Unlock Your Home's Hidden Value

In most transactions, the seller pays the buyer's agent commission through the sale proceeds — so you typically pay nothing out of pocket for representation. However, since recent industry changes, commission structures are more openly negotiated. We'll discuss this clearly upfront before you sign anything. My goal is that you know exactly how I'm compensated and feel good about it.

Yes — and here's why: the Northern Utah market moves fast, especially in high-growth areas. Without a pre-approval, you can't make a competitive offer, and you may fall in love with a home that's outside your actual budget. Getting pre-approved first takes 20-30 minutes with a lender and gives you a real number to work with.

I have trusted lenders I can connect you with today if you don't have one.

From first conversation to closing, plan for 60-120 days in a normal market — longer if you're particular about location or price point, shorter if you're flexible and ready to move fast. Once you're under contract, most closings take 30-45 days depending on your loan type.

Earnest money is a good-faith deposit — typically 1-3% of the purchase price — that you submit when your offer is accepted. It signals to the seller that you're serious.

Yes, you can lose it — but only if you back out of the contract without a valid contingency reason (inspection issues, loan denial, or appraisal problems are typically valid reasons). I'll walk you through every contingency and deadline so you're never at risk of losing it unnecessarily

I'll be frank with you: I advise against it in most cases. Waiving an inspection means you're buying the home as-is, with no recourse if major issues surface after closing. There are smarter ways to make your offer stand out — better price, fewer contingencies in other areas, a strong escalation clause — without taking on that kind of risk.

You have options. You can renegotiate the price with the seller, pay the difference in cash, or walk away if you have an appraisal contingency in place. We'll strategize on this before it happens — I'll tell you upfront if I think a home is priced above where it's likely to appraise.

In Utah, the typical home buying process runs 30 to 45 days from accepted offer to closing. The steps are: get pre-approved by a lender, work with your agent to find homes and write an offer, complete inspections during the due diligence period (usually 14 days in Utah), finalize your financing, and close at a title company. In competitive price ranges like $500K–$800K in northern Utah, having an experienced agent submit a clean, well-structured offer makes a real difference.

In northern Utah, the $500K–$800K range gets you solid move-up homes — think 4+ bedrooms, updated kitchens, and often a view or larger lot. Weber County tends to offer more square footage per dollar than Salt Lake County. Inventory shifts month to month, so current pricing is best discussed directly. Call Landon Maxfield at 801-547-7134 for an up-to-date picture of what your budget gets you right now.

Landon Maxfield with Coldwell Banker Realty in Ogden, Utah specializes in helping first-time buyers navigate the northern Utah market. From Weber County to Box Elder County and beyond, Landon walks buyers through every step — pre-approval, offer strategy, inspections, and closing — so nothing catches you off guard. You can reach Landon at 801-547-7134 or Landon@YourUtahHomesPro.com.