Buyers

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 YOUR AGENT WILL HELP REDUCE THE STRESS OF BUYING A HOME AND HELP YOU ENJOY THE JOURNEY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

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.

Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

NOTICE I 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.

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.

Step 4: Choose a Real Estate Agent

CAN YOU SHOP FOR, LOOK AT, AND ULTIMATELY MAKE AN OFFER ON A HOME WITHOUT A REAL ESTATE AGENT? TECHNICALLY YES, BUT WHY WOULD YOU WHEN IT COSTS YOU NOTHING FOR AN AGENT LIKE ME TO TAKE MUCH OF THE STRESS OFF YOUR SHOULDERS? NOT ONLY WILL I HELP IDENTIFY PROPERTIES YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN, ARRANGE SHOWINGS, AND ULTIMATELY HANDLE THE OFFER PROCESS, BUT I ALSO HAVE A KNOWLEDGE OF THE MARKET THAT YOU DON’T POSSESS. I MAY BE ABLE TO STEER YOU AWAY FROM CERTAIN HOMES OR NEIGHBORHOODS, SUGGEST HIDDEN GEMS, OR GIVE YOU POINTERS THAT WILL HELP YOU FIND YOUR DREAM HOME FOR THE RIGHT PRICE.

My goal is to provide you with the most personalized service that is designed to help you buy your dream home.

Schedule A Consultation

Step 5: Find the Right Home

THIS SHOULD BE THE MOST ENJOYABLE STEP OF THE ENTIRE PROCESS (OTHER THAN MOVING IN!). I 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.

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. I 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.

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. I 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.

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.

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.

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.

My Testimonials

SEE WHY MY CLIENTS LOVE WORKING WITH ME.

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Carol S

Purchasing a 2nd home, in Florida, seemed impossible due to our family living in New York. A good friend of mine referred me to Emily Deleon. We spoke and she immediately set the expectations up front so that we knew what the c...

Michael T.

I had a great experience with Emily. She was always on top of her game. We were in constant communication with each other throughout the whole process. We were looking for a house a bit early but Emily was always sending us new...

Milena A.

If you are looking for someone super professional, friendly, caring, and sweet. I recommend you have Emily as your Realtor®️. She is just amazing, purchasing a home during Covid-19 wasn’t easy, but having Emily as our Realtor®️...

Bethsaida T.

Thank you so much for all you did for me and for all of your patience. You have been wonderful since day one, and you can be sure that if I know anyone looking for a loan they will have your name and number from me! I can't bel...

Robin L.

Victoria found us a rental in less than 2 weeks, she was with us through the entire process making sure everything was perfect! She came with us on the day we got the keys, to walk through the house and make sure any minor issu...

Jared P.

Emily was so great to work with. Answering any and all of my questions and walking me through the process from beginning to end. I would highly recommend Emily to anyone looking to purchase or rent in the future.

Jason D.

The best experience anyone could ever ask for. Emily was always patient and very nice to work with through every step. I would recommend Emily over any other I have ever met.

Jeffrey S.

She was very helpful and went above and beyond to help us find what we needed.

Annie W.

Victoria did an amazing job listing our house. She was very professional, ambitious, and savvy. She is very knowledgeable about real estate law, which was very important to us. I will always recommend her services, we were very...

Robert S.

Thank you Emily and the Tanner Real Estate team. We met Emily about 3 years ago looking for a Florida investment/vacation home. For years we kept in touch, she sent us properties until we found the right one and the time was ...

Charity & Felix

Great experience working with Emily and Gabriel! They listed my home and helped me purchase a new home simultaneously. Their dedication and attention to detail was exceptional. They captured everything I loved about my home, n...

Alexandria D.

Emily Deleon really helped me out a lot. Not only in finding an awesome place to call home, but was very patient with me and very real. Other Realtors®️ may try to just sell sell sell, but not Emily. She went out of her way in ...

Benjamin G.

I had the chance to work with Madison in order to get my first apartment with 2 friends, she has been an absolute delight through the whole process she was very professional, and put our needs first in order to find someplace w...

Ryan S.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Madison DesRoches who helped me find a great apartment. She also guided me through every step of the rental process, ensuring that all paperwork was in order and any issues were resol...

Joey

Victoria knows exactly what she's doing, she can answer any questions you may have and she was so friendly. She moved quicker than we expected, and I wouldn't hesitate to use her on my next deal! Thanks Victoria.

Elena C.

I recommend Madison DesRoches 100%. She was always on time and had patience with me since I was struggling to find the right place to move in. She was very detail-oriented, and listen to what I wanted. She is very communicative...

Thelma & Sean

Real estate can be overwhelming but Madison DesRoches & Emily DeLeon made the process enjoyable, and worked to get the best possible outcome. Madison and Emily did everything to take the worry off our shoulders, and make it a ...

Paul W.

Victoria did a fantastic job listing and selling our mother’s condo. She was always available anytime we needed her and she answered every single question that we had. She is very pleasant and so easy to work with. Victoria did...

Watkins

Victoria was the best! She kept me updated and in the loop of everything. If there was anything I needed to know or didn’t know she was always available to help. Victoria was very professional, honest, and always on time for ou...

Buyer

Perfect in her job. She has taken care of us so well before, during, and after the purchase of our houses. She answers our text messages right away and she answers all our questions and she solves all problems immediately. We h...

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OUR TEAM’S UNPRECEDENTED PROFESSIONALISM, SKILL, AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL HAS ALLOWED US TO SET SALES RECORDS FOR THE PAST YEARS. WE WILL ENSURE YOUR BUYING OR SELLING EXPERIENCE EXCEEDS YOUR EXPECTATIONS.