Buyer's Guide

Choosing a professional to guide you through the process is imperative to your success. 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 Brandon Gates and Lindsey Gates to take much of the stress off your shoulders? We are dedicated to helping your dreams come true.

In addition to market knowledge, we know the best mortgage lenders in the business. We work to pair you with the lender to ensure the best possible scenario for you in the long term.

Once you've determined your budget, it's time to get pre-approved, not just pre-qualified. A mortgage professional can help you understand what amount you can qualify for, and this information will be important when making an offer on a home. It's important to get pre-approved as early in the process as possible (you still have the control of when you buy).

Remember, buying a home is a significant investment, and it's important to approach it thoughtfully and with a clear understanding of your financial situation. By working with a lender, determining your budget, and getting pre-approved, you can make a confident and informed decision about your new home. Remember to lean on your real estate agents Brandon and Lindsey for guidance and support throughout the process.

Once we have your loan set up we will take time to discuss what you are looking for in a home! Once we have discussed what your goals are we arrange showings for homes that fit your criteria. Remember to take notes about what you like and don’t like, and 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.

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. We arrange this, and you can schedule it within days of your accepted offer. If there are major discrepancies- think health and safety, you can renegotiate your offer based on what needs to be fixed, or you can withdraw it. We submit a Request for Repairs document to start addressing this with the seller. There is a cost for the inspection depending on the size of property that is being inspected.

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.