I have been a REALTOR® for six years, and I live in Newark's Lake neighborhood. My partner was born and raised in Newark, so I am not just working here, I am part of the community. When I talk about the commute, the parks or which streets are quiet, I am talking about my own neighborhood. I also love hiking, cooking and a good drive.

Here is what you can expect when you work with me:

• Straight answers. I tell you what I see in a home and in the market, including the parts you may not want to hear.

• Local data, not guesses. I pull recent sales in Newark, Union City and Fremont so you know whether a price makes sense.

• Plain language. First-time buyers should not need a glossary. I explain each step as it comes, and I am happy to explain it twice.

• A plan that fits your goals. Your budget, your timeline and your priorities set the plan, not mine.

• No pressure. If a home is not right, I will say so.

I am with Coldwell Banker Realty, DRE# 02206082, and I serve Newark, Union City and Fremont.

An offer is a legal agreement, so you should know what each part means before you sign. Before we write one, I walk you through:

1. What you can comfortably afford. The price a lender approves and the payment you are comfortable with are not always the same number. We look at both.

2. How a pre-approval works. A pre-approval letter shows sellers you are a serious buyer. I explain what it covers and what could change it.

3. What is in an offer. Price, deposit, closing date, financing and contingencies all matter, and sellers weigh them together, not just the price.

4. How competition works. I show you recent sales in the neighborhood, how many sold above the list price, and how long homes took to sell, so your offer fits the market you are in.

5. Your deposit and your deadlines. You will have set days for inspections, loan approval and appraisal after the seller accepts. I explain each date and what happens if one is missed.

6. Your walk-away number. We decide your limit before the emotion of a bidding war starts.

7. What happens after the seller says yes. I lay out the steps from acceptance to closing so nothing feels like a surprise.

If any of this is new to you, good. That is what these conversations are for.

Evaluating the home and the price. I compare each home with recent sales nearby, looking at price, price per square foot, size, age and condition. The typical Newark house that sold in the past year was built in 1971, so I also help you think about the roof, plumbing, wiring and heating and cooling that come with an older home. For condos and townhomes, we look at HOA dues, rules and reserves too.

Reading the disclosures. California sellers give buyers written disclosures about what they know of the home's condition. These typically include a seller disclosure statement, a natural hazard report for flood, fire and earthquake zones, and a preliminary title report. For homes built before 1978, you also get a lead-paint disclosure, and for condos you get the HOA documents. I go through each one with you, point out anything that needs a closer look and help you ask the right follow-up questions.

Inspections. I help you choose a general home inspector and, when a home calls for it, specialists such as sewer line, roof, foundation, chimney or pest. I encourage you to be there. Afterward we review the report together, sort what is urgent from what is routine, and decide whether to ask the seller for repairs, a credit or a lower price, or to walk away.

Contingencies. A contingency is a condition in your contract that lets you cancel and keep your deposit if something goes wrong. The most common ones are:

• Inspection: you can back out or renegotiate based on what the inspections find.

• Appraisal: if the home appraises for less than your price, you have options.

• Loan: if your financing falls through, you are protected.

The contract sets how many days you have for each one. Removing a contingency makes your offer stronger, but it also means you may lose your deposit if you later cancel for that reason. I explain the trade-off for each home and each offer, and I never push you to give up protection you are not comfortable giving up.

There are three kinds of costs to plan for: your down payment, your closing costs and your monthly costs.

Home prices. Based on my MLS data for sales between October 21, 2025 and October 21, 2026, the median sold price in Newark was $1,411,288 for houses and $820,000 for condos and townhomes. About 9% of houses and 75% of condos and townhomes sold for under $1 million.

Down payment. Some loan programs allow as little as 3% to 3.5% down, and many buyers put down more. A lender can tell you which programs fit you.

Closing costs. A common estimate for buyers in California is 2% to 5% of the purchase price. They typically include lender fees, an appraisal, escrow and title charges, your inspections, homeowners insurance, prepaid interest and property taxes, and the first HOA payment if there is one. In Alameda County, the county transfer tax is $1.10 per $1,000 of price, and it is customarily paid by the seller. Who pays each item can vary and is negotiable, and your lender's Loan Estimate shows the exact amounts.

Examples. These use Newark's median prices and the 2% to 5% range, so they are estimates, not quotes:

• A condo or townhome at $820,000 with 5% down. Down payment of about $41,000, closing costs of about $16,000 to $41,000, for a total of roughly $57,000 to $82,000 in cash to close.

• A house at $1,411,288 with 10% down. Down payment of about $141,000, closing costs of about $28,000 to $71,000, for a total of roughly $169,000 to $212,000 in cash to close.

Monthly costs. Besides your mortgage payment, plan for property taxes, homeowners insurance and, for condos and townhomes, HOA dues. The median HOA dues for Newark attached homes that sold in the past year were about $513 a month.

Help with the down payment. Newark's First-Time Homebuyers Down Payment Assistance Program, run by Hello Housing, is accepting pre-applications until January 8, 2027 at 5:00 PM. I can walk you through who qualifies and how the process works.

Our first conversation is relaxed and there is no pressure to commit. It can be by phone, video or in person. Here is how it usually goes:

1. We talk about you. What you are hoping for, where you want to live, your timeline and what worries you most.

2. We look at your budget. I explain how a pre-approval works and what to ask a lender, and we talk about down payment and closing costs so there are no surprises.

3. I explain the process. From searching and offers to inspections and closing, with a rough timeline.

4. I show you the market. Recent sales in Newark, Union City and Fremont for the type of home you want, including prices, how fast homes sold and how competitive offers have been.

5. I explain how I work and how I am paid. Before we tour homes, I go through the agreement we would sign so you know exactly what to expect.

6. You ask anything. No question is too basic.

7. We agree on next steps. That might be talking to a lender, setting up a home search or simply thinking it over.

What to bring: just yourself. If you have them, a rough budget, a list of must-haves and any questions are helpful, but they are not required.

Do I need 20% down? No. Some programs allow as little as 3% to 3.5% down. A bigger down payment can lower your monthly cost, so we compare options.

Should I get pre-approved before I look at homes? I recommend it. It shows you what is realistic and makes your offer stronger when you find the right home.

How competitive is Newark right now? Over the past year, the typical Newark house sold in 14 days and about half sold above the list price. Condos and townhomes took a median of 18 days, and about 41% sold above list. Competition varies by home and by street, so I show you current examples.

How much does it cost to work with you? I explain how I am paid, and I put it in writing before we tour any homes.

Can you help me in Union City and Fremont too? Yes. I work with buyers in Newark, Union City and Fremont, and I can compare them for you.

Call or text me at (510) 737-2220 or email travis@vantvoort.com. Tell me a little about what you are looking for, and we will set up a first conversation.

Travis VantVoort, REALTOR®, Coldwell Banker Realty, DRE# 02206082. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Cost examples are estimates based on MLS medians from October 21, 2025 to October 21, 2026. Actual costs, loan programs and deadlines vary, so confirm details with your lender and the program administrators.