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 our team will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey as much as possible.
Connect with a licensed Compass real estate agent who is knowledgeable about the neighborhoods you’re considering and can help guide your search. Sign a buyer-broker agreement if you and your agent choose to work together and you feel like it’s a great fit. Your agent will be your guide and advocate through each of these steps.
Before beginning your search, your first step is to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan (unless you will be paying the full price of your home in cash). Your Compass agent can connect you to a mortgage broker. Based on your income and credit history, the mortgage broker will determine how much a bank will lend you, which will help you determine the price range for your search.
Now is the time to consider your ideal home’s location and amenities. Your agent will schedule and attend viewings and open houses spanning a range of areas and property types. These will be chosen based on conversations with your agent and your desired wish list. Additionally, your agent has access to Private Exclusive properties before they are available to the general market. Your agent will activate notifications for Coming Soon properties as they hit the market.
Your agent will also help you uncover the potential challenges of a home as well as the positives so that you can be confident you’re fully aware of every aspect when considering making an offer.
Once you identify a home you like, your agent will put in an offer, which is an agreement to pay a certain price for the home. This offer is packaged with a Proof of Funds (POF) and Pre-Approval Letter. Note: if your offer is lower than the list price or with terms not acceptable to the seller, the seller will likely return with a counter-offer price or acceptable terms, which you can accept, reject, or make another counter-offer.
Your Compass agent will provide thoughtful guidance and advice to ensure that the terms of the negotiation are rooted in your overall goals. This is where your agent is most important, negotiations are complicated and nuanced based on the offer, relationships and quality.
Find Your Dream Home
Life of an Escrow: Usually 30 days or less
Day 1 Once offer is accepted, escrow is officially open and the clock begins on contingencies*
Day 2 Contact your insurance agent for coverage. Schedule Inspections.
Day 3 Initial deposit is due per terms of agreement
Day 1–7 Seller delivers disclosures to buyer. Buyer performs inspections (Step 6)
Day 1–17 Loan is in underwriting and appraisal occurs (Step 7)
Day 7–30 | 21–45 Seller signs grant deed and staging is removed, if any (Step 7)
End of Escrow Within final week of escrow period, buyer signs loan and closing documents and wires in closing funds (Step 10)
Day 30 or Less Loan funds and escrow closes (recordation)
It is the buyer’s duty to schedule all desired home inspections and determine the overall condition of the property within the agreed timeline and contractual contingencies. But, your agent is always there to support you and answer questions! Your agent will help review the disclosures and preliminary title report. Once you decide what you are comfortable with you may approve or negotiate credits/repairs which your agent will communicate to the sellers. Prior to closing, your agent will schedule a final walk-thru of the property to verify property is still in acceptable condition and any negotiated repairs were done.
Organize an appraisal with your bank. Your completed mortgage application with all supporting documentation should be submitted to your chosen lender upon receipt of the fully signed Purchase Agreement. The bank then issues loan approval. Consequently, the buyer wires the closing funds with the homeowner’s insurance in place, and then the loan will be funded with clearance to close.
Congratulations!
You are now a homeowner.
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.
Tyler and his team pair unsurpassed local expertise with top technology to deliver the most sophisticated real estate experience. We're dedicated to bringing you a one-of-a-kind real estate experience you won't find anywhere else.
