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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. 

Testimonials

"Lauren was there for us every step of the way and went "above and beyond" handling our existing home sale and new home purchase in a very professional, "I'm here for you - I am your advocate and will do all the heavy lifting" manner. She is very knowledgeable of the entire process, from listing through closing, and all the regulatory (and other) hoops that had to be jumped through along the way. Whenever we had questions or concerns, Lauren either had the answer or quickly found it; the same with resolving any concerns. We would certainly recommend her (and already have!) to anyone considering selling and/or buying a home. By far the best Realtor with whom we have ever worked with!"
"Lauren was there for us every step of the way and went "above and beyond" handling our existing home sale and new home purchase in a very professional, "I'm here for you - I am your advocate and will do all the heavy lifting" manner. She is very knowledgeable of the entire process, from listing through closing, and all the regulatory (and other) hoops that had to be jumped through along the way. Whenever we had questions or concerns, Lauren either had the answer or quickly found it; the same with resolving any concerns. We would certainly recommend her (and already have!) to anyone considering selling and/or buying a home. By far the best Realtor with whom we have ever worked with!"
Thomas H.
"Lauren was so communicative and attentive throughout the entire process! She made sure she thoroughly explained every step and reassured us the entire time. I couldn’t have asked for a better agent! Will use her again for our next home purchase. "
"Lauren was so communicative and attentive throughout the entire process! She made sure she thoroughly explained every step and reassured us the entire time. I couldn’t have asked for a better agent! Will use her again for our next home purchase. "
Tiffany C.
"Lauren Wagner and the April Stephens team were amazing with the sale of our home! We had many twists and turns before listing, but they navigated us through all of them like the professionals they were and were always available to answer our questions."
"Lauren Wagner and the April Stephens team were amazing with the sale of our home! We had many twists and turns before listing, but they navigated us through all of them like the professionals they were and were always available to answer our questions."
Kathyrn W.
"Lauren is an amazing professional with a huge heart and passion for what she does. She listens, is patient, and is a true advocate for her clients! If you need a realtor, please contact Lauren and I promise you will not be disappointed!"
"Lauren is an amazing professional with a huge heart and passion for what she does. She listens, is patient, and is a true advocate for her clients! If you need a realtor, please contact Lauren and I promise you will not be disappointed!"
Joseph R.
"Lauren was amazing to work with! Not only did she help us buy our dream home but became a friend in the process!"
"Lauren was amazing to work with! Not only did she help us buy our dream home but became a friend in the process!"
Mal M.
"My wife and I bought our first home with Lauren Wagner from the April Stephens team. We are recommending her to our own friends and family, we are so happy we found her. Lauren met with us on weekends and outside of normal working hours to help us get through the process. Being first-time home buyers this was a foreign process to us and Lauren walked us through each step of the way. She advocated for us as we dealt with lenders, sellers, and contractors. Can’t say enough good things about Lauren."
"My wife and I bought our first home with Lauren Wagner from the April Stephens team. We are recommending her to our own friends and family, we are so happy we found her. Lauren met with us on weekends and outside of normal working hours to help us get through the process. Being first-time home buyers this was a foreign process to us and Lauren walked us through each step of the way. She advocated for us as we dealt with lenders, sellers, and contractors. Can’t say enough good things about Lauren."
Mark & Maryann S.
"Lauren Wagner is one of the nicest and easiest to work with agents I have come across. We found her when looking for property for our forever home and boy are we thankful we found her. She goes above and beyond for her clients and found us our forever property, and then sold our previous house in 2 days and got above asking price. Every day she has a huge smile on her face, is a very hard worker, answers all questions, and is available whenever you need her. You can’t go wrong when you choose her as your agent. Just used Lauren to buy 13 acres in Smithfield. She was amazing, very easy to get ahold of, and solved any problems that came up throughout the process. Will be using her again when I list my house next year. She was amazing and so easy to get in touch with!"
"Lauren Wagner is one of the nicest and easiest to work with agents I have come across. We found her when looking for property for our forever home and boy are we thankful we found her. She goes above and beyond for her clients and found us our forever property, and then sold our previous house in 2 days and got above asking price. Every day she has a huge smile on her face, is a very hard worker, answers all questions, and is available whenever you need her. You can’t go wrong when you choose her as your agent. Just used Lauren to buy 13 acres in Smithfield. She was amazing, very easy to get ahold of, and solved any problems that came up throughout the process. Will be using her again when I list my house next year. She was amazing and so easy to get in touch with!"
Jennifer B.
"We are currently working with Lauren and couldn't be more pleased. She is professional, knowledgeable, and very dedicated to her career. Thanks to April and her team for all they do and whether you're buying or selling, April's team is who you want."
"We are currently working with Lauren and couldn't be more pleased. She is professional, knowledgeable, and very dedicated to her career. Thanks to April and her team for all they do and whether you're buying or selling, April's team is who you want."
Teresa & Tony C.
