FIND YOUR WAY HOME
A BUYER'S STORY
“It was important to me to not just find a great school, but a really great community for our family. Because we were starting over again in Northern California.”
— Priscilla
A BUYER'S STORY
“It was important to me to not just find a great school, but a really great community for our family. Because we were starting over again in Northern California.”
— Priscilla
WHAT TO EXPECT
Our three-step sequence with potential buyers initiates the exciting journey of buying a home in Silicon Valley.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Our three-step sequence with potential buyers initiates the exciting journey of buying a home in Silicon Valley.
Step 1: Initial Phone Call
We’ll start with a 15-minute phone conversation that quickly explores the basics—goals, geography, and timeframe. We’ll talk in broad terms about your budget and how the California real estate process works. We’ll also discuss your financing options so you’re confident and prepared for the journey ahead.
Step 1: Initial Phone Call
We’ll start with a 15-minute phone conversation that quickly explores the basics—goals, geography, and timeframe. We’ll talk in broad terms about your budget and how the California real estate process works. We’ll also discuss your financing options so you’re confident and prepared for the journey ahead.
Step 2: Our First Meeting
At our first in-person meeting, we’ll talk more in depth about your values, optimal timing, and professional commitments. We’ll chat about your family, and your hopes and dreams for your home and how it might shape and enhance your lifestyle.
We’ll provide a thorough briefing on the state of the market and the unique regions of Silicon Valley. We’ll take a close look at schools districts, neighborhoods, property values, and commuting patterns and options.
By the end of this session, we’ll have a firm grasp of where we’re headed.
Step 2: Our First Meeting
At our first in-person meeting, we’ll talk more in depth about your values, optimal timing, and professional commitments. We’ll chat about your family, and your hopes and dreams for your home and how it might shape and enhance your lifestyle.
We’ll provide a thorough briefing on the state of the market and the unique regions of Silicon Valley. We’ll take a close look at schools districts, neighborhoods, property values, and commuting patterns and options.
By the end of this session, we’ll have a firm grasp of where we’re headed.
Step 3: The Offer Workshop
In our third meeting, our agenda is to walk through every aspect of the complex business process you’re about to undertake—contracts, financing, disclosures, fair market value, and negotiations.
In this two-hour session, we draw on our extensive business experience to get on the same page with you, so there are no surprises down the road and we’re ready to explore opportunities and properties with clarity and confidence.
If you’ve had experience in the Silicon Valley market, this is a helpful refresh that will prepare us to do business nimbly and successfully.
Step 3: The Offer Workshop
In our third meeting, our agenda is to walk through every aspect of the complex business process you’re about to undertake—contracts, financing, disclosures, fair market value, and negotiations.
In this two-hour session, we draw on our extensive business experience to get on the same page with you, so there are no surprises down the road and we’re ready to explore opportunities and properties with clarity and confidence.
If you’ve had experience in the Silicon Valley market, this is a helpful refresh that will prepare us to do business nimbly and successfully.
WHY KEVIN
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING LOCAL
As a Bay Area native, I understand the complexities of the region, and the many nuances of Silicon Valley neighborhoods. I’ll put my years of knowledge and experience to work for you.
Every part of Silicon Valley is unique, and each property is unique. Let me help you navigate the listings in the Bay, and find the ones that speak to you.
Together, we’ll find the perfect property.
NEGOTIATIONS
In real estate, buyers and sellers are often seeking the same thing—value. My approach to negotiating is to think beyond the bottom line and bring to light the many business and personal factors that make a deal attractive. While value is first and foremost, I help clients interpret value in different ways based on their specific needs. I love negotiating, and I understand buyers and sellers.
My goal is always a calm, rational, successful negotiation that leaves both parties feeling like they’ve won.
DATA DRIVEN
Silicon Valley real estate is a data-driven business, with multiple factors contributing to each transaction.
Median home price, neighborhood metrics, cost of credit, market saturation? We’ll help you make sense of the numbers so you can make informed, stable decisions. We’ll use data to our advantage to get you where you need to go on your real estate journey.
WHY KEVIN
Who you choose to represent you in this market matters.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING LOCAL
As a Bay Area native, I understand the complexities of the region, and the many nuances of Silicon Valley neighborhoods. I’ll put my years of knowledge and experience to work for you.
Every part of Silicon Valley is unique, and each property is unique. Let me help you navigate the listings in the Bay, and find the ones that speak to you.
Together, we’ll find the perfect property.
NEGOTIATIONS
In real estate, buyers and sellers are often seeking the same thing—value. My approach to negotiating is to think beyond the bottom line and bring to light the many business and personal factors that make a deal attractive. While value is first and foremost, I help clients interpret value in different ways based on their specific needs. I love negotiating, and I understand buyers and sellers.
My goal is always a calm, rational, successful negotiation that leaves both parties feeling like they’ve won.
DATA DRIVEN
Silicon Valley real estate is a data-driven business, with multiple factors contributing to each transaction.
Median home price, neighborhood metrics, cost of credit, market saturation? We’ll help you make sense of the numbers so you can make informed, stable decisions. We’ll use data to our advantage to get you where you need to go on your real estate journey.
BUYINGA STEP BY STEP GUIDE
Buying property in Silicon Valley is an emotional journey. The Kevin Lu Group walks with you every step of that journey. Your satisfaction drives our workflow, and we know how to optimize your search to find the home you’re looking for. We explore every channel to find the property that syncs with your style and budget. When we arrive at the offer stage, we come to the table with a consultant’s clarity and a close friend’s commitment to closing the deal.
While no two transactions are the same, we believe in an informed, step-by-step approach to searching for the perfect property. Silicon Valley real estate is a business of details, and we dive deep into the details at each step in the process.
