Searching for Homes

The home search process looks different for everyone depending on their time frame, level of motivation, and how particular they are about what they’re looking for. Here are some tips that can help you to prepare, as well as for along the way!

SET A BUDGET | Work with a reputable local lender to get fully pre-approved and feel confident in your price range and potential monthly payment. Homes in Denver can sell fast, and if you wait til you find one you love, you’re probably going to miss out on it!

MAKE A LIST OF NEEDS + WANTS | Needs are absolute must-haves and wants have a little more flexibility. 3-5 things in each category will be a good place to start.

PICK A LOCATION | Do you want to cast a wide net or focus on a specific neighborhood? What type of home do you want - Historic, mid-century, or a newer build? Walkable to shops/restaurants or near trails/open space? More of an urban or suburban feel? Also take into consideration a potential work commute because Denver traffic can be rough!

PARTNER WITH YOUR AGENT | I set all my buyers up on an official MLS search and filter potential matches to send them as soon as they hit the market. But I also connect them with a great app and encourage them to browse listings on their own as well!

HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY | Some might not agree, but I don’t believe the *perfect* home exists (😳?!). Every house has pros and cons, and you have to decide what’s most important to you. The great thing about owning a home is you can always make changes/updates and make it exactly what you want...and that in turn adds to your home’s value!

KEEP A GOOD ATTITUDE | Denver’s market can be competitive and tough for buyers. Sometimes people will make offers on several homes before getting one accepted. In my experience, everything always works out in the end...and even though it can be challenging, it’s definitely worth it!

How to Prepare Now

Is buying a home this year one of your goals? Or maybe you had plans to jump into house hunting this spring but COVID put that on hold? I’ve had several buyers reach out to me recently asking what they could do to prepare now while they have a little extra time at home on their hands, so I’m sharing my answers with here with everyone!

START THE PRE-APPROVAL PROCESS | This can be done completely remove via internet, phone + Zoom meetings. A lender will help you determine what you qualify for, show you how purchase prices translate to monthly payments, set expectations on what you need to save for down payment and closing costs, and can give you pointers on anything else you can do now to put yourself in the best position when the time comes. You HAVE to be fully pre-approved before you can go shopping, so if you get this out of the way now, you can hit the ground running whenever the timing is right for you!

BROWSE HOMES ONLINE | Get your feet wet checking out different houses and neighborhoods. It’s always good to get a feel for what is out there at different price points in different areas. Right now most agents are adding 3D interactive tours and videos to their listings too, so you’ll be able to get as close to being inside the home as possible!

MAKE A LIST OF NEEDS AND WANTS | These can vary so much, and are really about what is most important to you. These lists don’t have to be crazy long and it’s best to have a little flexibility when you start searching. About five or so in each category is a great place to start!

MEET WITH ME ON FACETIME OR ZOOM | Of course I prefer to meet with people in person, but given the current circumstances, we have to adapt. I can listen to what your goals are, fill you in on the market, walk you through what the buying process looks like, answer any questions you have...then will mail you a buyers packet with a bunch of helpful information!

If you’re thinking about buying soon or down the road, send me a message! Would be happy to chat more or get you a local lender rec! 👋🏼

Thought on the Current Market - Mar 2020

Well Denver, this spring sure took a turn for the...interesting. We’re under official “stay at home” orders and there is a lot of uncertainty going on right now. As with many other industries, the real estate world has changed drastically in the past few weeks, and even days.

In order to continue to operate safely, the industry has adapted A LOT...utilizing technology to meet with clients + market listings, using an abundance of caution at showings, facilitating almost the entire transaction remotely, and having no-contact inspections, appraisals and closings.

Right now, real estate has been deemed “essential” under the state’s new orders. I’m so thankful my buyers and sellers who are currently under contract will still have somewhere to move into and actually have a place to “stay home” at.

There are certainly several reasons why someone NEEDS to buy or sell at this time – maybe they’ve already bought their next home and need to sell their current one, they’ve already sold their current home and need to buy their next one, their lease is ending, or they have other specific personal circumstances. If this is the case, we can certainly make it happen.

However, in this time of limiting exposure to others it is probably not a great idea to go house hunting for fun, get your feet wet checking out homes, or arranging handfuls of showings. Buyers who are active right now should be serious – fully pre-approved and only seeing a home if they think they may really want to make an offer on it.

