

= What you take home

Real Seller Scenario

I worked with a homeowner who assumed they would walk away with a certain number

based on their sale price.

But once we factored in:

  • Commission

  • Taxes

  • Minor repairs

  • Payoff amount

The number was different than expected.

The good news?

We adjusted the pricing and strategy early—so there were no surprises at closing.

Biggest Mistakes Sellers Make

1. Not Understanding Net Proceeds

Focusing only on sale price instead of what you keep.

2. Forgetting About Repairs or Credits

These can impact your bottom line.

3. Assuming Online Calculators Are Accurate

They often miss local details.

4. Not Planning Ahead

Knowing your numbers early helps you make better decisions.

How to Estimate Your Closing Costs

The best way is:

A custom net sheet based on your home and situation

This includes:

  • Estimated sale price

  • Mortgage payoff

  • Fees and costs

  • Realistic bottom line

FAQ

Do I pay closing costs upfront?

No—most costs come out at closing.

Can I negotiate closing costs?

Yes—especially concessions and repairs.

How much are closing costs in Virginia?

Typically 6%–10% of the sale price for sellers.

Will I know my numbers before selling?

Yes—you can get a clear estimate before listing.

Final Thoughts

Closing costs aren’t something to fear—they’re something to understand.

The more clarity you have upfront, the more confident you’ll feel about your sale.

Next Steps

If you’re thinking about selling your home in Galax, VA:

  • Get a clear estimate of your net proceeds

  • Understand your costs upfront

  • Build a strategy that works for your goals

_______________________________________________________________________

Linda S Freeman

Real Estate Broker – Galax, Virginia

Avante Realty Group

276-733-8880

yourlandandhome.com

Helping homeowners in Galax, VA understand their numbers and sell with confidence.

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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE MASHORE GROUP

"The Mashore Group Is The Way To Go For A Successful Home Sale."

"Our first ever home sale. Krista and her team made the experience so smooth. From our first meeting to the last it was all about us and how they made it an enjoyable experience. They were all unbelievably attentive and responsive to our needs.

- Jerry & Liqin A.

"The Strategy, Marketing And Pricing On The House Were Spot On."

"My father in law passed and we needed to sell his house. We met with three different agents and we quickly decided to go with Krista. Krista and her team are very knowledgeable, energetic and at the top of their game. Everything was spot on."

- Shaun & Heather B.

"We Followed Her Advice And We Got The House For The Price We Wanted."

"Krista and her team were excellent. We bought a home while on vacation. We relied on her staff to not only view the house but she positioned us so well, that we followed her advice and we got the house for the price we wanted. Thank you!

- Michael & Laura N.

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