STRATEGY SESSION
Understanding your goals and timeline is the first step. Whether you’re new to the area, downsizing, trading up, or buying an investment property, we want to see the big picture and help you plan where your real estate journey will take you.
Our Strategy Session is where we get to know you and your goals, and carve a path that gets you to your destination. Together, we’ll come up with an approach and a timeline and show you all procedures and costs up front so you’ll feel great about the process ahead.
Our team works tirelessly to advocate for your home search, and that work begins with the Strategy Session.
FINANCING
Pre-approval by a local lender or mortgage broker is the touchstone of buying property in Silicon Valley. A pre-approval letter allows us to define the financial parameters of your home search, and is a prerequisite for serious consideration of your offer.
We’ll connect you with our network of brokers and loan agents who will get you the best service and interest rate, and we’ll advocate for you during this phase, answering questions and helping you every step of the way.
THE SEARCH
This is the fun part. One of the greatest benefits of working with The Kevin Lu Group is that we give you an intimate look at each neighborhood, and compare and contrast homes by their individual and regional merits. After touring the neighborhoods and properties with us, you’ll know what feels like home.
While your home search should be exhaustive, we think it’s fun, too.
Let’s check out some properties together.
NEGOTIATING THE OFFER
Our objective is to reach the offer stage with the lowest acceptable price and the best terms for you. Through principled negotiation we create wise agreements that are fair, lasting, and satisfy both parties.
The offer process can be stressful, with hopes rising and falling as offers are considered and countered. We work closely with you during this step, to help you make business sense of the process, and keep you focused on your overall goals as we near the finish line in finding your home.
ESCROW PERIOD
The escrow period begins when the purchase contract is signed. Escrow is the neutral third-party that handles the depository for money, instructions, and documents pertaining to the sale.
During escrow, we’ll pass many important milestones together—deposits, final inspections, appraisals, title insurance, financing, and finally, the signing of closing documents and transfer of title.
A lot of information is exchanged during escrow, and we’ll be by your side to interpret the documents and guide you through the process.
CLOSING THE SALE
Then, the grand day—closing! You’re handed the keys to your new Silicon Valley home.We like to celebrate each close by popping a little champagne. We hope you’ll join us for a toast.
BUYINGA STEP BY STEP GUIDE
Buying property in Silicon Valley is an emotional journey. The Kevin Lu Group walks with you every step of that journey. Your satisfaction drives our workflow, and we know how to optimize your search to find the home you’re looking for. We explore every channel to find the property that syncs with your style and budget. When we arrive at the offer stage, we come to the table with a consultant’s clarity and a close friend’s commitment to closing the deal.
While no two transactions are the same, we believe in an informed, step-by-step approach to searching for the perfect property. Silicon Valley real estate is a business of details, and we dive deep into the details at each step in the process.
STRATEGY SESSION
Understanding your goals and timeline is the first step. Whether you’re new to the area, downsizing, trading up, or buying an investment property, we want to see the big picture and help you plan where your real estate journey will take you.
Our Strategy Session is where we get to know you and your goals, and carve a path that gets you to your destination. Together, we’ll come up with an approach and a timeline and show you all procedures and costs up front so you’ll feel great about the process ahead.
Our team works tirelessly to advocate for your home search, and that work begins with the Strategy Session.
FINANCING
Pre-approval by a local lender or mortgage broker is the touchstone of buying property in Silicon Valley. A pre-approval letter allows us to define the financial parameters of your home search, and is a prerequisite for serious consideration of your offer.
We’ll connect you with our network of brokers and loan agents who will get you the best service and interest rate, and we’ll advocate for you during this phase, answering questions and helping you every step of the way.
OFFER WORKSHOP
Objectives: This 1-on-1 workshop is intended to go into a deep dive on winning the offer.
Agenda
- The Components of an Offer
- Understanding the Purchase Contract
- Case Study: Selling in Today’s Silicon Valley Market
- Our Due Diligence Process
- Assessing Fair Market Value
- Negotiation Strategies
- Collecting key information before the offer presentation
- How offers are received
- How offers are presented
- What happens in those critical moments
- Q&A
THE SEARCH
This is the fun part. One of the greatest benefits of working with The Kevin Lu Group is that we give you an intimate look at each neighborhood, and compare and contrast homes by their individual and regional merits. After touring the neighborhoods and properties with us, you’ll know what feels like home.
While your home search should be exhaustive, we think it’s fun, too.
Let’s check out some properties together.
NEGOTIATING THE OFFER
Our objective is to reach the offer stage with the lowest acceptable price and the best terms for you. Through principled negotiation we create wise agreements that are fair, lasting, and satisfy both parties.
The offer process can be stressful, with hopes rising and falling as offers are considered and countered. We work closely with you during this step, to help you make business sense of the process, and keep you focused on your overall goals as we near the finish line in finding your home.
ESCROW PERIOD
The escrow period begins when the purchase contract is signed. Escrow is the neutral third-party that handles the depository for money, instructions, and documents pertaining to the sale.
During escrow, we’ll pass many important milestones together—deposits, final inspections, appraisals, title insurance, financing, and finally, the signing of closing documents and transfer of title.
A lot of information is exchanged during escrow, and we’ll be by your side to interpret the documents and guide you through the process.
CLOSING THE SALE
Then, the grand day—closing! You’re handed the keys to your new Silicon Valley home. We like to celebrate each close by popping a little champagne. We hope you’ll join us for a toast.
ARTICLES AND VIDEOS
ARTICLES AND VIDEOS
How To Sell Your
December 20, 2019
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Article – Single Column
March 3, 2017
Last year I wrote about why booking too far in advance can be dangerous for your business, and this concept of margin so eloquently…