It is impossible to predict the future, but we are fortunate Denver has the foundation of a strong housing market. We are nowhere near having the supply to meet the demand. Showings are down, but the number of homes going under contract is near the number of new listings going on the market. We will see what the upcoming weeks bring, and of course I will keep you posted!

Check out this West + Main Homes article about buying and selling at this time.

If you have questions about your specific situation, please send me a message!

Down Payment Options

One of the key components of getting ready to buy a home is saving money for your down payment. There’s a lot of incorrect or misunderstood information floating around out there about what amount of money you actually need to provide for a down payment.

For starters, you don’t need 20% down! It’s been years since that was a requirement. In reality, for the most commonly used loan programs, Conventional and FHA, you only need as little as 3% or 3.5% down respectively. For a VA loan program dedicated to current and former military members, no down payment is required at all. There are also down payment assistance programs out there that may be a good option if you need a little help. A lender will work with you personally to help determine which loan program and what amount of down payment makes the most sense for your situation.

Your down payment can come from a variety of places, so feel free to get creative. The most common sources are personal checking/savings accounts, gift funds from family members, pulling the money from personal investment or retirement accounts, or through equity from the sale of a previous home. Realistically, the down payment usually comes from a combination of these sources.

Cash (like cash in a shoe box or a personal safe at home), cannot be used for down payment at the closing table. Underwriters are required by the loan investors to “source” your down payment, or be able to show a paper trail of where that money came from. If you have cash you’re planning to use, you’ll want to put it into a bank account for at least 60 days to meet requirements. Also, be prepared to verify where any large deposits into your bank accounts came from that cannot be clearly understood from your bank statement transaction history.

Getting your down payment in place is a big step in making your home purchase a reality. Hopefully this helps you to realize that you don’t actually have to save up an exorbitant amount, but rather that with the low minimum percentages required and the various options of sources for down payment, it may not be as overwhelming as it may have seemed!

Information courtesy of my go-to local lenders, The Strive Mortgage Team

Five Biggest Mistakes Buyers Make

NOT GETTING PRE-APPROVED | Everyone wants to jump to the fun part, looking at houses! But that’s like going shopping without a wallet + having no clue how much money is in your account. A lender will help you determine what you qualify for + how a purchase price translates to a monthly payment. In Denver’s market there’s no way you’re getting an offer accepted on a home without a pre-approval, so take care of your financing first!

NOT LEARNING ABOUT THE LOCAL MARKET | If you want to buy soon, start browsing current listings to get a feel for what's out there + price points in different areas. This will give you realistic expectations of the inventory so you’re not looking for a unicorn home that doesn’t exist! It’s also helpful to see how quickly the homes you like tend to sell so when you find one you love you'll be ready to jump on it.

EXPECTING HOMES TO BE PERFECT | Most homes will have some wear and tear or features that could use upgrading. The beauty of owning is that it’s YOURS and you can do whatever you want to it. Cosmetic fixes like paint and fixtures are easy. If you want a trendy backsplash, add one in. If it could use new carpet or windows down the road, don’t let that be a deal breaker. A home is an investment and upgrades will only add to it's value.

WAITING TOO LONG | There's a saying that the best time to buy real estate was five years ago + so many people wish they purchased sooner. When you’re paying a mortgage instead of rent, you’re investing money into your own asset + can capitalize on it down the road. Real estate also historically appreciates, so home values + prices go up year over year. Denver isn't getting any cheaper, so sooner is usually better than later!

ASSUMING ALL REALTORS ARE THE SAME | Realtors can run their businesses in very different ways. Choose an agent who you like, get along with, and has a philosophy you agree with. My approach is to educate from the beginning so people can make informed decisions. I also believe in present/personal service every step of the way – from the first meeting, to showings, contracts + negotiations, inspection + the under contract period, all the way to closing.

Timeline to Purchase

As many buyers are adding a home purchase to their New Year 2020 goals, this topic has come up a lot recently!

Most first-time home buyers are currently renting and have leases to consider, so if you’re planning on buying a home, when should you start preparing?? In my opinion, the answer is the sooner the better! You don’t know what you don’t know, and a quick meeting can educate you on the process, take some of the anxiety out of it, and help you feel comfortable to make some moves when the time is right.

Getting your financing squared away early is one of the best things you can do. You will get a realistic expectation of how much money you need to save for a down payment/closing costs and how a purchase price translates to a monthly payment....which will give you a goal to aim for. If there is anything you can do to put yourself in a better position, you will be able to get some direction and work on it.

