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Tips on 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, 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, meticulously 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 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. 

Success Stories

Testimonials

"I have used Sarah as my personal Realtor for years. In addition, I have referred many friends and clients to her, all of whom have been so delighted with their experience. Sarah is beyond knowledgeable and has so many helpful contacts in the industry, from contractors to attorneys, she is friendly and compassionate and most of all, is honest. Integrity is so important to me and Sarah is the pillar of integrity. If I could give 10 stars, I would!"
"I have used Sarah as my personal Realtor for years. In addition, I have referred many friends and clients to her, all of whom have been so delighted with their experience. Sarah is beyond knowledgeable and has so many helpful contacts in the industry, from contractors to attorneys, she is friendly and compassionate and most of all, is honest. Integrity is so important to me and Sarah is the pillar of integrity. If I could give 10 stars, I would!"
Gina G.
"We enjoyed working with Sarah very much! She led us through the process of listing and selling our home and made it as pain-free as possible! Will work with her again when we make our next purchase."
"We enjoyed working with Sarah very much! She led us through the process of listing and selling our home and made it as pain-free as possible! Will work with her again when we make our next purchase."
Brooke
"Where do I start? Sarah is great! We recently moved from California to Wisconsin and she was extremely helpful in our home-buying process (first-time homebuyers btw). We were still living in CA when we started looking for homes and she was very patient with us, even when we thought it was going to be impossible to find a home. Somehow she worked her magic and she was able to find us a home that my husband and I both agreed on and that would be VA-approved. We don't know what we would have done without all her hard work and expertise! We are very grateful and lucky to have her as our realtor!"
"Where do I start? Sarah is great! We recently moved from California to Wisconsin and she was extremely helpful in our home-buying process (first-time homebuyers btw). We were still living in CA when we started looking for homes and she was very patient with us, even when we thought it was going to be impossible to find a home. Somehow she worked her magic and she was able to find us a home that my husband and I both agreed on and that would be VA-approved. We don't know what we would have done without all her hard work and expertise! We are very grateful and lucky to have her as our realtor!"
Bertha & Terry
"Sarah was beyond exceptional in the process of selling our home. Her team was top-notch as well, with total transparency, and no surprises, answered all questions and concerns in a very timely manner. The home selling game is way more complicated than it used to be and I'm glad I had Sarah in my corner to navigate the processes we had to go through. I've bought and sold many houses in the past, and this is by far the best experience I've had with an agent. Thank you Sarah (and team) for all you did, you guys rock!"
"Sarah was beyond exceptional in the process of selling our home. Her team was top-notch as well, with total transparency, and no surprises, answered all questions and concerns in a very timely manner. The home selling game is way more complicated than it used to be and I'm glad I had Sarah in my corner to navigate the processes we had to go through. I've bought and sold many houses in the past, and this is by far the best experience I've had with an agent. Thank you Sarah (and team) for all you did, you guys rock!"
Dave H.
"My husband and I began working with Sarah and her team aggressively at the beginning of 2022. This is the current housing market we are experiencing, Sarah really went above and beyond! She was responsive to questions, was honest, and would walk through any questions we had. Since we were first-time home buyers, we had a lot of questions. She was easy to build a quick respectful relationship with, and we felt like she truly knew what we wanted. It was refreshing to have a relator that had our backs when needed. She and her team work around the clock to take care of your needs. In the future, if we have any other housing needs we will absolutely return to her. Do not hesitate to have her as your realtor!"
"My husband and I began working with Sarah and her team aggressively at the beginning of 2022. This is the current housing market we are experiencing, Sarah really went above and beyond! She was responsive to questions, was honest, and would walk through any questions we had. Since we were first-time home buyers, we had a lot of questions. She was easy to build a quick respectful relationship with, and we felt like she truly knew what we wanted. It was refreshing to have a relator that had our backs when needed. She and her team work around the clock to take care of your needs. In the future, if we have any other housing needs we will absolutely return to her. Do not hesitate to have her as your realtor!"
Allie
"Sarah is the best realtor I could have hoped for. She went above and beyond. She anticipated my needs and met them. Sarah and the team were an absolute pleasure to work with and made the selling of my home seamless. I received just the right amount of updates and received a weekly summary. I appreciate you and highly recommend!"
"Sarah is the best realtor I could have hoped for. She went above and beyond. She anticipated my needs and met them. Sarah and the team were an absolute pleasure to work with and made the selling of my home seamless. I received just the right amount of updates and received a weekly summary. I appreciate you and highly recommend!"
