Whether you’re a first time homebuyer or you’re making your next purchase, buying a new home can be stressful. As lead Buyer Specialist for The Sibley Group at Keller Williams Realty, my job is to make sure the process is as enjoyable as possible.
Step 1
The National Association of Realtors reports nearly 92% of first time homebuyers take to the internet to begin their search, and while that’s not a bad idea, I highly recommend meeting with an experienced local Realtor first to save yourself a good chunk of time. Why meet with a Realtor first? Let me explain…Purchasing a home is often the biggest financial decision of your life. Why not start by chatting with someone who spends all day every day helping buyers just like yourself purchase a home? Therefore, when a new buyer contacts me, I advise them to come to my office for a commitment-free consultation.
Step 2
During this consultation, I walk first time home buyers through the purchase process step-by-step. I want clients to be comfortable with each part of the purchase before it arrives so there are no surprises. Together we cover the costs associated with purchasing a home, how to select the right members of your purchase team (i.e. lender, title company, home inspector), and most importantly, we talk about your needs and wants in your next home! I also set buyers up on an instant notification system alerting them the minute a new property hits the market that meets their needs.
Step 3
After you leave my office you can head home and enjoy clicking through the new listings I sent you. Heck, have a cocktail while you’re at it! This should be a fun process. It is important to know, however, that we cannot look at homes in person until you have been pre-approved by a lender. Getting pre-approved is an important step in the purchase process. Pre-approval is a lender’s determination of how much the bank is willing to give you toward the purchase of a new home. Your pre-approval is often determined by your credit score, debt to income ratio and money available for a down payment. Pre-approval can be as quick as 24 hours. A pre-approval letter is required before submitting an offer to purchase, so you might as well check this step off the list from the start.
Step 4
Once you’ve obtained a pre-approval letter, we can start looking at homes in person. Looking for homes is the easy, fun part! My job doesn’t really begin until you are ready to write an offer on a home. It’s essential to choose a Realtor who is experienced and knowledgeable in the area you are searching in. At The Sibley Group, our team of Buyer Specialists covers New Orleans to Slidell to Mandeville.
If you’re interested in learning more about what happens once you’re ready to write an offer on your dream home, join me at our free upcoming event Buying A House Like A Boss. The event will be held Tuesday, March 28 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at The Bulldog Mid City. Purchase your free tickets here to reserve your spot. I failed to mention one important thing: your ticket includes free beer, food, and most importantly, free expert advice! If you’re a first time homebuyer thinking about purchasing a home in the next 12 months, you don’t want to miss this event!
