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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 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 buyer’s guide created by our team will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey as much as possible.

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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. In addition to looking for homes that interest you, also take note of any changes in asking prices. This could give you valuable insight into housing trends in specific neighborhoods and help you when the time comes to make an offer.

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Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

Notice we 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. This likely includes doing a full household budget and taking into consideration what changes other than a mortgage payment will occur once you move into your new home. If you’ve lived in an apartment or with roommates, you may overlook new expenses like garbage, water, or HOA fees that could easily blow your budget.

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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. Lack of time at a job, insufficient credit, past bankruptcies, or other financial issues can cause major problems when trying to secure a mortgage. Before you get your heart set on a home, talk to a mortgage professional to find out what amount you can qualify for. This will also be an advantage when you make an offer on a home, as some sellers won’t entertain offers from those who aren’t already prequalified for a loan.

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Step 4: Choose Real Estate Experts

Can you shop for, look at, and ultimately make an offer on a home without real estate experts? Technically yes, but why would you when it costs you nothing for agents like us to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will we help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but we also have knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where our expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let us show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.

Passion & Expertise

Our goal is to provide you with the most personalized service possible, meticulously designed to help you navigate the process of buying your dream home. We are dedicated to understanding your unique needs and preferences, ensuring that every step of the journey is tailored to achieve your ultimate home-buying aspirations.

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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!). We 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. Turn light switches on and off, open and close doors, and run the faucets in various rooms. Don’t limit your inspection to the home itself. Make sure to take time to explore the neighborhood and keep an eye on traffic at certain times of the day, the parking situation, and how close it is to necessities like schools and grocery stores.

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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, your offer may be below, at, or even above the asking price. We will be able to help you negotiate if you receive a counteroffer and reach an agreement. At this point, the house will go into escrow.

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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. We can help you arrange this, and you can schedule it within days of making an offer. If there are no major issues, the process goes to step eight. If there is, you can renegotiate your offer based on what needs to be fixed, or you can withdraw it.

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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. Work with your mortgage lender to select the option you feel the most comfortable with.

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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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Step 10: Finish Paperwork

No one looks forward to all the paperwork involved in buying a home, 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 know you are the legal owner of your new home.

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. 

