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Your Buying Journey

Buyer's Guide

Guiding you through every step from exploration to purchase and beyond.

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 communities 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, and 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.

Passion & Expertise

My goal is to provide you with the most personalized service possible, designed to help you navigate the process of buying your dream home. I am dedicated to understanding your unique needs and preferences, ensuring that every step of the journey is tailored to achieve your ultimate home-buying aspirations.

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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 community 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 paperwork to 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, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams.

True Experiences

Client Love

Read what my clients have to say about working with me.

"Kayla was amazing during our search for a very specific kind of property. She met us at our desired and remote property several times during this process and walked the 10 - 12 acres with us in various weather. She guided us on questions to ask and directions for our search. When it looked like things wouldn't work out with the initial property we'd been interested in, Kayla got busy right away trying to locate something else that would work for our specific needs. Ultimately, we made an offer on our desired property and Kayla advocated for us with the seller's agent to get some information and concessions we needed. Overall, Kayla was responsive and available. She made this process pleasant and was a true asset during the purchase of our new property."
"Kayla was amazing during our search for a very specific kind of property. She met us at our desired and remote property several times during this process and walked the 10 - 12 acres with us in various weather. She guided us on questions to ask and directions for our search. When it looked like things wouldn't work out with the initial property we'd been interested in, Kayla got busy right away trying to locate something else that would work for our specific needs. Ultimately, we made an offer on our desired property and Kayla advocated for us with the seller's agent to get some information and concessions we needed. Overall, Kayla was responsive and available. She made this process pleasant and was a true asset during the purchase of our new property."
Andrea S.
"Kayla is remarkable and the best real estate agent you could ask for! From the minute we contacted her about listing our home, she sprang into action and never paused until we closed. Her expertise and dedication in staging the home, marketing techniques, multiple open houses, and constant communication made the transaction flawless. We can't thank you enough for all of your tireless efforts that made the sale stress-free and successful. You have been a joy to work with and are so happy we chose you to make it happen."
"Kayla is remarkable and the best real estate agent you could ask for! From the minute we contacted her about listing our home, she sprang into action and never paused until we closed. Her expertise and dedication in staging the home, marketing techniques, multiple open houses, and constant communication made the transaction flawless. We can't thank you enough for all of your tireless efforts that made the sale stress-free and successful. You have been a joy to work with and are so happy we chose you to make it happen."
Anna A.
"The decision to use Kayla Brisbin to sell my home was the best decision that I made. Kayla was immensely knowledgeable and patient with my seemingly endless questions while selling my home. She proactively, on my behalf, addressed issues I didn’t think of to make sure the home was ready to sell at the highest price. She fully understands the dynamic real estate market and buying behaviors, and ultimately will do whatever it takes to get the deal done. Once I received a strong offer, Kayla was diligent in making sure all inspections were in place, communicated efficiently with the buyers agent, and kept me informed on a daily basis. I am not sure how you can have a better agent than Kayla and her supportive team. I highly recommend her and will use her again in future transactions."
"The decision to use Kayla Brisbin to sell my home was the best decision that I made. Kayla was immensely knowledgeable and patient with my seemingly endless questions while selling my home. She proactively, on my behalf, addressed issues I didn’t think of to make sure the home was ready to sell at the highest price. She fully understands the dynamic real estate market and buying behaviors, and ultimately will do whatever it takes to get the deal done. Once I received a strong offer, Kayla was diligent in making sure all inspections were in place, communicated efficiently with the buyers agent, and kept me informed on a daily basis. I am not sure how you can have a better agent than Kayla and her supportive team. I highly recommend her and will use her again in future transactions."
Jason C.
"It’s awesome to have someone like Kayla on your side, especially as a first time home buyer! She brings patience, knowledge, and confidence to the table and you can’t really ask for much more than that. She provided support in all facets from beginning research to closing. Answering questions and demanding answers. She makes sure her clients are confident in their decisions every step of the way. We look forward to working with her in the future."
"It’s awesome to have someone like Kayla on your side, especially as a first time home buyer! She brings patience, knowledge, and confidence to the table and you can’t really ask for much more than that. She provided support in all facets from beginning research to closing. Answering questions and demanding answers. She makes sure her clients are confident in their decisions every step of the way. We look forward to working with her in the future."
