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The typical journey of a real estate buyer in the United States.
It usually begins with an initial email exchange, followed by a phone call. This consultation lasts a little over an hour: we’re practically starting from scratch. I take the time to listen, take notes on the client’s requirements, objectives, criteria, arrival dates… in short, I build the foundation of the project.
About ten days before the client’s arrival, I begin analyzing the market. Not any earlier. Why ? Because everyone is looking for that elusive “perfect property.” If I find a property a month in advance, there’s a good chance it will already be sold the day the client arrives in Miami. Ten days is the ideal window to identify properties that are actually available and aligned with their expectations, whether it’s a house, a fourplex, a commercial space, a condo, etc.
I then contact the sellers’ agents to schedule all the showings for the day of their arrival. On the D-day, I pick up my client or he meets me at the office, and we immediately leave for the visits.
The goal isn’t just to show properties; it’s also to educate and teach. The American market is very different from the French market, and what I couldn’t explain over the phone becomes clear in person. As the visits progress, the client understands the market dynamics, the prices, the opportunities, and the pitfalls to avoid. And there always comes that moment when they tell me, “Franck, I have a feeling this is the one.”
At this point, there are two possibilities :
Either they’re right, which means I’ve done my job of educating them effectively,
Or they’re wrong, and I’ll be able to clearly explain why.
Once the property is identified, we immediately send an offer to the seller’s agent. The response usually arrives the same day, sometimes the next, rarely more than three days later.
As soon as the offer is accepted, the client deposits their down payment into our attorney’s escrow account. This secures the sale: the contract is signed by both parties, and the deposit is guaranteed. We send proof of deposit to the seller’s agent, preventing any attempt to “shop around” with our offer.
Then, everything moves very quickly. In the United States, transactions are much faster than in France. For a cash purchase : approximately 30 days. For US financing : approximately 45 days.
In the case of a cash purchase, three weeks after the offer is accepted, the client sends the remaining balance. The attorney can then finalize the transaction.
It’s important to note that in the United States, there are no Notaires. Real Estate and corporate lawyers — Title Companies — handle the transactions. They fulfill the exact same role as a Notaire in France.
