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Buyer's Guide

Everything you need to know about searching for the perfect home, making an offer, and successfully closing on your new property.

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. 

See What My Clients Have to Say

Testimonials

"I had a very difficult-to-sale property in Kila, with an unfinished home, no well, no septic, and a sketchy driveway, and Corey sold it! I really appreciated her keeping me abreast of the potential buyers and not giving up on the task. I could not recommend her highly enough, she's great!"
"I had a very difficult-to-sale property in Kila, with an unfinished home, no well, no septic, and a sketchy driveway, and Corey sold it! I really appreciated her keeping me abreast of the potential buyers and not giving up on the task. I could not recommend her highly enough, she's great!"
Seller
"Corey goes above and beyond any agent I have met. She constantly searches for comparables to ensure proper home pricing. She also sends out our listing as much as she can. Corey truly has our best interest in mind and heart."
"Corey goes above and beyond any agent I have met. She constantly searches for comparables to ensure proper home pricing. She also sends out our listing as much as she can. Corey truly has our best interest in mind and heart."
Janelle M.
"Corey is an excellent realtor. We discussed what we were looking for, and she helped research and show us a variety of homes until we found the perfect one. She was always extremely timely with getting negotiations and paperwork taken care of. Awesome service, very pleased!"
"Corey is an excellent realtor. We discussed what we were looking for, and she helped research and show us a variety of homes until we found the perfect one. She was always extremely timely with getting negotiations and paperwork taken care of. Awesome service, very pleased!"
Chris H.
"Corey is a pleasure to work with. We lived out of state and were looking for properties in the Flathead Valley. Corey was extremely responsive to all our requests. She worked around our schedule for visits and showings. She was extremely organized and efficient. The purchase process went very smoothly. I recommend Corey to anyone wanting to buy or sell a home, business, or land in the Flathead Valley."
"Corey is a pleasure to work with. We lived out of state and were looking for properties in the Flathead Valley. Corey was extremely responsive to all our requests. She worked around our schedule for visits and showings. She was extremely organized and efficient. The purchase process went very smoothly. I recommend Corey to anyone wanting to buy or sell a home, business, or land in the Flathead Valley."
Jeff
"Corey was knowledgeable, personal, and efficient. She helped us navigate an out-of-town move and secure the home we wanted in a very competitive market. I highly recommend her!"
"Corey was knowledgeable, personal, and efficient. She helped us navigate an out-of-town move and secure the home we wanted in a very competitive market. I highly recommend her!"
Danielle M.
"Corey was very knowledgeable and made our land purchase very simple and smooth. The market is so fast-paced right now, and Corey made sure to quickly send in our offer and expedite the process. I can't thank her enough!"
"Corey was very knowledgeable and made our land purchase very simple and smooth. The market is so fast-paced right now, and Corey made sure to quickly send in our offer and expedite the process. I can't thank her enough!"
Buyer
"I loved working with Corey; what a great pairing by Zillow! She was quick to respond and great to work with overall. I’d work with her again for sure."
"I loved working with Corey; what a great pairing by Zillow! She was quick to respond and great to work with overall. I’d work with her again for sure."
Lindsay H.
"Corey was excellent to work with. Our purchase and sale went smoothly. She was so patient and understanding of our needs. Corey found a buyer for our home off-market. It saved us so much time and energy not stressing about listing our home. She was so communicative and really supported us through this process that could have otherwise been stressful. Thanks, Corey!"
"Corey was excellent to work with. Our purchase and sale went smoothly. She was so patient and understanding of our needs. Corey found a buyer for our home off-market. It saved us so much time and energy not stressing about listing our home. She was so communicative and really supported us through this process that could have otherwise been stressful. Thanks, Corey!"
Kayla R.
"I had the pleasure of working with Corey when we bought our property, and the experience couldn't have been better. She really knows her stuff! Corey made the purchase so easy and happily answered my never-ending list of questions. She is extremely organized and proficient. I will absolutely go through Corey for any of my future real estate needs!"
"I had the pleasure of working with Corey when we bought our property, and the experience couldn't have been better. She really knows her stuff! Corey made the purchase so easy and happily answered my never-ending list of questions. She is extremely organized and proficient. I will absolutely go through Corey for any of my future real estate needs!"
Angela B.
"My wife and I have known Corey as a dear friend for several years. When we started considering the purchase of our first home, we immediately turned to her for advice and guidance as we navigated these uncharted waters. Corey’s expertise in the real estate industry is strong, and I knew that she could lead us through this journey with confidence and clarity. We found the right home in a very competitive market, and Corey was quick to accommodate our schedule for a weekend showing and help us prepare for the next step. She was incredibly responsive and attentive to our needs, always patient with our many questions. Corey guided us with tact and professionalism. Most importantly, she showed genuine care for Emily and me as we moved through the process and now settled into our first home. Thank you, Corey!"
"My wife and I have known Corey as a dear friend for several years. When we started considering the purchase of our first home, we immediately turned to her for advice and guidance as we navigated these uncharted waters. Corey’s expertise in the real estate industry is strong, and I knew that she could lead us through this journey with confidence and clarity. We found the right home in a very competitive market, and Corey was quick to accommodate our schedule for a weekend showing and help us prepare for the next step. She was incredibly responsive and attentive to our needs, always patient with our many questions. Corey guided us with tact and professionalism. Most importantly, she showed genuine care for Emily and me as we moved through the process and now settled into our first home. Thank you, Corey!"
Morgan A.

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