Escrow is a secure, third-party process used during real estate transactions to protect both the buyer and the seller. It ensures that money, documents, and property are safely handled until all parts of the agreement are completed.

A contingency is a condition written into a real estate contract that must be met for the deal to move forward. If the condition isn’t met, the buyer (or sometimes the seller) can cancel the contract without penalty.

Technically, no — but it’s highly recommended.

You can start browsing homes and even tour a few without a pre-approval letter, but here’s why getting one early is a smart move:

Why You Should Get Pre-Approved First:

1. Know Your Budget You’ll understand exactly how much home you can afford — no guessing.

2. Show Sellers You’re Serious In a competitive market, sellers prefer offers from buyers who are already pre-approved.

3. Move Faster If you find the perfect home, you’re ready to make an offer immediately.

4. Catch Surprises Early You’ll uncover any credit or financial issues before you're deep in the process.

Bottom line: You can look without it, but having a pre-approval gives you confidence, credibility, and a competitive edge. Want help connecting with a lender or knowing what documents you’ll need? We've got you covered!

A disclosure package is a set of documents that a home seller provides to potential buyers, sharing important information about the condition, history, and legal status of the property.

It’s meant to protect both the buyer and seller by making sure everything is out in the open before an offer is made.

The disclosure package gives buyers a clear picture of the home before making an offer — which builds trust, speeds up the process, and helps prevent surprises later on.

If you need to sell your current home before buying your next one, you're not alone — many homeowners are in the same boat. The key is planning ahead so the transition is smooth and stress-free. Here’s how we typically approach it:

1. Get Your Home Ready to Sell First, we’ll focus on listing and marketing your current home. We’ll help you get it market-ready and priced right so it sells smoothly and on schedule.

2. Make Your Next Purchase Contingent When you find a new home you love, we can write an offer that’s contingent on the sale of your current home — this protects you from being stuck with two homes or financial overlap.

3. Coordinate Closing Dates We’ll aim to close on both homes around the same time so you can move directly from your old home into your new one — no storage units or temporary rentals needed if we time it right!

4. Explore Financing Options If Needed If you want or need to buy before your current home sells, we can explore options like a bridge loan, HELOC, or rent-back agreement to give you flexibility.

Over the years, we've built strong relationships with trusted local painters, contractors, and service providers who consistently do great work. Whether you need a full renovation, a quick refresh before listing, or just some help tackling your to-do list, I can connect you with professionals we know and trust.

Just let us know what kind of work you're looking to have done, and we'll send over a few recommendations to get you started!

In Western Kentucky, closing costs typically range between 2% to 5% of the home’s purchase price, depending on the price of the home, the lender, and other local factors.

Keep in mind:

• Some costs are negotiable — especially in a buyer’s market.

• Lenders are required to give you a Loan Estimate early in the process that breaks down estimated closing costs.

• Local programs or certain loan types (like VA or USDA) may reduce what you pay out of pocket.