In the Denver market, good homes can move fast. If you find an amazing place you want to be able to jump on it...and in order to do that you need to have a mortgage pre-approval.

If you want some hard and fast numbers - the typical under contract period in Denver is about 30 days. Considering inventory is fairly low, I’d recommend allowing at least a couple months of searching before that to find your perfect place.

It may also be a good idea to look into logistics of breaking your current rental lease in case you find a perfect home before the timing is perfect. When you purchase a home, you don’t make your first mortgage payment until the month following the month after you close (Close in June = First payment in August)...so a couple months without a mortgage can certainly negate the cost of breaking a lease.

Of course, this is the preferred plan of action...if your dream house pops up out of blue, I have great lenders who will get you pre-approved fast on an evening or weekend so we can try to get you under contract!

Have any questions or thinking about buying a home in 2020? Send me a text or email and let’s chat more about your goals!

Steps in the Homebuying Process

Thinking about buying a home but not sure where to start? Check out the steps below.

FIND A REALTOR · Buying a home is likely going to be the biggest purchase you make in your life. I believe the more informed and prepared people are, the more comfortable they are. I like to start by sitting down over a cup of coffee and chat about your goals, the steps in the process, and answer any questions you may have. If you think we’d be a good fit, we can get started whenever the time is right for you.

GET PRE-APPROVED · In Denver’s market, it is a must to get pre-approved before you go shopping for a home. It is very important for you to know your purchase price range, feel comfortable with a potential monthly payment, and understand your down payment options and closing costs up front.

SEARCH FOR HOMES · I run a comprehensive MLS search and update you with new listings that meet your needs. I also connect you with a great app for browsing and together we will find homes you love. When the time is right, I schedule showings and we will see homes until we find the one that is perfect for you.

MAKE AN OFFER · Together, we will determine the terms and price of an offer on the home you choose. There is likely to be some negotiation, but once both parties agree, you will go under contract.

UNDER CONTRACT PERIOD · The typical under contract period in the current Denver market is about thirty days, but this can vary based upon the negotiation and terms of the contract. There are multiple dates and deadlines to meet and it is my job to make sure that you’re informed about every step. We will schedule an inspection, review several documents (title, HOA, due diligence + seller disclosures), order an appraisal, and finalize your loan. If something arises that causes major concern, the Colorado contract allows opportunities to cancel the contract (and get your earnest money back) if something is not right.

CLOSING · This is the final step after all of your hard work has already been completed! A title company will facilitate the transfer of funds and ownership. You will have a lot of documents to sign to make it official, then you will get the keys to your new home!

Buyer Millennial Myths

So, the American Dream may look a little different these days. Millennials spend more time pursuing career endeavors, traveling and waiting longer to settle down with a family and house than people did in past generations. While I’m a big fan of spending money on experiences and not things, I also believe home ownership is such a good financial investment and an important aspect of creating long term wealth.

Here are a few homeownership myths that might be keeping some first time homebuyers from turning their rent into a mortgage.

✖️YOU NEED A 20% DOWN PAYMENT | It has been a long time since this was a requirement. Conventional loan programs only require 3% down, and there are down payment assistance programs that could be an option as well.

✖️YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR A MORTGAGE | You don’t have to have a perfect credit score or be completely debt free to qualify for a mortgage! In fact, most people have some mixture of student loans, car payments or credit card debt. If you’re curious, you can chat with a lender and see what your options are...you might be surprised! If now isn’t the best time, a lender can offer suggestions on what actions to take to put yourself in a better position in the future.

✖️OWNING A HOME WILL TIE YOU DOWN | While it does usually make the most sense to own a home for at least a few years before selling, there are so many options for long-term and short-term rentals (Airbnb!). You can always have someone else pay your mortgage if you want to travel or make a move.

When you are paying a mortgage instead of rent, you’re investing that money into yourself...ultimately you will be paying it either way. If you look back over the last year...or five...and think of how much money you’ve paid in rent you will probably go 😳. It’s also important to consider that historically homes appreciate over time, which increases the equity you have in the home...So when it’s time to move you can cash in on your investment instead of just getting your security deposit back!

Selling + Buying

Selling and buying within the same time frame can seem complicated and overwhelming, but it is a very common situation. When determining the route that is best for you and your family, you need to look at both finances and level of convenience and weigh your options.

