Love Buying A Home Series: Everything You Didn’t Know You Needed To Know About Buying Your First Home

If you’ve been thinking about buying your first home and aren’t sure of the steps involved or even where to start, then this 13-part series is a MUST read for you. 

Each week, you’ll get great tips and easy-to-understand how to’s that will help you be successful in purchasing your first home in today’s market. And, it’s all delivered to you in sequential order so you know what to do when one bite-sized chunk at a time and how to love every step!

I understand that this is a lot of new information and this series will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and calm any fears you may have about “not knowing what you don’t know.”  

Week 1: How to Find the Very Best Buyer’s Agent

You want to choose a real estate agent who is the right person to represent YOU through the many steps in buying your first home. Think about what’s important to you and what you are looking for in a home and then make sure your agent has experience that meets these specific needs and goals.  Of course, I’d love to be your agent, but I may not be the right agent for everyone – you get to decide that for you!

Week 2: How Your Needs and Desires Lead to “Home Sweet Home” 

You’ll get a breakdown of the honest questions no one else is asking you about your home search, and the exact questions you need to ask yourself BEFORE you start house hunting.  This list goes way beyond how many bedrooms and baths you want.  You’ll learn this often overlooked step will determine everything that happens during your entire home-buying experience.  Don’t skip this one!

Week 3: Do the Math — A Mortgage You Can Afford

Figure out how much home you REALLY can afford. You’ll get a formula for determining how to arrive at the exact price range that works for your budget to get a home you love that doesn’t change your current lifestyle.  No buyer wants to be stretched too thin (or be shortchanged!). Learn how to do the math so you know the monthly payment for every home you see out there, making looking at homes much less stressful and way more fun. .

Week 4: Where to Find Money for Your Down Payment

Learn all the secret ways to get more bang for your down-payment buck.  If you’re a first-time homebuyer, I want to make sure you aren’t putting every dollar you have into being a homeowner. You’ll figure out what the “right” down payment amount is for your goals and budget, and learn how to find cash if you don’t have enough funds in your personal savings.

Week 5: Five Steps to Obtaining a Mortgage

Have you ever tried to make sense of all the mortgage options available out there?  It’s definitely not “one-size-fits-all” these days.  You’ll get a rundown of the various mortgage options out there and also the low down on private mortgage insurance (PMI) and why you may need it (and why it’s not all that bad). Once you’re pre-approved for a loan, you’re ready to seriously start looking at homes.

Week 6: It’s the Fun “House Hunting” Guide

House hunting can be fun, but it also can be overwhelming and stressful at times. Find out the ways you can shop productively (and strategically!) with tactics that will streamline your search.  You’ll know what to look for and what to stay away from, the pros and cons of condos and townhomes, and the real deal with “as is” homes.

Week 7: Make a Winning Offer Without Going Overboard

You’ve found a home you love and want to buy, but what’s next? No worries since this week’s article has all the steps covered: figuring out your offer price, determining your earnest money deposit, some clever negotiation tactics, and even how to compete with multiple offers.

Week 8: Under Contract: Locking in Your Mortgage and Getting a Home Appraisal

Did you know that you have to wait until after you are under contract until you can lock in your interest rate?  (See, you are already learning something!) Here’s how to work with your lender so you avoid any possible fluctuations and more money out of your pocket. Plus, the bank loaning your money requires you to get the home appraised at this time, and you’ll get the scoop on that too.

Week 9: How to Navigate a Home Inspection

You don’t want any surprises after you move in, right?! Both old and new homes should be inspected. Here’s the breakdown of what to expect during your home inspection, the most important parts of an examination, and also what to do if any red flags arise.

Week 10: Review those Condo Docs!

This step happens AFTER you are under contract. Seems backwards, but that’s how the process works. You’ll only have a few days to read sometimes hundreds of pages of documents so this handy guide will help prepare you. Purchasing a condo or a home with an HOA is like buying into a business, so you need to know how financially sound the entire community is before you close.

Week 11: Almost There … Pre-Closing Details for Buyers

You have a few more details to handle before the big day and here’s a breakdown of what’s next on your list, such as obtaining hazard insurance and maybe even a home warranty (and why), and when/how to connect utilities for your new home. You want to be prepared and ready to ensure a smooth transition to becoming the owner of this home. 

Week 12:  How to Make Your Settlement a Success

You’ve finally made it! But, there are still lots of items to cross off your to-do list, including your walk-through, getting title insurance, and your closing costs.  This handy list will make sure you’re prepared and ready for this eventful day, so that it ends with your new home’s keys in your hand.

Week 13 BONUS: Maintaining Your New Home

Here’s all you need to know as a new homeowner. When you walk through that front door, your life changes and you’re now responsible for everything (not a landlord!) Paying the electric bill, keeping home and repair documents organized, understanding how your home works (furnace, water heater) and making sure you schedule in regular maintenance and upkeep (HVAC and more) throughout the year. But, here’s the good news – it doesn’t have to be scary or overwhelming and, of course, I’m only ever a phone call away, even after settlement if anything comes up.  

I hope you enjoy this weekly series and learn a lot.  Know that each buyer has unique circumstances and I’d love to talk to you about yours.  Together, we can put together a plan for how to make your first home a reality.  Email me (amanda@nestrealestatequeens.com) at least a few months before you’d want to start looking for a home so we can get all your ducks in a row well before we start seeing homes!