Guidance at Every Step
Buy With
Confidence
Buying a home involves a lot of moving parts: financing, touring, negotiating, inspections and closing. I'll help you sort out what matters most to you, set up a search that matches it and walk you through each step before it happens. When you find a home you like, I'll help you write an offer and keep things moving until you have the keys.
Buyer's Guide
Start With Your Budget
Before you start touring, talk with a lender about a preapproval. It tells you how much you can borrow and shows sellers that you're ready to buy. Think about the monthly payment you're comfortable with, not only the loan amount, and set aside money for the down payment and closing costs. If you don't have a lender yet, I can share the names of a few to talk with.
Find Homes That Fit
Make a list of what you need and what you'd like to have, such as the number of bedrooms, the type of home and how long a commute you'll accept. I'll set up a search on this site that sends you new listings as they come on the market. As we tour homes together, I'll point out what to ask about so you can compare each one.
Putting Your Offer Together
When you find a home you want, I'll pull recent sales of similar homes so you can decide on a price. Your offer also covers the deposit, the closing date and any conditions, such as a home inspection or financing. If the seller comes back with a counteroffer, I'll go over it with you and help you decide how to respond.
After Your Offer Is Accepted
The next steps are usually a home inspection and, if you're financing, an appraisal ordered by your lender. The inspection shows you the condition of the home, and you can ask the seller for repairs or a credit based on what it finds. I'll keep track of the deadlines in your contract so nothing is missed.
Closing Day
Before closing, you'll do a final walkthrough to make sure the home is in the condition you agreed on. At closing, you sign the loan and title documents and pay your closing costs, and then the home is yours. I'll stay in touch through this last stretch to answer questions and help with any final details.
Why Buy Reasons to Buy a Home
Each mortgage payment pays down part of your loan, so the share of the home you own grows over time. That equity can go toward your next home later on.
With a fixed-rate mortgage, your principal and interest payment stays the same for the life of the loan. Taxes and insurance can still change, but the core payment doesn't.
Paint the walls, plant a garden or remodel the kitchen. When you own the home, those choices are yours, within any local rules or association guidelines.
Some homeowners can deduct mortgage interest and property taxes. Whether that applies to you depends on your situation, so check with a tax professional.
Owning gives you more say over where you live and for how long. When your needs change, you can sell, rent the home out or stay put.