• If you are in a position where you do not need proceeds from a sale to use towards the down payment on a new purchase, and are able to qualify for both mortgages, you can take your time on a house hunt and wait to list your current home until after you're under contract on or have purchased your new home. Timing wise, we are usually able to line up both transactions so you don’t end up having any overlap on mortgage payments, but you do need to qualify for both on paper and have to have independent down payment funds available. You can also look into if keeping your current home as an investment property would be a good financial decision for you.

If you’re planning on using money from your sale towards your new down payment, here are a few options you have:

• You can put your current home on the market and as soon as you get an offer that works for you, we can go find your new home. You can also usually request a post-occupancy agreement from a buyer that allows you to stay in your home up to 60-days post-closing to give you a little more time to find a new place that you love. You will close on your current home prior to the new sale, so you are able to use sale proceeds towards your down payment, and only need to qualify for the new mortgage. This is the simplest of choices, but can put pressure on you to find the right house in a short amount of time.

• You can find the right home to buy and make an offer contingent on the sale of your existing home. This can seem ideal, but many sellers in this market don't want to accept a contingent offer, so negotiation position is weak. You may also risk losing the new home if something goes wrong with your sale or if your sellers aren't willing to be flexible on time frame. If you are able to get a contingent offer accepted, you need to have your current home ready to list super quick, usually within a few days, so it is best to do some prep work ahead of time so you can move fast when you find the right place. You will close on your current home prior to the new sale, so you are able to use sale proceeds towards your down payment, and only need to qualify for the new mortgage.

• You can sell your current home and move into temporary housing or stay with family/friends if you don't find the right home while your current home is under contract. This gives you the best negotiation position, but can be inconvenient. You will have all sale proceeds in hand and available whenever you find a new place.

• You can work with a lender to see if you can secure a "bridge loan," which would allow you to buy with convenience and without pressure. However, many of these specialty programs come with significantly higher interest rates or additional fees, and you may have months with multiple mortgage payments if your current home doesn't sell quickly.

If you know anyone who may be looking to sell their current home and upgrade, downsize, or just get a change of scenery, please send them my way, I'd be happy to help them understand all their different options!

Closing Costs

Whether you've bought a house before, or if you're thinking about buying for the first time, you likely heard the term "closing costs" and wondered what these mysterious things were.

The costs due at closing can be broken down into three basic categories – Loan related fees, title related fees, and pre-paid/escrow costs.

Loan related fees include an origination fee that covers everything your lender takes care of on your behalf from going under contract to closing - processing, underwriting, document preparation, and administrative work. They also include third-party costs like an appraisal fee, a credit report fee, and a flood certification.

Title related fees cover the services the title company provides to help close your transaction – a closing fee, a lender’s title insurance policy, county mortgage note and deed recording fees, tax stamps, and transfer tax.

The final cost is that to set up your escrow account. This is basically a reserve account for your homeowner’s insurance (HOI) and property taxes so your lender can pay them on your behalf when they are due throughout the year. You will also pay pre-paid interest to cover the initial month you take ownership of the home before you start making a mortage payment. (Note: With some loan structures, you can opt not to escrow your HOI and taxes and pay them separately)

If you purchase a home with an HOA, a new construction home, or a home in a condo community you will also have some costs associated with those specific situations.

You are able to negotiate credits to help pay for these costs if it makes sense for you individually with your specific property and scenario!

Now it probably makes sense why everyone just generalizes “closing costs” - there is so much that actually goes into them it could make your head spin. Hopefully this helps show how important it is to sit down with someone who can walk you through all of these costs, and what you can expect as you prepare to purchase a home!

Information courtesy of my go-to local lenders, The Strive Mortgage Team

Down Payment

One of the key components of getting ready to buy a home is saving money for your down payment. There’s a lot of incorrect or misunderstood information floating around out there about what amount of money you actually need to provide for a down payment.

For starters, you don’t need 20% down! It’s been years since that was a requirement. In reality, for the most commonly used loan programs, Conventional and FHA, you only need as little as 3% or 3.5% down respectively. For a VA loan program dedicated to current and former military members, no down payment is required at all.

Your down payment can come from a variety of places, so feel free to get creative. The most common sources are personal checking/savings accounts, gift funds from family members, pulling the money from personal investment or retirement accounts, or through equity from the sale of a previous home. Realistically, the down payment usually comes from a combination of these sources.

