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BUY WITH Richard
Buyers in Stillwater MN — Home Buying with Richard
Expert home-buying in Stillwater & St. Croix Valley. Friendly guidance on financing, offers, touring, inspections — let’s find your perfect home.
4.9
450+ reviews
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Step-by-Step home buying Strategy
Your Stillwater Home Buying Journey
Maybe you're working within a tight timeline, or a tight budget. Maybe you're a first time buyer. Whatever your situation, I'll make sure you win in today's market.
Getting Started: Goals, Budget & Pre-Approval
First, we sit down with you — whether in Stillwater, Bayport, or across the St. Croix Valley — and clarify your vision: price range, home style, must-have features. We discuss financing options (fixed, FHA, VA, conventional) and get you pre-approved before house-hunting. With your budget solid and expectations aligned, the search becomes efficient and stress-free.
Exploring Neighborhoods & Schools
We’ll walk you through top neighborhoods like Stillwater Heights, Downtown Stillwater, Oak Park Heights, and Lakeland Shores. Together we’ll review school ratings (Stillwater Area Public Schools, private options), amenities (parks, trails, shopping), and commute times to I-94, 36, or 494. You’ll get a feel for which area fits your lifestyle best.
Touring Homes & Open Houses
We’ll schedule guided tours—morning, afternoon or weekend—in your preferred zones like Bayport, Marine on St. Croix, Lakeland Township. I’ll preview homes for you and flag red flags early (roof age, drainage, HVAC). You’ll get insider context on local lot trends, comparables, and home condition before every showing.
Crafting an Offer & Negotiating
Once you find “the one,” I’ll help you build a competitive offer: price, earnest money, contingencies, closing timeline. In hot markets like Stillwater, we’ll structure escalation clauses or seller incentives. I’ll negotiate repairs, closing cost credits, or home warranties — always advocating for your best outcome.
Inspections, Repairs & Closing Day
We’ll coordinate a qualified home inspection (foundation, roof, plumbing, HVAC). If issues pop up, I’ll strategize requests or credits. Simultaneously we’ll work with title, documentation, andFinalize mortgage deadlines. On closing day (often at the Washington County title office in Stillwater), you’ll sign, get keys, and move in.
Trends, Inventory & Market Insights
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How do I get pre-approved for a mortgage?
-Contact a lender with income, employment, credit info
-Submit documentation (W-2s, tax returns, bank statements)
-Receive a pre-approval letter stating your max loan amount
Which neighborhoods are best near Stillwater?
-Downtown Stillwater for walkability and river views
-Oak Park Heights for top schools and tranquility
-Bayport/Lakeland for parks, lake access, and quiet pace
How do I tour homes effectively?
-Pre-filter with a shortlist
-Arrive early at open houses
-Bring a checklist (lighting, traffic noise, layout)
-Ask about upgrades, repairs, day-to-day livability
What makes an offer competitive in this market?
-Include earnest money
-Be flexible on closing dates
-Use escalation clauses if needed
-Limit unnecessary contingencies
What happens during inspection & repairs?
-Hire a licensed inspector
-Receive a report with repair items
-Request seller concessions or credits
-Re-inspect or negotiate before closing
How long until closing after offer acceptance?
-Typically 30–45 days
-Depends on loan type, inspection and appraisal schedules
-I’ll manage deadlines and guide you every step
REVIEWS
I'll deliver nothing less than 5-star service, every time
No agent horror stories here – just a couple hundred handfuls of happy buyers.
Thank you Richard!! It always has been, and I'm sure always will be a great experience doing business with you. I appreciate everything you've done for us recently and in the past and will continue to refer you to family and friends at every opportunity. Thanks again Richard, you are one of a kind
Richard was amazing in discerning what we found important and highlighting homes that fit our family. Zoom calls, live Facebook walkthroughs, immediate responses in email and text. He didn t just sell us a house - he partnered with us to really find a place we can call home.
Working with Richard was a joy he was always available via phone and email. The pictures of the house where so good even though we still had renters in the place he worked around the items they had in the house and was able to do a great job for us. If your looking at selling your home I would say give him a call.
Richard made the process of home selling extremely easy and seamless. The entire transaction was professionally handled, and Richard's knowledge and experience was a great asset to make the sale move so quickly. Sotheby's International Real Estate's high-quality reputation is a great asset to have, especially with through our local Real Estate Agent, Richard McDonough.
Richard was persistent and committed to finding us a perfect new home. In this tight market, he landed us a wonderful house using his connections to help us avoid a competition (that we surely would have lost using a VA loan). Wouldn't be homeowners without him!
Richard McDonough is the consummate realtor from the initial contact to the closing of the property. He communicates regularly with the buyer/seller and is always available for questions. Richard goes the 'extra mile' for his customers and is willing to assist when needed (Example: moving furniture to a garage to facilitate a donation to Bridging.) I would highly recommend Richard McDonough for realtor services.
let's get started
I'd be honored to help you buy a home in the St. Croix Valley