See What Our Clients Have to Say

Success Stories

"As a first time homebuyer, I had several questions regarding the homebuying process and potential pitfalls. Shayne went through extraordinary lengths with attention to detail to make sure I was comfortable throughout the entire process and prepared me for each step. He was very patient and offered genuine advice regarding my specific needs - truly a caring person trying to help and not take advantage of you! It is clear that he is very passionate and knowledgeable about real estate. I would highly recommend Shayne, and I look forward to continue working with him in the future!"
"As a first time homebuyer, I had several questions regarding the homebuying process and potential pitfalls. Shayne went through extraordinary lengths with attention to detail to make sure I was comfortable throughout the entire process and prepared me for each step. He was very patient and offered genuine advice regarding my specific needs - truly a caring person trying to help and not take advantage of you! It is clear that he is very passionate and knowledgeable about real estate. I would highly recommend Shayne, and I look forward to continue working with him in the future!"
Phillip L.
"I bought my first home with Shayne and he made the process super simple. With no experience on the home buying process beforehand he answered all my questions with enthusiasm. He also structured great offers and got the seller to give us some concessions which took thousands off at the closing table! Id highly recommend Shayne as a realtor. "
"I bought my first home with Shayne and he made the process super simple. With no experience on the home buying process beforehand he answered all my questions with enthusiasm. He also structured great offers and got the seller to give us some concessions which took thousands off at the closing table! Id highly recommend Shayne as a realtor. "
Eliseo A.
"My wife and I just bought our first home, and we could not have asked for a better realtor. Shayne was incredibly patient and knowledgeable throughout the entire process. My wife and I did not really know much about the market and home buying process. Shayne walked us through every single step, he clearly explained anything that was going on. He let us know what to watch out for. The whole experience was smooth and easy. We came out of this with a new house and a lot of insight and knowledge. Thank you Shayne!"
"My wife and I just bought our first home, and we could not have asked for a better realtor. Shayne was incredibly patient and knowledgeable throughout the entire process. My wife and I did not really know much about the market and home buying process. Shayne walked us through every single step, he clearly explained anything that was going on. He let us know what to watch out for. The whole experience was smooth and easy. We came out of this with a new house and a lot of insight and knowledge. Thank you Shayne!"
Jonah G.
"Ramsey and Shayne were incredibly helpful throughout my wife and I’s first home buying experience. They took the time to answer the millions of questions we had, and made us feel comfortable every step of the way. Both very good at what they do and helped us close on a great house, even in a volatile market. Couldn’t recommend them enough!"
"Ramsey and Shayne were incredibly helpful throughout my wife and I’s first home buying experience. They took the time to answer the millions of questions we had, and made us feel comfortable every step of the way. Both very good at what they do and helped us close on a great house, even in a volatile market. Couldn’t recommend them enough!"
Sam F.
"We loved working with Ramsey and Shayne. Ramsey is a true rockstar, she was always available and easy to talk to; She worked hard for us and helped us find a great first home! We appreciate you both!"
"We loved working with Ramsey and Shayne. Ramsey is a true rockstar, she was always available and easy to talk to; She worked hard for us and helped us find a great first home! We appreciate you both!"
Saurav P.
"Shayne and Ramsey went above and beyond with helping me and my gf find a house! They were always available for any questions we had and were ready to book any showings very quickly. I can’t say enough about how much they helped us throughout the process. I would highly recommend Shayne and Ramsey to anyone looking to buy a home!"
"Shayne and Ramsey went above and beyond with helping me and my gf find a house! They were always available for any questions we had and were ready to book any showings very quickly. I can’t say enough about how much they helped us throughout the process. I would highly recommend Shayne and Ramsey to anyone looking to buy a home!"
Corey G.
"Shayne was our realtor for buying during this crazy time in the housing market. With so many offers going in on homes it was a scary thought we may lose out on our dream home, but Shayne knows his stuff! We found a home we loved, in the city we wanted, that was zoned for the schools we wanted too!! He worked his magic with our offer, and even though we weren’t the highest bidder… they accepted our offer because obviously Shayne is the best!! He is hands down the most knowledgeable, respectful, caring agent in the business. If you’re looking for an agent that cares about what’s best for you and your family, that’s cool ~~~goofy~~~ and fun, then Shayne is your man!"
"Shayne was our realtor for buying during this crazy time in the housing market. With so many offers going in on homes it was a scary thought we may lose out on our dream home, but Shayne knows his stuff! We found a home we loved, in the city we wanted, that was zoned for the schools we wanted too!! He worked his magic with our offer, and even though we weren’t the highest bidder… they accepted our offer because obviously Shayne is the best!! He is hands down the most knowledgeable, respectful, caring agent in the business. If you’re looking for an agent that cares about what’s best for you and your family, that’s cool ~~~goofy~~~ and fun, then Shayne is your man!"
Kelmal D.