"From the minute I met Lauren I just loved her. She has such an outgoing personality. She counseled my husband and I about pricing our townhouse to sell. The first person that came through bought our home. It was such a smooth transaction She then showed us Carolina Gardens, which is a 55 and up community. My husband wasn’t totally on board but once she showed us around he was sold. I love our home and Lauren was there every step of the way. I would 100% recommend Lauren for your next home journey. Lauren is smart and knows real estate! Can’t say enough good things about her."
"From the minute I met Lauren I just loved her. She has such an outgoing personality. She counseled my husband and I about pricing our townhouse to sell. The first person that came through bought our home. It was such a smooth transaction She then showed us Carolina Gardens, which is a 55 and up community. My husband wasn’t totally on board but once she showed us around he was sold. I love our home and Lauren was there every step of the way. I would 100% recommend Lauren for your next home journey. Lauren is smart and knows real estate! Can’t say enough good things about her."
Debbie H.
"As newcomers to NC looking to buy our retirement home we knew it was going to be a challenge until we met Lauren Wagner at one of her open house showings. We were in the right place at the right time. We had a great experience with Lauren. Besides being very nice and friendly she is very knowledgeable, professional, and very serious in regard to her career. She handled everything with ease and made us feel at home. We definitely recommend Lauren for all your real estate needs. Thank You so much Lauren for everything!"
"As newcomers to NC looking to buy our retirement home we knew it was going to be a challenge until we met Lauren Wagner at one of her open house showings. We were in the right place at the right time. We had a great experience with Lauren. Besides being very nice and friendly she is very knowledgeable, professional, and very serious in regard to her career. She handled everything with ease and made us feel at home. We definitely recommend Lauren for all your real estate needs. Thank You so much Lauren for everything!"
Chris & Karolee K.
"Lauren Wagner is phenomenal! She helped manage and took the lead post my divorce in plans to have my ex officially vacate the property and was instrumental to ensure I could safely go back to empty the home making it ready for sale. She exceeded my expectations and is a champion in negotiating with difficult people and situations. Once Lauren was engaged our plans went into immediate action and the home was sold after being on the market for only 3 days. Closing was as expected and discussed. Lauren and her team are the only agents I will ever use should I need to buy or sell! Awesome people with heart and a desire to do what is right."
"Lauren Wagner is phenomenal! She helped manage and took the lead post my divorce in plans to have my ex officially vacate the property and was instrumental to ensure I could safely go back to empty the home making it ready for sale. She exceeded my expectations and is a champion in negotiating with difficult people and situations. Once Lauren was engaged our plans went into immediate action and the home was sold after being on the market for only 3 days. Closing was as expected and discussed. Lauren and her team are the only agents I will ever use should I need to buy or sell! Awesome people with heart and a desire to do what is right."
Cheryl W.
"Lauren Wagner is awesome to work with. She assisted me with my first home which can be stressful enough. Everything was super easy almost as if I was buying a house. She explained everything to me every step of the way making my decision extremely easy. She made sure I received a super deal, and that I was comfortable with everything that was happening. I bought my house over a year ago and she still checks up with me and makes sure I’m enjoying my decision. Super awesome person 10/10 would recommend her to any person I know!"
"Lauren Wagner is awesome to work with. She assisted me with my first home which can be stressful enough. Everything was super easy almost as if I was buying a house. She explained everything to me every step of the way making my decision extremely easy. She made sure I received a super deal, and that I was comfortable with everything that was happening. I bought my house over a year ago and she still checks up with me and makes sure I’m enjoying my decision. Super awesome person 10/10 would recommend her to any person I know!"
Jarron O.
"Lauren Wagner is amazing! My partner and I worked with Lauren to purchase our first home from out of state, and the process could not have been any smoother. Lauren was always helping us understand every step of the process. Not only did she help us buy our dream home, but she also became a wonderful friend to have nearby! I wish everyone took their job as seriously as Lauren; she is a hard worker, trustworthy, and committed to helping others find their perfect home. I couldn't recommend her enough!"
"Lauren Wagner is amazing! My partner and I worked with Lauren to purchase our first home from out of state, and the process could not have been any smoother. Lauren was always helping us understand every step of the process. Not only did she help us buy our dream home, but she also became a wonderful friend to have nearby! I wish everyone took their job as seriously as Lauren; she is a hard worker, trustworthy, and committed to helping others find their perfect home. I couldn't recommend her enough!"
Mallery M.
"Lauren Wagner and April Stephens were amazing with the sale of our home. We had many twists and turns before listing, but they navigated us thru all of them like the professionals they are, and were always available to answer our questions."
"Lauren Wagner and April Stephens were amazing with the sale of our home. We had many twists and turns before listing, but they navigated us thru all of them like the professionals they are, and were always available to answer our questions."
Kathryn
"Lauren and the April Stephens team were phenomenal through the entire process. So thankful for such great people that are professional and considerate."
"Lauren and the April Stephens team were phenomenal through the entire process. So thankful for such great people that are professional and considerate."
Jason W.

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