Cash (like cash in a shoe box or a personal safe at home), cannot be used for down payment at the closing table. Underwriters are required by the loan investors to “source” your down payment, or be able to show a paper trail of where that money came from. If you have cash you’re planning to use, you’ll want to put it into a bank account for at least 60 days to meet requirements. Also, be prepared to verify where any large deposits into your bank accounts came from that cannot be clearly understood from your bank statement transaction history.

Getting your down payment in place is a big step in making your home purchase a reality. Hopefully this helps you to realize that you don’t actually have to save up an exorbitant amount, but rather that with the low minimum percentages required and the various options of sources for down payment, it may not be as overwhelming as it may have seemed!

Information courtesy of my go-to local lenders, The Strive Mortgage Team

Under Contract Period

So you’re “Under Contract” on a home...now what??

First of all congratulations 🥳! You’ve found a home you love...you and the seller have agreed to a price and terms...and you have a closing date on the books. Now it’s time to get past a few checkpoints before getting your pen ready for the closing table.

Inspection. You will have the opportunity to have a third party Inspector come in to do a comprehensive evaluation of the home. You’re not necessarily looking for a home to be perfect, but you will want to pay attention to health and safety issues and potentially costly issues relating to the home’s structure, plumbing or electrical systems.

Title/HOA/Due Diligence Document Review. Your Realtor will make sure that you receive these applicable documents, understand them, and are okay with all of the details and terms.

Appraisal. If you’re purchasing the home with a loan, an appraisal is required by the lender. While the listing agent and your buyer’s agent have completed home valuations, an appraiser gets the final say in determining the home’s value. If it differs from the agreed upon sales price, your agent will walk you through negotiations.

Loan deadline. Your lender will give you a “clear to close” meaning they’ve reviewed, underwritten & approved your full loan file. Your lender and the title company will work together to finalize your closing costs.

The Colorado Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate offers opportunities at all the above deadlines for the buyer to cancel the contract and get their earnest money back if any issues or objections arise!

Earnest Money

Earnest money is a required part of most real estate transactions...but what exactly is it?

Earnest money essentially a security deposit that demonstrates to the seller that the buyer is serious about completing the home sale.

If the buyer defaults in the contract, the seller will get to keep the earnest money. However there are several steps within the transaction (Inspection, Appraisal, Loan Deadline, etc) where the buyer can legally terminate the contract and get all of their earnest money back.

It is typically 1-2% of the sale price of the home, and is due by the buyer within a few days of going under contract. The buyer will give the earnest money to their agent, and typically it is held by a title company until closing.

The good news is that as long as everything goes smoothly, the earnest money is applied to the buyer’s closing costs and down payment at closing, so it is money that the buyer gets to keep and use!

Being Competitive in a Seller's Market

We’re getting into spring time (even though is doesn’t feel like it around here 🥶), which means more buyers are entering the market and it’s so important to submit solid and competitive offers on homes.

So what can you do to be competitive in Denver’s seller’s market without just throwing more money on the table?

Start with a fair and reasonable offer price! Your agent will take the list price into consideration, but should also look at nearby for sale/under contract/recently sold properties to see what other comparable homes are selling for and how quickly. A lowball offer will likely be ignored. Come in with with a strong offer price at the beginning to get your offer accepted and put yourself in the best possible position in the case of a multiple offer situation.

Get completely pre-approved and work with a reputable local lender. You want someone who has a good reputation of completing a thorough pre-approval process and has a track record of smooth and successful transactions. It can go a long way when you have a lender who is willing to call a listing agent on your behalf, advocate for the solidity of your financing, and be able to say that they’ve never had someone they’ve pre-approved not be able to close!

Be willing to compromise on inspection and repair requests. Major health and safety issues should be addressed, but the minor things should probably be let go. Getting a home warranty (or working with an agent who will purchase one for you 🙋🏻‍♀️) is a great option to give you peace of mind as a new homeowner, especially when it comes to the unexpected repair or replacement of appliances and home systems...and it will cover many of the concerns that may arise during an inspection.

Be flexible on possession date. Some sellers want a quick sale, but some want a little more time after closing to find a replacement home and move. If you’re open to a seller rent-back, you may be able to offer a lot of convenience to the seller that could make your offer more compelling.

