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Buyer's Guide

A Step-by-Step First Time Buyer's Guide

Buying a home is one of the most exciting milestones in life. To prepare for this moment, you must know what to expect during the process. This step-by-step first-time buyer’s guide created by your agent will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey.

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01 Finding the Right Agent

Look for an agent with experience, knowledge, strong communication skills, and a professional demeanor. They should have a deep understanding of the local market and be able to provide you with personalized guidance and support tailored to your unique needs and preferences. It's also important to find an agent you feel comfortable working with and who is committed to providing exceptional customer service. With the right agent by your side, you can find the home of your dreams with confidence and ease.

GETTING YOU IN THE DOOR

Finding the right buyer real estate agent is crucial to ensuring a smooth and successful home-buying experience.

STAYING ON TOP OF THE PAPERWORK

As a buyer’s agent, staying on top of the paperwork is essential to ensure a smooth and timely transaction. I am highly organized and detail-oriented, and I pride myself on my ability to manage and track all necessary documents and deadlines

ON YOUR SIDE

I am dedicated to representing interest of my client throughout the entire buying process, from property search to negotiation and closing.

AFFORDABILITY

I focus on finding affordable properties that meet my clients' needs and budget.

PROBLEM SOLVER

I am a skilled problem solver, able to anticipate and address any challenges that may arise during the buying process. I work tirelessly to find creative solutions that meet my clients' needs and achieve their real estate goals.

NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERT

I am a neighborhood expert, knowledgeable about the local community, schools, amenities, and property values. I use this expertise to help my clients find the right neighborhood that meets their lifestyle and investment needs, while ensuring they get the best possible value for their money.

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02 Prepare Financing

HOW MUCH HOUSE CAN YOU AFFORD?

Mortgage lenders recommend you do not buy a home that is more than 3 to 5 times your annual household income. If you are not purchasing a home with cash, you will need a mortgage pre-approval provided by your mortgage lender. A lender will work with you to get a loan that meets your needs. Some buyers are concerned with keeping their monthly payments as low as possible, others want to make sure that their monthly payments never increase.

CHECK YOUR CREDIT

A mortgage requires a good credit score. You can improve your score by:
☑ Paying down credit card balances
☑ Continuing to make payments on time
☑ Avoid applying for a new credit card or car loan until you have been approved
☑ Avoid making big purchases until you have been approved
☑ If possible, avoid job changes until you have been approved

SAVE CASH FOR A DOWN PAYMENT & OTHER EXPENSES

In order to make your dream of buying a home a reality, you will need to save cash for your down payment, earnest money, closing costs & home inspector.
☑ A Down Payment is typically between 3.5% & 20% of the purchase price
☑ Earnest Money is money you put down to show you’re serious about purchasing a home. It’s also known as a good faith deposit.
☑ Closing Costs for the buyer run between 2% & 5% of the loan amount
☑ A Home Inspection costs $300 to $500

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03 Get Pre-approved

Being pre-approved, unlike being pre- qualified, means you've actually been approved by a lender for a specific loan amount. You will need to provide documented financial information (income, statements, assets, debt & credit reports etc.) to be reviewed & verified by the lender.

Apply for a Mortgage Loan

TYPE OF LOAN CREDIT SCORE DOWN PAYMENT
VA LOAN 620 NO DOWN PAYMENT
USDA LOAN 620 NO DOWN PAYMENT
FHA LOAN 580+
500-579
3.5%
10%
203K LOAN 640 3.5%
CONVENTIONAL 97 620 3%
CONVENTIONAL LOAN 640 5-20%

Your Income

QUALIFYING INCOME

  • W-2 Income/Salary
  • Income from Part-time Jobs
  • Income from a Second Job
  • Overtime & Bonuses
  • Seasonal Jobs
  • Self-employed Income
  • Alimony & Child Support (Documentation required)

NON-QUALIFYING INCOME

  • Income from the lottery
  • Gambling
  • Unemployment pay
  • Single bonuses
  • Non-occupying co-signer income
  • Unverifiable income
  • Income from rental properties

NEEDED DOCUMENTS

  • W2’s From the Past 2 Years
  • 3 Months' Worth of Pay-stubs
  • Bank Statements (Past 3 Months)
  • Previous 2 Years of Tax Returns
  • List of Your Debts & Assets
  • Divorce Decree
  • Additional Income Documents
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04 Start Home Shopping

START TOURING HOMES IN YOUR PRICE RANGE

Time to start shopping! We will take notes on all the homes we visit. It can be hard to remember all the details of each home, so take pictures or videos to help you remember each home, and review the notes you have written. Once we have found THE house for you, we will present an appropriate offer based on recent sales and current buyer activity in the area, as well as the value of the property in its current condition. Negotiations may take place after the offer is presented.

EVALUATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SURROUNDING AREAS

  • Are the surrounding homes well maintained? 
  • How much traffic is on the street? 
  • Is it conveniently located to schools, shopping, restaurants, & parks?
Tip 1...2...3!
From the first house to the last, I encourage buyers to utilize the 1, 2, 3 method of ranking homes. The order will change as you tour and find your favorites but it helps make the process of elimination much easier!
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05 Make Offer

WHEN TO MAKE AN OFFER:

So you have found THE house! Congrats! In today’s market when the demand is higher than the amount of homes available it is important to act fast!

HOW MUCH TO OFFER:

We will sit down and look at recent sales and current buyer activity in the area, as well as the value of the property in its present condition. Putting all this information together, we will determine the price that you would like to offer.

SUBMITTING AN OFFER

There are some components to an offer that makes it more appealing to the sellers.

  • Put Your Best Foot Forward
    We will work together to discover options and create your best offer. Depending on the circumstances, you may have only one chance to make a good impression.
  • Shorter Inspection Periods
    Try shortening the inspection period to 10 days
  • Offer to Close Quickly
    Many sellers prefer to close within 30 days.
  • Put Down a Healthy Earnest Deposit
    A large earnest money deposit shows the seller you are serious.
  • Cash Talks
    A transaction that is not dependent on receiving loan approval is more attractive to a seller
  • Write the Seller a Letter
    We will make your offer stand out by writing a personal letter to the seller, explaining why you fell in love with their home.

My Goal Is to Provide You With the Most Personalized Service That Is Designed to Help You Buy Your Dream Home

Schedule A Consultation
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06 Order Inspection

During the inspection period, we will schedule a licensed home inspector to do a thorough inspection of the home. Once this is complete, the inspector will provide us with a detailed report. You can take the issues as-is or request the seller to address some or all of the findings. We will be mindful and reasonable on smaller items while being very cautious and vigilant of potentially significant issues.

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07 Negotiate Inspection

Issues typically arise after the home inspection, and those issues tend to result in another round of negotiations for credits or fixes.

  • Ask for credit for the work that needs to be done.
    Likely, the last thing the seller wants to do is repair work.
  • Think “big picture” and don’t sweat the small stuff.
    A tile that needs some caulking or a leaky faucet can easily be fixed. Repairs are still up for negotiation and perhaps a small credit would help with closing costs.
  • Keep your poker face.
    The listing agent will be present during inspections and revealing your comfort level with the home could come back to haunt you in further discussions or negotiations.
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08 Appraisal Ordered

Your lender will arrange for a third party appraiser to provide an independent estimate of the value of the house you are buying. The appraisal lets all parties involved know that the price is fair. The loan file then moves on to the mortgage underwriter. If approved you will receive your final commitment letter that includes the final loan terms & percentage rates.

PROPERTY TITLE SEARCH Ensures that the seller truly owns the property and that all existing liens, loans, or judgments are disclosed.
HOME OWNERS INSURANCE Insurance required for the new home before closing, protecting against risks like fire, storms, and flooding.
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09 Scheduling Your Move

AFTER SIGNING

  • Finalize Home Mortgage
  • Schedule Home Inspection
  • Declutter! Sort through every drawer, closet, cupboard & shelf, removing items you no longer need or like. Donate or sell items that are in good condition
  • Get copies of medical records and store them with your other important documents
  • Create an inventory of anything valuable that you plan to take
  • Get estimates from moving companies

4 WEEKS TO MOVE

  • Give 30 days notice if you are currently renting
  • Schedule movers/moving truck
  • Buy/find packing materials
  • START PACKING

3 WEEKS TO MOVE

  • Arrange appraisal
  • Complete title search (Title company will do this)

2 WEEKS TO MOVE

  • Secure Home Warranty
  • Get quotes for home insurance
  • Schedule time for closing
  • Contact utility companies (water, electric, cable)
  • Change address: mailing, subscriptions, etc.
  • Minimize grocery shopping
  • Keep on packing

1 WEEK TO MOVE

  • Obtain certified checks for closing
  • Schedule and attend a final walkthrough
  • Finish packing
  • Clean
  • Pack essentials for a few nights in new home
  • Confirm delivery date with the moving company
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10 Closing Day

CLOSING DAY

Closing is when you sign ownership and insurance paperwork and you receive your new home’s keys! Typically, closing takes four to six weeks.

