Shopping For Your Home | First-Time Homebuyer Guide

This is the fun part. Before you start searching, think about what matters most to you. Very few homes check every single box, and knowing your priorities makes it much easier to recognize the right home when you find it.

Things worth considering:

Location
Price range
Bedrooms and bathrooms
Square footage
School districts, if important to you
Commute
Yard size
Garage or parking
HOA
Property taxes
Age and condition of the home
Neighborhood amenities

It helps to sort your list into three groups:

Must-Haves

Nice-To-Haves

Deal Breakers

New Construction vs. Resale

Both can be great options.

New construction

Brand-new systems and appliances
Modern layouts and finishes
Builder warranties
Potential builder incentives
Fewer immediate repairs

Resale homes

Established neighborhoods
Mature landscaping
More information about how the area has developed
Potential opportunities to negotiate
Existing upgrades or improvements

If you visit a model home, remember that the salesperson working in it works for the builder. You can still have your own REALTOR® helping you through the purchase and looking out for your interests.

Making An Offer

When you find a home you love, I can help you prepare an offer. An offer includes much more than price. It can cover:

Purchase price
Financing terms
Earnest money
Option fee and option period
Closing date
Seller concessions, if requested
Items included with the property

Once an offer is submitted, the seller may accept it, reject it or counter it. I will help you understand your options and negotiate the terms.

Earnest Money & The Option Period

Earnest money is money delivered according to the contract that demonstrates your commitment to the transaction. If the purchase closes, it is generally applied according to the terms of the contract.

The option fee is a separate amount paid for your unrestricted right to terminate the contract during a negotiated period of time.

The option period gives you time to further evaluate the property. This is usually when inspections happen, when you review the findings and when you decide how you would like to proceed. These deadlines are extremely important, so I will help you keep track of them.