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A Step-by-Step Guide to Buying a Home

Buyer's Guide

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where my expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let me show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.

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

Schedule a Consultation
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY

Roxy is by far the greatest, and easy going realtor I've ever met! and last. she helped get into my first house quick! and made the process seamless! I recommend her and the team by far. thank you so much!

— Dylan M.

WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY

Roxy was wonderful! A great help in purchasing our home and selling our previous home. She answered every question and was always a step ahead. I highly recommend her.

— Dave F.

WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY

Roxy made the process of buying my first home so seamless. She always had an answer for my many questions and was happy to explain things that I didn’t understand. Her humor was such a light during a stressful time. I could not have asked for anyone better to guide me through buying my first home! Thank you Roxy!

— Zack K. | Roxy

WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY

Roxy went above and beyond when working together on a deal. She is by far one of the most effective and consistent communicators I have had the pleasure of working with and knows exactly what needs to be done to get to the closing table. On top of her extensive knowledge and expertise, her character and empathy make her comparable to no other. I’m so glad we had the opportunity to do business together an...

— Andrew H. | Roxy

WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY

Roxy was the best relator I have ever had! I had asked her a years ago to look for a house that fits my budget for me and she never gave up. Weekly and most of the time daily sending me updates with homes in the area. She was very helpful in meeting me at my convenience to look at homes. 100% recommendations!

— Varun P.

WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY

Roxy was very professional through the whole house buying process. She as accessible any time we needed her. She answered all questions we had in a timely manner, and gave great advise to us on a level first time home buyers would understand. Roxy made the process smooth and easy for us. I would recommend Roxy to any of my friends and family.

— Caroline H.

WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY

Words cannot express how grateful my family is to have had the experience of working with Roxy. If you are searching for a realtor, look no further! She guided us through hurdles I would’ve never achieved on my own during the sale of a very complicated property. Roxy works tirelessly, with perfection and professionalism. From the moment we began working together she took on the sale of our home as if it ...

— Amy C.

WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY

Roxy is amazing! My wife and I feel very lucky to have worked with her in purchasing our first NC home. She was always quick to answer our endless questions and never hesitated to share her honest opinion, even when it wasn’t easy to hear. Best of all, she was always kind and thoughtful to us throughout the entire process that by the end, we felt like we’d made a friend. Buying a home is complicated, but...

— Savid & Elise B. | Roxy

WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY

I must say Roxy was the most sincere, knowledgeable, patient person I’ve ever come across! She was there during my stressful moments in the early morning and late evenings! Never once did she not answer a text, email or phone call! I’m so glad I had the privilege of meeting her, working with her and truly getting to know her. I would recommend her a thousand times, in fact, if we ever decide to take this...

— Jennifer M. | Roxy

WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY

If you found Roxy, consider yourself as having hit a jackpot! She is one of the best human beings we've ever met, in the world of real estate agents who became more and more like used car salesmen in the recent years. Not Roxy! She is honest, good at heart, and will advise you well even if the truth goes against her financial interest. Additionally, she's always there for her clients, some of whom eventu...

— Nessie

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Whether you’re searching for your dream home or preparing to sell, Roxy is ready to put the pieces together and help make your vision a reality. With tenacity, loyalty, and a genuine passion for real estate, she’ll advocate for your best interests, guide you through each step, and work tirelessly to help you open the next door in your life.

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Contact Details

Roxy Kraemer

[email protected]
(704) 902-6958

8936 Northpointe Executive Park Dr, Ste 200 Huntersville NC, 28078