Your Guide to Home Buying

Are you clear on where you want to buy, whether it's a condo, townhome, or single-family home? Do you know which features you like or dislike? Have you checked what's currently available on the market? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to start your research.

Now it's time to decide on your budget, rather than relying solely on the amount a mortgage company is willing to lend you. Mortgage companies often pre-approve you for more than you might be comfortable spending, so it's important to establish a monthly payment that fits your budget before talking to a lender. This involves creating a detailed household budget and considering additional costs beyond the mortgage payment, such as garbage, water, or HOA fees, which could significantly impact your budget.

Before starting your home search, your first step is to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan, unless you plan to pay for the home in cash. I can connect you with a mortgage broker who will evaluate your income and credit history to determine how much a bank is willing to lend you. This will help establish the price range for your home search.

Schedule a meeting with me or another experienced real estate agent who knows the neighborhoods you're interested in. It's important to find a Realtor you feel comfortable with, as this could be one of the biggest investments of your life. You’ll want someone you trust to represent you throughout the process.

We're almost ready to start touring homes, but first, we need to handle some paperwork. At this stage, we'll discuss compensation, how it will affect you, and how I can negotiate on your behalf to increase your buying power. You'll need to sign a few legal documents before we can proceed with viewing properties.

Now the fun begins! It’s time to focus on your ideal home’s location and amenities. We’ll attend showings and open houses across various areas and property types. Your role is to share what you like and dislike about the properties we tour, while my job is to ensure each home is a sound investment in the right community. Keep an open mind—sometimes a bit of vision can transform a house into your dream home.

Once you’ve selected the perfect home, I will prepare a comparative market analysis of similar properties in the area to help us craft a fair offer. Depending on the listing price and whether it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market, your offer may be below, at, or above the asking price. I’ll assist with negotiating if you receive a counteroffer and work to reach an agreement. At that point, the house will go into escrow.

Day 1: Once the offer is accepted, escrow officially opens, and the countdown on contingencies begins.

Day 2: Contact your insurance agent to arrange homeowners coverage.

Day 3: Make the initial deposit as specified in the agreement.

Day 1–17: The seller provides disclosures to the buyer, who then performs various inspections.

Day 1–21: The loan goes into underwriting, and the appraisal is conducted.

Day 7–30 | 21–45: The seller signs the grant deed, and any staging is removed.

End of Escrow: In the final week of the escrow period, the buyer signs the loan and closing documents and wires in the closing funds.

Day 30–45: The loan funds, and escrow closes (recordation).

Congratulations! It's time to hand over the keys—you’re officially a homeowner!