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.
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.
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.
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.
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 I can help to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will I help identify a real estate agent you might be interested in, they can then arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process. I also ensure that they 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 help you discover your next real estate agent who can 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jamie was very knowledgeable and patient in my search for a home. I had needs or wants and she made sure to give me every opportunity possible to visit the homes I was hoping would work out. Eventually, we found it, and I could...
Jamie was our buyer's agent for purchasing a home in the Bluffton SC area. She was terrific to work with and the Peirce group is lucky to have such a knowledgeable and energetic young woman. Not knowing the area very well, Jami...
A huge thank you to my realtor, Angela Huser. I couldn’t have survived the last 30 days without her. Right when the stress got to be too much with packing, moving, working, kids, etc she took over for me. She called the contrac...
Jamie Franklin of The Peirce Group with Keller Williams is the absolute best! She is so kind and caring and instantly puts you at ease, you feel as though you have always known her and are simply chatting with an old friend. Sh...
Angela Huser is a consummate professional and worked tirelessly on our behalf to find a home. She is organized, efficient, thorough, and down to earth. We live a long way from SC but Angela through her videos and communications...
Angela found us the perfect property. She was very responsive as we worked through the purchase and closing. We bought the house without seeing it because we were confident with the support we were getting.
Thanks so much to Angela Huser for helping us find the perfect home! Being from out of state, we relied on Angela's knowledge and expertise to help us find the perfect Lowcountry home. Angela listened closely when we expressed ...
My husband and I were in a hurry to move due to our rental situation. We went to an open at Summer House and unfortunately, that property was already under contract. We called Angela and she showed us our new home the next day....
Angela was and is an absolute dream to work with. She is responsive, knowledgeable, and determined. We love our new home and appreciate all the effort of the entire team.
Angela Huser and the rest of the agents at the Anchor Home Group were a pleasure to work with. They made every step of the home-buying process simple and helped us get exactly what we were looking for. We are first-time home bu...
Angela Huser was a huge help with buying my home. She made the process stress-free by being extremely responsive and providing good advice. She has extensive knowledge of the market, a problem-solver mindset, and attention to d...
I first met with Angela Huser 15 months ago. It was clear she had great expertise in the Bluffton area. We stayed in contact for 9 months until we were ready to purchase. She was always happy to answer any question we had, even...
Angela is top-class! She knows this area to guide us during the search and bent over backward to help overcome issues beyond our control during the closing process. We closed on time!
Megan is that rare gem of a realtor who is in it to build her local community above her bottom line. Use her if you want more than an agent - she is an ally who will go to the ends of the earth to protect your interests. Megan ...
Hillary and I have been looking for the right house for about 8 months. I was not the easiest person to work with, but Hillary got me through so much anxiety, stress, etc that comes along with looking for a new home. She has go...
I had one day to make it happen and she came through we found just the perfect place. Hillary is the best agent I ever worked with and I would highly recommend her!
Could not have asked for a better realtor than Hillary. After one phone call, she knew exactly what my fiancé and I wanted in a home. She worked diligently and was always in constant communication. We were able to find our drea...
Angela Huser is a consummate professional and worked tirelessly on our behalf to find a home. She is organized, efficient, thorough, and down to earth. We live a long way from SC but Angela through her videos and communications...
A huge thank you to my realtor, Angela Huser. I couldn’t have survived the last 30 days without her. Right when the stress got to be too much with packing, moving, working, kids, etc. she took over for me. She called the contra...
Angela was an amazing realtor for us during our recent Hilton Head villa purchase. We had been looking for a while, and Angela continued searching until we found the perfect place. She always answered any questions we may have ...
Whether you're buying, selling, or just exploring your options, Angela gives you the clarity and confidence you need to move forward. With deep legal, strategic, and real estate experience, she connects you with trusted agents and provides the education and direction that make the entire process easier, smoother, and more informed.