"Shayne helped me buy my first home and was incredibly helpful in guiding me through the process. He was highly responsive and his knowledge of repairs and rehab costs helped me identify homes that would be great deals. Since buying the home, he's been an incredible resource and great friend. Thanks Shayne!"
"Shayne helped me buy my first home and was incredibly helpful in guiding me through the process. He was highly responsive and his knowledge of repairs and rehab costs helped me identify homes that would be great deals. Since buying the home, he's been an incredible resource and great friend. Thanks Shayne!"
Peter B.
"Working with Shayne was an absolute pleasure. His expertise and knowledge was beyond helpful. He’s patient and more than willing to spend time making sure you’re comfortable along the way. I would highly recommend him!"
"Working with Shayne was an absolute pleasure. His expertise and knowledge was beyond helpful. He’s patient and more than willing to spend time making sure you’re comfortable along the way. I would highly recommend him!"
Jeremy K.
"Shayne was great! He made the process simple and enjoyable. I plan to use him as my agent again in the future. He helped me see things in the property I hadn't considered and he was always quick to respond."
"Shayne was great! He made the process simple and enjoyable. I plan to use him as my agent again in the future. He helped me see things in the property I hadn't considered and he was always quick to respond."
Jack M.
"Shayne made the buying process stress-free and easy. He helped us purchase a house for 25k under the listing price which is close to impossible in the current market. Thanks again Shayne."
"Shayne made the buying process stress-free and easy. He helped us purchase a house for 25k under the listing price which is close to impossible in the current market. Thanks again Shayne."
Matt M.
"This guy is awesome! Shayne couldn't have been more helpful during the buying process! From local knowledge of the market all the way to negotiating a great deal, I would 100% recommend Shayne to anyone looking to buy or sell!"
"This guy is awesome! Shayne couldn't have been more helpful during the buying process! From local knowledge of the market all the way to negotiating a great deal, I would 100% recommend Shayne to anyone looking to buy or sell!"
Michael C.
"Shayne is the best! My husband and I purchased our first home with Shayne's help, something we couldn't have done without his extensive knowledge and patient guidance. He went above and beyond to answer our endless questions, connect us with other industry professionals, and even express his gratitude and heartfelt congratulations when we closed. We've been sending all of our home-buying friends Shayne's way!"
"Shayne is the best! My husband and I purchased our first home with Shayne's help, something we couldn't have done without his extensive knowledge and patient guidance. He went above and beyond to answer our endless questions, connect us with other industry professionals, and even express his gratitude and heartfelt congratulations when we closed. We've been sending all of our home-buying friends Shayne's way!"
Gurley G.
"Shayne did a great job as our realtor. He was very professional, knowledgeable about the current market, and very communicative throughout the entire process. He was able to build a great rapport with the selling agent, and negotiate on our behalf to help us win in a multiple offer scenario. Shayne was then able to negotiate more money off for us, to then use for new updates on our home. Not only does he truly care about his clients, but he believes in building long-lasting relationships. If you want a realtor who will go above and beyond, Shayne is your guy!"
"Shayne did a great job as our realtor. He was very professional, knowledgeable about the current market, and very communicative throughout the entire process. He was able to build a great rapport with the selling agent, and negotiate on our behalf to help us win in a multiple offer scenario. Shayne was then able to negotiate more money off for us, to then use for new updates on our home. Not only does he truly care about his clients, but he believes in building long-lasting relationships. If you want a realtor who will go above and beyond, Shayne is your guy!"
Mason E.
"Shayne took the time to get to know us up front, which made for a smooth (and relatively fast) process to start to close. A seasoned professional knowledgeable in every step of the process. We relied on Shayne for his renovation experience and as first time home buyers he helped us organize and prioritize the many steps before, during and even after closing."
"Shayne took the time to get to know us up front, which made for a smooth (and relatively fast) process to start to close. A seasoned professional knowledgeable in every step of the process. We relied on Shayne for his renovation experience and as first time home buyers he helped us organize and prioritize the many steps before, during and even after closing."
Ian N.
"I have worked with Shayne on several transactions over the past couple of years. Shayne has tremendous knowledge on the nuances of every deal and how to best structure an offer to give you the best possibility of getting it accepted. He is incredibly communicative and goes above and beyond. He also has experience as an investor and has been an incredible resource on which items add the most value and how to analyze a particular deal from soup to nuts. I would recommend Shayne to anyone looking to purchase any type of real estate!"
"I have worked with Shayne on several transactions over the past couple of years. Shayne has tremendous knowledge on the nuances of every deal and how to best structure an offer to give you the best possibility of getting it accepted. He is incredibly communicative and goes above and beyond. He also has experience as an investor and has been an incredible resource on which items add the most value and how to analyze a particular deal from soup to nuts. I would recommend Shayne to anyone looking to purchase any type of real estate!"
Trey B.
