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Angel & Gectse’s Journey to Finding Their Dream Home by the Lake: A Story of Perseverance, Trust, and Success
We are thrilled to share the incredible journey of Angel Valladares and Gectse Jasso in finding their dream home by the lake! Their story is one of perseverance, trust, and a deep commitment to following a path that led them to a place they can now proudly call their own.
It all started with a simple introduction from Gectse’s uncle, Jose Jasso, who was a past client and had been extremely happy with the service we provided him with when he bought his home. Since then, Jose have referred several friends and family members to us, and Angel and Gectse were among them.
Our first conversation with Angel and Gectse took place on January 23, 2024, when Jose called us directly to introduce them. He had discussed the pros and cons of the real estate market with them and felt confident that we were the right realtors to help his niece. We immediately set up a “Getting to Know You” meeting for that same afternoon. Angel and Gectse came to our office, and we discussed their current living situation and strategized the next best steps for them to take in their home-buying journey.
Angel and Gectse were each already on the title of a house where they did not live, which meant they did not qualify as first-time home buyers. Nonetheless, they both had good jobs—Angel working with Cabinet Discounters and Gectse manager at Jasso Maintenance with her uncle. They had been living with Angel’s in-laws for the past three years and were eager to have their own space to start a family, in addition to their Chihuahua, their beloved mascot.
After going over the financial basics of buying a house and doing a pre-qualifying exercise, we realized they were ready for the next step. We connected them with one of our preferred lenders, Adriana Clapper from Prime Lending. They filled out the loan application, and after reviewing their situation, Adriana was able to pre-approved them for a home purchase. We then set another appointment to establish a realistic search criterion and started looking for properties that would suit their needs.
In the very first week, a great house became available for sale. We scheduled an appointment to see it, but it coincided with the house being held open, so Angel and Gectse decided to go on their own. Despite our recommendation to keep the appointment and go together, they insisted. They fell in love with the house and asked us to prepare an offer. We met at our office to draft the strongest offer they felt comfortable with, and it paid off. We got the house under contract, even beating a cash offer in the process! The listing agent was surprised by our success.
However, things took a turn during the transaction. Although the sellers had disclosed some issues with the house, they did not fully represent the extent of these problems. During the final walkthrough, we discovered that the house was left in complete disarray, and there was a much bigger foundation crack in the basement than initially disclosed. Angel and Gectse, after carefully considering the situation, decided not to proceed with the purchase. We advised them that their $4,000 earnest money deposit was at risk if they walked away, but they decided it was better to lose the deposit than to be stuck with a house that might have significant water issues in the basement, and we backed them up. We tried to get their deposit back, but the sellers argued that they had disclosed the issues, and rather than fight it out, Angel and Gectse choose to move on to be ready for their next opportunity.
Undeterred by this setback, we started the search again and found another great townhouse that was move-in ready but needed some minor repairs by Angel and Gectse’s standards. Once again, we guided them to draft a strong offer, and we beat multiple offers to get the property under contract. This time, having learned from their first attempt, they decided to include an inspection clause. During the inspection, however, they realized the house was too far from their preferred location and chose to walk away. Fortunately, we were within the contingency timeframe, so they were able to get their deposit back.
Despite these challenges, Angel and Gectse remained committed to their dream of homeownership. Their determination to keep going, even after two setbacks, was inspiring. They sought the help of another loan officer who provided them with a pre-approval letter, but upon further investigation, we found several red flags about the lender. We shared our concerns with Angel and Gectse and suggested they consider switching to another one of our preferred lenders, Yury Sanchez with HomeSpire Mortgage. Yury reviewed their case, provided a solid pre-approval letter, and reassured everyone that Angel and Gectse were in a great position to secure a loan once they found the right house. With renewed confidence, we resumed our search.
On the second tour, we found a fabulous, ready-to-move-in townhouse next to a lake in the same city where they currently live. Angel and Gectse fell in love with this beautiful end-unit townhome just steps from Gunners Lake in Germantown, MD. The home featured 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 half baths, hardwood floors, a deck with lake views, a remodeled basement, and much more—a true gem!
In a strong seller’s market with limited inventory and many buyers fighting for the few homes available, we helped them draft the strongest offer they felt comfortable with. We beat multiple offers again and secured the house for them!
As planned from the beginning, we jumped through all the hoops, and finally, on September 17th, Angel and Gectse closed on their dream home at 12401 Port Haven Dr, Germantown, MD 20874.
The house appraised at the purchase price, ensuring they did not overpay but bought it at fair market value. Angel and Gectse were extremely happy with the entire process and the patience we showed throughout. They were so pleased that they offered to record a video testimonial to describe their experience and express their gratitude. We’ll be editing and publishing this testimonial in the near future.
We genuinely enjoyed helping Angel and Gectse through this process and are grateful for their trust in us. Their efforts, discipline, and commitment to following our guidance were key in preparing them in the best way possible to ultimately accomplish their dream of owning this beautiful property.
Congratulations, Angel and Gectse, on your new home! We wish you nothing but joy, love, and memorable moments in this wonderful place by the lake. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey—we couldn’t be happier for you!
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