Alicia
"We had an absolutely phenomenal experience with Sarah! This was our first time in Wisconsin, but our fifth time buying a home. Sarah's knowledge of everything was amazing. Her expertise in the area is great, she was able to explain in detail any home issues that are common in the state, her timeline for the transaction is always on point, and her communication is impeccable! We have had the pleasure of working with multiple great Real Estate agents in the past, but Sarah exceeded all expectations and we would love to work with her in the future! She is our number 1 and we would highly recommend her to everyone!"
"We had an absolutely phenomenal experience with Sarah! This was our first time in Wisconsin, but our fifth time buying a home. Sarah's knowledge of everything was amazing. Her expertise in the area is great, she was able to explain in detail any home issues that are common in the state, her timeline for the transaction is always on point, and her communication is impeccable! We have had the pleasure of working with multiple great Real Estate agents in the past, but Sarah exceeded all expectations and we would love to work with her in the future! She is our number 1 and we would highly recommend her to everyone!"
Kade
"We had the best experience with Sarah! She helped us look for a home for several months before we finally found a great place. Sarah helped us understand the market and write a competitive offer. She also helped us negotiate and ask questions about the inspection and appraisal as they came up. We are so grateful to Sarah for helping make this a good experience and are so happy with our home!"
"We had the best experience with Sarah! She helped us look for a home for several months before we finally found a great place. Sarah helped us understand the market and write a competitive offer. She also helped us negotiate and ask questions about the inspection and appraisal as they came up. We are so grateful to Sarah for helping make this a good experience and are so happy with our home!"
Erin
"Sarah is amazing! She helped us buy our home in a crazy market. She went above and beyond by doing virtual tours for us because we were out of state. When we found out that we were moving back to the West Coast, we reached out to her to help us sell and she did not disappoint! Sarah made sure both transactions went smoothly and we are very thankful we got to work with her!"
"Sarah is amazing! She helped us buy our home in a crazy market. She went above and beyond by doing virtual tours for us because we were out of state. When we found out that we were moving back to the West Coast, we reached out to her to help us sell and she did not disappoint! Sarah made sure both transactions went smoothly and we are very thankful we got to work with her!"
Bertha E.
"I absolutely loved working with Sarah! I began looking for my first home with Sarah in a really tough market, and she helped me every step of the way with complete professionalism and patience. She is so knowledgeable and has an eye for catching details, which was particularly helpful when we were looking at old homes on the east side. She was always quick to respond and move in a direction that fit my particular situation. I truly trust Sarah and will definitely work with her again when it is time to make a change. I would recommend Sarah to anyone looking to buy or sell in the Milwaukee area!"
"I absolutely loved working with Sarah! I began looking for my first home with Sarah in a really tough market, and she helped me every step of the way with complete professionalism and patience. She is so knowledgeable and has an eye for catching details, which was particularly helpful when we were looking at old homes on the east side. She was always quick to respond and move in a direction that fit my particular situation. I truly trust Sarah and will definitely work with her again when it is time to make a change. I would recommend Sarah to anyone looking to buy or sell in the Milwaukee area!"
Elizabeth
"Sarah is an excellent realtor. She is also a fantastic person. We could not be more pleased with her as the realtor who sold our home. She really cares about the people she represents. We will love her always."
"Sarah is an excellent realtor. She is also a fantastic person. We could not be more pleased with her as the realtor who sold our home. She really cares about the people she represents. We will love her always."
Ronald M.
"Sarah is an incredible realtor and amazing person, she helped me and my husband find a home after a long several-month journey in a tough market. Her strengths include high levels of organization and efficiency, along with patience and perseverance. Her knowledge of real estate, the MKE area, and this market is a great resource for first-time home buyers, and she has a deep bench of amazing contractors. The resource guides she creates are also wildly helpful. Her communication is speedy and professional. She spent a lot of time with us getting to know our wishes for the space, and despite a long list of "wants" and tight schedule constrictions, she always managed to find the time for showings and our questions and calls. During the final month before closing, she was very expedient with phone calls and relaying information, and really put our interests first. She goes above and beyond for her clients, and I am so glad that we connected with her when we started this journey. I highly recommend Sarah and her team!"