"I'm not sure how I found Shayne, but I'm glad I did. The goal was to purchase a rental property and while the market is crazy, he was always willing to fight for our offers and believe in our goals. We took him into the offer ring multiple times and secured a few SFH that would have instant equity and be cash flowing rentals. I talked with some cocky, out of touch investment realtors before Shayne, but none understood the assignment. We would talk, and I'd never hear from them again, they likely thought I was crazy or not worth their time. Shayne, although probably thought I was crazy, would follow up, ask questions, probe what you liked and didn't like, motivate when things seemed impossible and focus on what to do next time. I'm glad he was there with us as we started real estate investing, and would definitely recommend him for any of your real estate agent needs."
"I'm not sure how I found Shayne, but I'm glad I did. The goal was to purchase a rental property and while the market is crazy, he was always willing to fight for our offers and believe in our goals. We took him into the offer ring multiple times and secured a few SFH that would have instant equity and be cash flowing rentals. I talked with some cocky, out of touch investment realtors before Shayne, but none understood the assignment. We would talk, and I'd never hear from them again, they likely thought I was crazy or not worth their time. Shayne, although probably thought I was crazy, would follow up, ask questions, probe what you liked and didn't like, motivate when things seemed impossible and focus on what to do next time. I'm glad he was there with us as we started real estate investing, and would definitely recommend him for any of your real estate agent needs."
Nicole G.
"We could not have had a better experience working with Shayne to buy our home this year and look forward to partnering more in the future! Like a lot of people, my wife and I were stuck in 'analysis paralysis' for too long, especially in the current market. Shayne and his team provided a clear strategy and structure that allowed us to move past that and find an excellent opportunity. Whether you are a first-time home buyer or an experienced investor, he is someone that you're going to want in your corner. He is passionate, experienced, has an extensive team and network behind him, and genuinely wants to enable the success of those around him. Thank you for your help in the home buying process Shayne!"
"We could not have had a better experience working with Shayne to buy our home this year and look forward to partnering more in the future! Like a lot of people, my wife and I were stuck in 'analysis paralysis' for too long, especially in the current market. Shayne and his team provided a clear strategy and structure that allowed us to move past that and find an excellent opportunity. Whether you are a first-time home buyer or an experienced investor, he is someone that you're going to want in your corner. He is passionate, experienced, has an extensive team and network behind him, and genuinely wants to enable the success of those around him. Thank you for your help in the home buying process Shayne!"
Devin W.
"Shayne is the man when it comes to buying or selling your home. He is knowledgeable, personable, responsive, educational, dedicated, hardworking, “go-getter” who will strongly advocate for you in the real estate market! Being a first time home buying can feel confusing and scary. Shayne kept us informed, answered all our questions, and helped guide us in purchasing our first home. We could not be more thrilled with how he helped us come out on top in this crazy market! It helped so much that he had contacts for every aspect we needed (home inspector, plumber, electrician, etc.) . Everyone he has suggested has been top-notch and provided amazing services at affordable prices. We look forward to recommending him to everyone we know, as well as using him for all our future real estate needs. If you’re looking for an agent and are on the fence with who to choose, you will be beyond happy working with Shayne to reach your estate dreams and goals!"
"Shayne is the man when it comes to buying or selling your home. He is knowledgeable, personable, responsive, educational, dedicated, hardworking, “go-getter” who will strongly advocate for you in the real estate market! Being a first time home buying can feel confusing and scary. Shayne kept us informed, answered all our questions, and helped guide us in purchasing our first home. We could not be more thrilled with how he helped us come out on top in this crazy market! It helped so much that he had contacts for every aspect we needed (home inspector, plumber, electrician, etc.) . Everyone he has suggested has been top-notch and provided amazing services at affordable prices. We look forward to recommending him to everyone we know, as well as using him for all our future real estate needs. If you’re looking for an agent and are on the fence with who to choose, you will be beyond happy working with Shayne to reach your estate dreams and goals!"
Alexandria F.
"I’m thrilled to share my experience working with Shayne, who has been both a phenomenal realtor and a cherished friend. From start to finish, Shayne went above and beyond to make my first time buying journey seamless and enjoyable. Shayne’s enthusiasm, support, and thoughtful advice made me feel like more than just a client. He made me feel like family. If you’re looking for a realtor who is not only skilled and knowledgeable but also someone who truly cares about your journey, I wholeheartedly recommend, Shayne!"
"I’m thrilled to share my experience working with Shayne, who has been both a phenomenal realtor and a cherished friend. From start to finish, Shayne went above and beyond to make my first time buying journey seamless and enjoyable. Shayne’s enthusiasm, support, and thoughtful advice made me feel like more than just a client. He made me feel like family. If you’re looking for a realtor who is not only skilled and knowledgeable but also someone who truly cares about your journey, I wholeheartedly recommend, Shayne!"
Jazmin M.

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