Step 1: Compile Your Wish List
Decide which communities, home features, and property types you and your family prefer. Have candid conversations about which of these characteristics are required, and which are “nice to have” in your next home.
Buying a home should be one of the most exciting milestones of your life. To prepare yourself for this moment, you need to know what to expect during the process. This step-by-step first-time homebuyer’s guide created by your agent will reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey.
Decide which communities, home features, and property types you and your family prefer. Have candid conversations about which of these characteristics are required, and which are “nice to have” in your next home.
Examine your current expenses and determine how they might change if you purchase a home. Create a comprehensive household budget so you can factor in any new ongoing expenses that might come with a home purchase, such as garbage and recycling, water, or homeowner’s association fees. Once you decide how these expenses will change, you’ll be better equipped to leverage the information you get in step three.
Prequalification is a great start for understanding your purchasing power, but it’s not the only factor. A lender may pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why the budget you compiled in step two is so important. The opposite can also happen, where you believe you can afford a certain payment every month, but the bank doesn’t agree. This often happens when you’re new to your job, have insufficient credit, or have bankruptcies or other financial issues in your history.
You’re not required to stick with this lender when you ultimately finance your purchase, but this process is a great way to vet mortgage providers. Also, a prequalification letter can make you a more competitive candidate in multiple-offer situations.
Now it’s time to find your dedicated real estate representative! Regulations enacted in 2024 require real estate agents to obtain a signed buyer’s agreement before showing consumers homes. Of course, your agent does a great deal more than opening up listings; Your agent can help you understand your local market, identify areas and properties that fit your specific criteria, help you create competitive offers that match your financial and logistical needs, and much more.
Finding the perfect home and navigating the purchase process can be daunting. Leverage my knowledge and expertise and enjoy your personalized real estate journey.
Your agent will arrange showings of properties that meet your specific criteria and price range, taking note of your likes and dislikes to further refine their search parameters. Your agent will help you explore the details — from storage to light switches to the flow of a home — and understand the pros and cons of the options in front of you. Your agent will also help you make time to explore the neighborhood and examine elements like local traffic at different times of the day, parking options, and proximity to neighborhood amenities like schools and grocery stores.
Once you’ve narrowed down your home search, it’s time to go back to the mortgage provider who prequalified you in step three and obtain preapproval. With a property and purchase price in mind, your lender can get much more specific about your interest rate, monthly payments, the term of the loan, and special programs such as first-time homebuyer grants and loans through the VA and FHA. While you will primarily work with your bank to select the right options for you, I'm here (Your agent) to offer support and recommend a mortgage provider I've worked with in the past if you get stuck.
Once you have selected the perfect home and have your finances in order, your agent will help you craft a fair offer price based on the value of comparable homes on the market. You’ll also work through details such as timing, contingencies, and fees. After your agent submits the offer on your behalf, your agent will help you negotiate counteroffers and reach an agreement with the seller. At this point, the house will go into escrow.
In most cases, your offer will be contingent on the home passing inspection. This protects you from purchasing a property that has serious structural issues or requires major repairs. Your agent has a list of trusted local providers, but you can hire any licensed home inspector you like. If the inspection uncovers major issues, you can withdraw from the sale or renegotiate your offer based on what needs to be fixed.
The appraisal ensures that you are paying a fair price for the house. Your mortgage provider will hire an appraiser to inspect the property and offer an independent opinion of its value. Sometimes, appraisals may come in too low, which can impact the amount of money the bank is willing to lend. In this case, your agent can help you determine next steps and navigate the appeal process.
No one looks forward to all the paperwork stacked up on the closing table, but it’s a necessary part of the process. Fortunately, everything will be arranged by your lender and title company. And, when you’re finished, you’ll be the legal owner of your new home.
Gain exclusive access, market insight, and expert guidance designed to protect your interests and strengthen your negotiation position.
In the world of real estate today, it’s not enough to simply keep up with the latest technology — you deserve an agent who’s always one step ahead. At Compass, I have access to AI-driven technology to deliver a modern buyer experience that is collaborative, seamless, and hassle-free.
A private exclusive listing is an off-market home that can be shared by a Compass agent directly with their colleagues and their buyers. As your Compass agent, I can provide you access to these listings before the competition.
With Compass Collections I can curate a group of listings based on your personal preferences in a visual workspace. There, you can compare multiple properties, monitor market activity in real time, stay in constant contact with me, and invite collaborators to join in on the discussion - all in one central place.
Powered by AI, Compass CMA is a tool that lets me provide you with real-time market insights on comparable homes in the area. Now you can feel more confident that your next home is in the right price range and that you are making a competitive offer.
Compass Search lets you sort by a wide range of features and amenities to pinpoint the perfect home. Plus, you can discover exclusive Compass listings that you cannot find anywhere else and receive real-time notifications of new homes with customized Saved Searches.
You deserve an agent who has the world’s best real estate technology keeping them one step ahead. That’s why I chose Compass, a forward-thinking brokerage where the technology of the future is changing outcomes today. Not only has Compass invested almost $1.5B dollars in tech over a 10-year period, but we continue to spend more than $100M annually on research and development² to help our agents make buying easier for you.
Buying successfully isn’t just about what you know, but who you know. When it comes to your next home purchase, Compass has a strong, connected network. In 2023, 11% of Compass transactions resulted directly from referrals to Compass³, demonstrating the ability of our agents to help clients navigate markets everywhere at the highest standards. Not only do I have direct access to the country’s top properties and the agents who represent them, but I’m keenly attuned to the nuances that make each market so special.
Private Exclusives
Compass Private Exclusives are properties that are only accessible to a network of Compass agents and their serious buyers.
Working with a Compass agent grants you access to privately listed inventory before the rest of the competition.
Access Inventory Only Available at Compass.
Discover properties that are not publicly advertised- a critical advantage in an inventory-constrained market.
Maximize your chance of beating out the competition and potentially avoid bidding wars before your future home hits the public market.
Buying a Compass Private Exclusive helps safeguard your privacy by keeping your home’s photos off third-party sites- unlike publicly marketed properties where images can remain online for years.
Unlock 6% more homes you won’t find anywhere else.
110 COUNTRY CLUB DR STE 1 INCLINE VILLAGE NV 89451
110 COUNTRY CLUB DR STE 1 INCLINE VILLAGE NV 89451