"Sarah is an incredible realtor and amazing person, she helped me and my husband find a home after a long several-month journey in a tough market. Her strengths include high levels of organization and efficiency, along with patience and perseverance. Her knowledge of real estate, the MKE area, and this market is a great resource for first-time home buyers, and she has a deep bench of amazing contractors. The resource guides she creates are also wildly helpful. Her communication is speedy and professional. She spent a lot of time with us getting to know our wishes for the space, and despite a long list of "wants" and tight schedule constrictions, she always managed to find the time for showings and our questions and calls. During the final month before closing, she was very expedient with phone calls and relaying information, and really put our interests first. She goes above and beyond for her clients, and I am so glad that we connected with her when we started this journey. I highly recommend Sarah and her team!"
Anisha A.
"Sarah was so helpful when I was purchasing my home. She was willing to work outside standard hours and got answers to all my questions. She was always willing to explain anything in detail and was very helpful at every step of the process. I am very thankful for her and would recommend her to any family or friend who is looking to buy in the greater Milwaukee area! Thank you, Sarah!"
"Sarah was so helpful when I was purchasing my home. She was willing to work outside standard hours and got answers to all my questions. She was always willing to explain anything in detail and was very helpful at every step of the process. I am very thankful for her and would recommend her to any family or friend who is looking to buy in the greater Milwaukee area! Thank you, Sarah!"
Caroline Z.
"Sarah has already had a proven history of achievements prior to us working together, and was highly regarded for her outstanding service, extensive understanding of the market, and prioritizing the needs of her clients. We then got to see Sarah's commitment, expertise, and tailored approaches which guaranteed seamless and prosperous transactions. She consistently surpasses expectations, creating a real estate experience that is not only hassle-free but genuinely pleasurable. At that time, while working with Sarah, we got our US citizenship, and since Sarah helped us buy our first home, we tend to consider her more than just a real estate agent, but a friend who has assisted our family in achieving an American dream! Without a doubt, we would highly recommend Sarah for all your real estate needs in Wisconsin!"
"Sarah has already had a proven history of achievements prior to us working together, and was highly regarded for her outstanding service, extensive understanding of the market, and prioritizing the needs of her clients. We then got to see Sarah's commitment, expertise, and tailored approaches which guaranteed seamless and prosperous transactions. She consistently surpasses expectations, creating a real estate experience that is not only hassle-free but genuinely pleasurable. At that time, while working with Sarah, we got our US citizenship, and since Sarah helped us buy our first home, we tend to consider her more than just a real estate agent, but a friend who has assisted our family in achieving an American dream! Without a doubt, we would highly recommend Sarah for all your real estate needs in Wisconsin!"
Srdan K.
"Sarah has helped us navigate through multiple purchases and sales of homes and condos. She is always going above and beyond what we were expecting and never disappoints us. We will never use any other realtor. She is the best."
"Sarah has helped us navigate through multiple purchases and sales of homes and condos. She is always going above and beyond what we were expecting and never disappoints us. We will never use any other realtor. She is the best."
Steve K.
"Sarah is a class act. She has sold several of my homes. She is always there to answer any questions or concerns you may have. I would definitely recommend her."
"Sarah is a class act. She has sold several of my homes. She is always there to answer any questions or concerns you may have. I would definitely recommend her."
Jim O.
"Responsive, knowledgeable, hard-working, and determined. Easy to work with."
"Responsive, knowledgeable, hard-working, and determined. Easy to work with."
Arthur R.
"Sarah has been my realtor three times so far and will continue when we need help again. First helped me sell my house for over the asking price on the first day of showings. Upon that sale, she helped me purchase my own condo. After another year later Sarah helped me sell that condo to purchase another home. She not only has been an excellent realtor going over and beyond what was needed but also has become a friend of ours as well. I highly recommend Sarah to anyone and everyone!"
"Sarah has been my realtor three times so far and will continue when we need help again. First helped me sell my house for over the asking price on the first day of showings. Upon that sale, she helped me purchase my own condo. After another year later Sarah helped me sell that condo to purchase another home. She not only has been an excellent realtor going over and beyond what was needed but also has become a friend of ours as well. I highly recommend Sarah to anyone and everyone!"
Jennifer K.
"Sarah is so awesome! She has a genuine desire to assist however she can which is undeniable. Her actions tell me she cares for her customers and clients first and foremost."
"Sarah is so awesome! She has a genuine desire to assist however she can which is undeniable. Her actions tell me she cares for her customers and clients first and foremost."
DuShon B.
"Sarah goes above and beyond in every aspect. Her attention to detail and advice throughout the process of both selling and buying is amazing. I can't imagine a better person to help through the stress of buying or selling!"
"Sarah goes above and beyond in every aspect. Her attention to detail and advice throughout the process of both selling and buying is amazing. I can't imagine a better person to help through the stress of buying or selling!"
Rick S.

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