The Best Time of Year to Buy a Home

When is the best time of the year to buy a home?

There are pros and cons to buying during both the hot market spring and summer months and the cooler market fall and winter months.

In the spring and summer, inventory goes up, which means more options...but so does the number of active house hunters, which means more competition, potentially higher prices, and fewer days homes stay on the market. You may have to act quickly if you want a home, and you may end up in a multiple offer situation.

In the fall and winter, inventory goes down, so there are fewer options out there, but there are also less potential home buyers. The average number of days on market goes up, which may give you some leverage to negotiate a lower price or inspection terms if you find the right home.

Ultimately, the best time of the year to buy a home is when it makes sense for your family! Is it important for you to be settled into a new home before a baby arrives? Is it most convenient to not disrupt kids with a move during the school year? Do you need to save a little more money up after an expensive holiday season?

There is always new and changing inventory, so the best time of the year to go house hunting is the time that works best for your personal situation!

Home Inspections

Home inspections are a very important part of the home buying process. The buyer has the opportunity to bring in a third party professional for a comprehensive evaluation of the home.

If you are buying a pre-owned home, it is important to go in with the mindset that it won’t be perfect and there are bound to be issues that need attention or repair that will be pointed out by the inspector.

Prioritization is key. Immediate health and safety concerns should definitely be addressed. Problems with the major components of the home - structure, electric, sewer and roof - should also be considered as they can potentially be very costly to repair!

Your Realtor should guide you through the inspection objection, negotiation and resolution process, taking into consideration the current climate of the local market and the terms of your specific contract.

What is a Buyer's Agent?

If you want to buy a home, you probably know that you need to work with a real estate professional...but what are your options for representation?

In Colorado buyers can either be represented by a Buyers Agent or a Transaction Broker. A transaction broker simply facilitates a purchase transaction (completes contracts and paperwork and ensures deadlines are met) without being an advocate or agent for the buyer or seller.

A Buyer’s Agent has additional specific duties they must fulfill for their client - promoting the buyer’s interests with good faith, loyalty & fidelity...seeking a price and terms acceptable to the buyer...and counseling the buyer as to any material benefits or risks of the transaction.

The best part is that a Buyer’s Agent’s commission is paid by the seller, so your representation is FREE

Mortgage Pre-Approval

So, you are READY and you want to buy a house. Time to go out and look at some homes right?

Not quite...One of the first things your Realtor should advise you to do is speak with a lender and get pre-approved BEFORE going home shopping.

A lender will help you determine a comfortable price range after evaluating your credit, income and debts. With this information, your agent can ensure that they’re only showing you homes that are within your budget.

A pre-approval is often required if you want to submit an offer on a property. In a market as competitive as Denver’s, you don’t want to be scrambling to get a last-minute pre-approval and miss out on a home you love!

If you would like recommendations on a reputable and local lender, just let me know!

New Construction Homes

New construction homes are a great option for some buyers. You can completely customize and build the home from the dirt up, or purchase an already built unit that is about as move-in-ready as it gets. They are gorgeous, have contemporary design, and are so shiny and NEW.

A big misconception is that buyers should go directly to the builders and don’t need to use a Realtor as an agent to represent them.

However, builders use their own private sales contracts and not the standard Colorado purchase contract that is state regulated and designed to protect buyers and allow for termination of the contract if certain issues arise.

As always, a buyer does not pay for representation from an agent (the builder/seller does)...so essentially you’re getting free representation from an unbiased third party who has your best interests in mind, and will walk you through the sales contract, inspection, and other steps leading to closing. Win-win.

First Time Homebuyers

Are you thinking about buying a home but are confused and overwhelmed by the process? Here is an overview of the basic steps in the home buying process.

Meet with a real estate agent (🙋🏻‍♀️) to discuss your time frame and what you’re looking for in a home As a buyer, your agent’s commission is paid by the seller, so representation costs you nothing

Get pre-approved. A mortgage lender will work with you to determine a comfortable price range

Search for homes! Your agent will utilize their tools and systems to find all homes that meet your criteria and schedule showings

Find the home you love & make an offer. Your agent will handle negotiations & preparing a contract

Perform due diligence (conduct an inspection, order an appraisal, finalize terms of your loan, etc). Your agent will keep track of necessary tasks and deadlines

Closing Day - the transfer of funds and ownership. Lots of documents to sign, then you get the keys to your new home!