Elias M.
"Working with Kayla was one of the best decisions we made! As a first time homebuyer I was nervous about the process - Kayla stepped up to answer every question I had. She also moved mountains to get us through closing and into our house within 30 days!Working with Kayla was one of the best decisions we made! As a first time homebuyer I was nervous about the process - Kayla stepped up to answer every question I had. She also moved mountains to get us through closing and into our house within 30 days! We will definitely be using her again in the future."
"Working with Kayla was one of the best decisions we made! As a first time homebuyer I was nervous about the process - Kayla stepped up to answer every question I had. She also moved mountains to get us through closing and into our house within 30 days!Working with Kayla was one of the best decisions we made! As a first time homebuyer I was nervous about the process - Kayla stepped up to answer every question I had. She also moved mountains to get us through closing and into our house within 30 days! We will definitely be using her again in the future."
Lexie D.
"Kayla really gets it done! She not only knows her business but knows her market well! You need to lean in and trust her process and your house will be sold for what you need it sold for in no time! She kept us on track, set reasonable expectations, and worked tirelessly to ensure everything was taken care of! We cannot recommend her enough! Kayla is the solution to any issues you have! She is who you need."
"Kayla really gets it done! She not only knows her business but knows her market well! You need to lean in and trust her process and your house will be sold for what you need it sold for in no time! She kept us on track, set reasonable expectations, and worked tirelessly to ensure everything was taken care of! We cannot recommend her enough! Kayla is the solution to any issues you have! She is who you need."
Chris M.
"Kayla helped me buy my first home! Being a first-time home buyer, I had countless questions about anything and everything and she answered every single one perfectly to help me understand. She was so patient and understanding with me. She helped me to set the right expectations, kept me on track, and helped me to know what I wanted and needed in my home. I really could not recommend anyone better! She is the Best!"
"Kayla helped me buy my first home! Being a first-time home buyer, I had countless questions about anything and everything and she answered every single one perfectly to help me understand. She was so patient and understanding with me. She helped me to set the right expectations, kept me on track, and helped me to know what I wanted and needed in my home. I really could not recommend anyone better! She is the Best!"
Kenedy T.
"Kayla has helped me on several real estate transactions. She always goes the extra mile to get things done and is always there to answer any questions that I might have. She is exceptional, we cannot recommend her enough! She is the best!"
"Kayla has helped me on several real estate transactions. She always goes the extra mile to get things done and is always there to answer any questions that I might have. She is exceptional, we cannot recommend her enough! She is the best!"
Susan N.
"I cannot say enough good things about Kayla and how great she did! She was there for us every step of the way and went above and beyond even when not asked! She went to battle for us at every turn and knew exactly how to make each step happen quickly! We will always reccomend and use Kayla moving forward!"
"I cannot say enough good things about Kayla and how great she did! She was there for us every step of the way and went above and beyond even when not asked! She went to battle for us at every turn and knew exactly how to make each step happen quickly! We will always reccomend and use Kayla moving forward!"
Chris M.
"What stood out most was Kayla’s personalized approach. She took the time to understand my preferences and lifestyle needs. This attention to detail resulted in finding a home that perfectly matched my wishlist in a neighborhood that suited my family’s needs. Kayla’s negotiation skills were impressive as well. She managed to negotiate significantly lower asking prices on multiple properties I was interested in, saving me thousands of dollars in the process. Her strategy during negotiations showcased her deep understanding of the market and its dynamics. Beyond just facilitating the transaction, Kayla demonstrated genuine care for my situation. When I faced challenges with moving timelines, she connected me with reliable moving services and checked in after I moved to ensure everything went smoothly. In summary, if you are looking for an agent who combines professionalism with personal touch, look no further than Kayla Nealy. Her dedication to client satisfaction is evident throughout every step of the buying process."
"What stood out most was Kayla’s personalized approach. She took the time to understand my preferences and lifestyle needs. This attention to detail resulted in finding a home that perfectly matched my wishlist in a neighborhood that suited my family’s needs. Kayla’s negotiation skills were impressive as well. She managed to negotiate significantly lower asking prices on multiple properties I was interested in, saving me thousands of dollars in the process. Her strategy during negotiations showcased her deep understanding of the market and its dynamics. Beyond just facilitating the transaction, Kayla demonstrated genuine care for my situation. When I faced challenges with moving timelines, she connected me with reliable moving services and checked in after I moved to ensure everything went smoothly. In summary, if you are looking for an agent who combines professionalism with personal touch, look no further than Kayla Nealy. Her dedication to client satisfaction is evident throughout every step of the buying process."
LJ R.

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