CLOSING DISCLOSURE

Lenders are required to provide you with a closing disclosure, at least three days before closing. This will show you what your final loan terms and closing costs will be. You will have three days to review the statement. This is done to ensure that there are no surprises at the closing table. If there is a significant discrepancy between the loan estimate and the closing disclosure, we must notify your lender and title company immediately.

FINAL WALKTHROUGH

We will do a final walk through the home within 24 hours of closing to check the property’s condition. This final inspection takes about an hour. We will make sure any repair work that the seller agreed to make has been done. We will be sure to:

  • Make sure all appliances are working properly
  • Run the water in all the faucets and check for any possible leaks
  • Open and close garage doors with opener
  • Flush toilets
  • Run the garbage disposal and exhaust fans

CLOSING TABLE

Who will be there:

  • Your agent
  • The seller
  • The seller’s agent
  • A title company representative
    Your loan officer
  • Any real estate attorneys involved in the transaction

The closing typically happens at the title company. You will be signing lots of paperwork so get your writing hand warmed up! Some of the papers you will be signing include: the deed of trust, promissory note, and other documents.

CLOSING FUNDS

During the pre-approval process, you will have discussed any estimated closing funds required depending on the loan type you choose. Prior to closing, the lender will provide you actual closing funds required.

BRING TO CLOSING

✓ Government-issued photo ID
✓ Copy of the sales contract
✓ Homeowner’s insurance certificate
✓ Proof of funds to cover the remainder of the costs

RECEIVE YOUR KEYS

Congratulations! It was a journey but you are now officially a homeowner!! Time to celebrate!

Congratulations!

After signing the paperwork to 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, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams.

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What My Clients Say

Beth G.

Beth G.

I love this lady and couldn't have found the perfect house without her. She helped me throughout the process and was always there if I needed something. I highly recommend her and if you don't use her, you're definitely missing...
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James A.

James A.

Cassie is a dream to work with. She made buying a home in a place we have never been a dream. She went through multiple homes via FaceTime until we found our dream home. I recommend her to anyone I know buying or selling in the...
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Scott M.

Scott M.

Cassie is incredible. I have both sold and bought a home this year with her help, and she has been an absolute God send. Specific to the buying process, she was very attentive to my wish list for a new home, and spent the time ...
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Christian K.

Christian K.

Cassie assisted my husband and I with buying our first home! We decided to go with a new build, and she was there from beginning to end, and even now she is still checking on us! She made the process so easy! She truly cares ab...
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Marisa S.

Marisa S.

I've used Cassie twice to buy or sell my homes, and there is no one else I would trust as much as her. Cassie is great at keeping her clients informed of every step in the process and has a great network of professionals to mak...
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Buyer

Cassie was so easy to work with. She is the ultimate professional and goes above and beyond to find your dream house. She negotiated the sale price for what we wanted to pay and gave us advice on what we should offer using her ...
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Paige K.

Paige K.

Cassie listened to our needs and found us exactly what we were looking for! We had a great experience with all aspects of our home buying experience!
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Buyer

She was amazing! Went above and beyond any other realtor would. She far exceeded our expectations and got us into our dream home. Cassie was always available to answer our questions and was very knowledgeable of the area.
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Our experience with Cassie while looking for our new home was great. We never had to ask questions because she called almost every day to update us. We have bought and sold several houses in the past, and Cassie was the best ag...
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Marguerite S.

Marguerite S.

Cassie was awesome! Definitely put our needs first. Always felt like I was a priority customer. Tremendously helpful to us as first time home buyers. Was there with us every step up the way. Highly recommended!
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Whether you’re buying or selling, I’m here to guide you through every step of the process. With personalized service and a deep understanding of the market, I’ll ensure your real estate experience is smooth and successful.

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