Buyer FAQ

I start by meeting with you to understand your goals, budget, and timeline, then connect you with a lender if you don’t already have one. Once you’re pre‑approved, we’ll tour homes, write an offer when you’re ready, negotiate terms, move through inspection and appraisal, and then work with your lender and the closing team to get you the keys.

After our initial meeting, the next step is to connect with a lender so you can get a clear picture of what you can comfortably afford. If you already have a lender you like, that’s great—we’ll work with them; if not, I can introduce you to trusted local lenders. They’ll review your income, debts, and credit to outline a realistic price range and monthly payment, and I’ll use that information to focus our home search on properties that truly fit your budget and goals.

Pre‑qualification is a quick estimate based on information you provide, while pre‑approval is a full review with documentation and a credit check. I strongly recommend getting fully pre‑approved so your offer is taken seriously and we can move fast when you find the right home.

You don’t always need 20% down—there are loan programs that allow as little as 0% down, depending on your qualifications and loan type. I’ll work with your lender to help you understand which options you qualify for and what your down payment and closing costs are likely to be, so you know your total cash needed up front.

During the process you’ll typically pay for your inspection, appraisal (if required by the lender), and closing costs at the end. After closing, you’ll have your mortgage payment, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and any HOA dues or utilities, and I’ll help you understand these numbers before you commit.

I’ll show you how many homes are available in your price range, how quickly they’re selling, and whether homes are getting multiple offers. That way you’ll know if we’re in a market where we can negotiate more, or one where we need to move quickly and write strong offers.

There’s no “right” number—some buyers find the right home quickly, others need to see more to feel confident. My job is to help you compare each home to your must‑haves and budget so you recognize a great fit when you see it.

I’ll pull recent comparable sales and look at the home’s condition, location, and days on market. We’ll review the data together so you can see whether the list price is fair, high, or low and decide how aggressively you want to offer.

I’ll walk you through the purchase contract in plain language, explain each key term, and recommend an offer price and terms based on the home and the market. Once you’re comfortable, I’ll submit the offer and handle all communication and negotiation with the listing agent.

We’ll look at comparable sales, the home’s condition, and how much interest it’s getting, then choose a strategy that fits both the market and your comfort level. In a multiple‑offer situation, we’ll focus on making your offer strong on both price and terms without pushing you beyond what feels right.

Common contingencies include inspection, financing, and appraisal, and sometimes the sale of your current home if you’re moving up. I’ll help you decide which contingencies you need to protect you, while still keeping your offer competitive in the seller’s eyes.

After your offer is accepted, we’ll schedule a home inspection where a licensed inspector evaluates the major systems and structure. If issues come up, I’ll help you decide whether to ask for repairs, request a credit, renegotiate, or, in serious cases, walk away under your contingency.

In competitive markets, some buyers choose to limit or remove contingencies to strengthen their offer, but I always put your protection first. I typically never recommend waiving the inspection contingency because it’s the best way to uncover hidden issues that could cost you thousands after closing—I’ll walk you through the risks and rewards so you can decide what feels safe for you.

In most cases, you can expect roughly 30–35 days from mutual acceptance to closing, depending on your loan type and how quickly documents move. I’ll stay in close contact with your lender and the closing team to keep everything on track and keep you updated at each step.

Yes—and it often makes the process smoother. I’ll coordinate the timing of your sale and purchase, help you decide whether to buy first or sell first, and explore options like rent‑backs or temporary housing so you’re not left in a bind.

The most common mistakes are looking at homes before getting pre‑approved, stretching beyond a comfortable monthly payment, and skipping key contingencies just to “win.” I’ll be honest with you throughout the process so you can avoid those pitfalls and make confident, informed decisions.