Buying a Home for the First Time

You’re ready to buy a house...congratulations!

I bet you’ve already been glancing through Zillow or Redfin to get an idea of what you want, and that is awesome! Now that you’re ready to go shopping, here's how you get started on the process of finding your very first home. 

Getting Preapproved

Pulling two years of tax statements and getting financial information together for your loan officer isn’t as fun as browsing houses, but it’s an important starting point. Knowing your purchasing range is critical as we prepare to go shopping, and in this market a strong preapproval letter is a must when we're crafting your offer.  We believe in working with a local loan officer with a proven track record, and there are several in the area that we know and trust. I’ll be glad to introduce you. The lender will begin the preapproval process by verifying your credit, income, and assets. One of our preferred lenders and good friend Dylan Langei breaks it down a bit here:

Choosing an Agent

Yes, here is where I’m going to plug my team. Because I’m confident in the quality of work we do, from truly listening to your wants and needs, to guiding you through the process, to negotiating in your best interest. 

And I believe that having a strong team behind me offers the kind of support you won’t generally get from an individual agent. You can background check us via our reviews on Google, Facebook, and Zillow to see what real, recent clients have had to say, and look over our Facebook and Instagram to get to know the team.

Whether it’s me or any other real estate professional, it’s wise to do your homework.  This is the person who will be working with you for weeks or even months as you search for, select, and purchase your first home. They should be someone who is professional, kind, thorough and a person you enjoy being around!

Consultation

Sitting down with you for a consultation is one of the best ways I can ensure that the shopping process will be as effective as possible. We’ll meet up (for coffee or over the phone) to go over your wants and needs. This is an ongoing conversation and it’s okay if you’re still figuring this out - that’s what I’m here for!

To help get some of the preliminary details out of the way, we might have you answer a quick digital questionnaire (takes 2-3 minutes to zip through - feel free to fill it out now if you’d like!) just to help focus the conversation. 

Shopping

Once you’re preapproved and we’ve had a chance to get to know each other, it’s time to go shopping!

Curious what happens after that?  You’ll enjoy The 10 Steps to Buy a Home. Buying a home is an exciting step, and we're here to support you every step of the way! (and have you heard about our taco & margarita housewarming parties?!). Don't hesitate to reach out to tell me how I can go to work for you.