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First Time Homebuyers

Guide for Buyers

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Step 1: Research
Do you already know where you want to buy? If you want a condo, townhome, or single-family home? Which features do you like and dislike? What’s available on the market now? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to start researching.
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Step 2: Decide on Your Budget
Notice I said to decide on your budget—not determine how much the mortgage company will give you. In many cases, a mortgage company will pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why you need to determine the monthly payment you feel comfortable with before talking to a lender.
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Step 3: Get Prequalified
Just because you think you can afford a certain payment every month doesn’t mean the mortgage company will agree. Just as they may approve you for too large of an amount, they may also approve you for a lesser amount or deny you a mortgage altogether.
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Step 4: Choose a Real Estate Agent
Can you shop for, look at, and ultimately make an offer on a home without a real estate agent? Technically yes, but why would you when it costs you nothing for an agent like me to take much of the stress off your shoulders?
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Step 5: Find the Right Home
This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). I will arrange showings of homes you’re interested in that are within your price range. Take notes about what you like and don’t like, and make sure to pay attention to details.
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Step 6: Make an Offer
Once you have selected the perfect home, work with your agent to craft a fair offer based on the value of comparable homes on the market. Depending on what the home is listed at and whether the current environment is a buyer’s or seller’s market.
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Step 7: Have the Home Inspected
In most cases, your offer will be contingent on having the home inspected to ensure there is no major structural damage or large repairs needed. I can help you arrange this, and you can schedule it within days of making an offer.
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Step 8: Select Your Loan
Now is the time to go back to the mortgage lender who pre-approved or pre-qualified you and choose your mortgage. You will be presented with various options based on your unique financial situation, including fixed-rate, variable-rate, 15-year, 30-year, or special programs such as VA loans or FHA loans.
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Step 9: Get a Home Appraisal
Your lender will have your new home appraised so they have their independent value of it. The appraisal is to ensure that all parties involved are paying a fair price for the house.
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Congratulations!
After signing the final paperwork to complete the purchase, you are now the owner of a new house. It may take a few days for your loan to be funded once the paperwork has been returned to the lender, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams. 

Based on information submitted to the MLS GRID as of . All data is obtained from various sources and may not have been verified by the broker or MLS GRID. Supplied Open House Information is subject to change without notice. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.

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Buy & Sell With Confidence

Whether guiding first-time buyers or representing luxury estates, David leads with confidentiality and professionalism, always striving to create lasting impressions and lifelong relationships. Contact him today so he can guide you through the buying and selling process.

All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently reviewed and verified.

The IDX display contains information sourced from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. This data is intended solely for personal, non-commercial use and is not to be utilized for any other purposes except to identify potential properties for purchase. Although the MLS data displayed is typically considered reliable, it is not guaranteed to be accurate by the MLS. Buyers are responsible for verifying the accuracy of all information and are advised to conduct their own investigations or seek professional assistance. Other sources besides the Listing Agent may have contributed to the MLS data presented. Unless expressly specified in writing, the Broker/Agent has not confirmed any information obtained from external sources. The Broker/Agent may or may not have acted as the Listing and/or Selling Agent and cannot guarantee the accuracy of property locations displayed on any map. Any compensation offers are solely made to participants of the MLS where the listing is registered.

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