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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.

Client Success Stories

Testimonials

Read firsthand accounts of how Survi’s expertise and innovative approach have delivered exceptional results.

"She is one of the best real estate agents I have dealt with. Highly recommend!"
"She is one of the best real estate agents I have dealt with. Highly recommend!"
Chetan S.
"Survi was an excellent agent who helped me and my family get the perfect apartment in a nice and quiet neighborhood. She was very informative, patient, and thorough. Without the help of her, I wouldn't be living in such a lovely apartment. She's great at what she does and I'm very grateful for her help."
"Survi was an excellent agent who helped me and my family get the perfect apartment in a nice and quiet neighborhood. She was very informative, patient, and thorough. Without the help of her, I wouldn't be living in such a lovely apartment. She's great at what she does and I'm very grateful for her help."
Nakisha G.
"Working with Survi was great! She responded to all our questions promptly and continued to share listings that met our specifications as she came across them. I would recommend Survi to any of my friends looking to buy or rent a place. She is professional, knowledgeable, and great to work with!"
"Working with Survi was great! She responded to all our questions promptly and continued to share listings that met our specifications as she came across them. I would recommend Survi to any of my friends looking to buy or rent a place. She is professional, knowledgeable, and great to work with!"
Buyer | Seller
"My wife and I began our search for our home earlier this summer. We were expecting a baby in the Fall and needed to find a home pretty quickly so we could be settled before our baby's arrival. We had very specific needs as we were both picky and we were pretty particular about which areas we wanted to target in our search. We knew we were going to be high-maintenance clients and needed to find someone to babysit us (no pun intended) through the stressful process of buying a home. We were very fortunate to have found Survi! During our search, we switched our focus from West Town to Old Town then to Lincoln Park, and then back to West Town. Each time, Survi patiently worked us through the neighborhoods, and the properties that met our needs, and scheduled appointments that efficiently managed our time. When we were ready to make offers, she provided detailed info on the comps and valuable insight on how to approach the offer. She even provided contacts for contractors to join us and provide remodeling estimates so that we could make fully informed decisions. Our first 2 offers fell through - the first was after inspection when we found out the HOA was poorly run (there were a lot of repairs needed and they had no reserves) and the second, we got outbid and weren't willing to go over our budget. It was exhausting dealing with the disappointment of not finding our home and having to start over. However, it was Survi's positive attitude and wonderful energy that helped pick us back up each time! Survi's level of professionalism, responsiveness, organization, and attention to detail are great, but it is her ability to manage the many personalities involved that clearly sets her apart. She has an amazing ability to remain calm when everyone around her seems to be losing their minds. This was exactly what we needed! We ended up closing on our third offer and we are so happy with our new home! Thanks, Survi for all your help!"
"My wife and I began our search for our home earlier this summer. We were expecting a baby in the Fall and needed to find a home pretty quickly so we could be settled before our baby's arrival. We had very specific needs as we were both picky and we were pretty particular about which areas we wanted to target in our search. We knew we were going to be high-maintenance clients and needed to find someone to babysit us (no pun intended) through the stressful process of buying a home. We were very fortunate to have found Survi! During our search, we switched our focus from West Town to Old Town then to Lincoln Park, and then back to West Town. Each time, Survi patiently worked us through the neighborhoods, and the properties that met our needs, and scheduled appointments that efficiently managed our time. When we were ready to make offers, she provided detailed info on the comps and valuable insight on how to approach the offer. She even provided contacts for contractors to join us and provide remodeling estimates so that we could make fully informed decisions. Our first 2 offers fell through - the first was after inspection when we found out the HOA was poorly run (there were a lot of repairs needed and they had no reserves) and the second, we got outbid and weren't willing to go over our budget. It was exhausting dealing with the disappointment of not finding our home and having to start over. However, it was Survi's positive attitude and wonderful energy that helped pick us back up each time! Survi's level of professionalism, responsiveness, organization, and attention to detail are great, but it is her ability to manage the many personalities involved that clearly sets her apart. She has an amazing ability to remain calm when everyone around her seems to be losing their minds. This was exactly what we needed! We ended up closing on our third offer and we are so happy with our new home! Thanks, Survi for all your help!"
Kali
"Survi is fantastic. She is extremely responsive and knowledgeable about properties in Chicago and the surrounding areas. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell property."
"Survi is fantastic. She is extremely responsive and knowledgeable about properties in Chicago and the surrounding areas. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell property."
Buyer
"Survi was so helpful in helping me look for an apartment - contacted me every day with new listings that matched my criteria and was very responsive to any questions or booking appointments. On top of that, she was ready and willing to help a colleague who was moving to the U.S. from Germany (not an easy task). She is friendly to work with and could not have made the process easier."
"Survi was so helpful in helping me look for an apartment - contacted me every day with new listings that matched my criteria and was very responsive to any questions or booking appointments. On top of that, she was ready and willing to help a colleague who was moving to the U.S. from Germany (not an easy task). She is friendly to work with and could not have made the process easier."
Tapatel
"Survi is a real gem. She is a super nice person, highly dedicated, and very service-oriented. A coworker recommended Survi when I was about to move to Chicago and only had a very limited timeframe to look for an apartment. Survi was very proactive, highly responsive, and very organized. She summarized all the apartments for me with pictures and a short description so that I didn't lose track. She is fantastic."
"Survi is a real gem. She is a super nice person, highly dedicated, and very service-oriented. A coworker recommended Survi when I was about to move to Chicago and only had a very limited timeframe to look for an apartment. Survi was very proactive, highly responsive, and very organized. She summarized all the apartments for me with pictures and a short description so that I didn't lose track. She is fantastic."
Eva Maria W.
"Survi is fantastic! We were looking to rent a 2 bed/2 bath, and Survi really listened to our wants and needs and showed us units that met our criteria. She is super dedicated, and despite having a cast on her leg, she hobbled around with a crutch and continued to show us places. She is also very patient, and we really appreciated that as we were pretty picky and saw over 15 units, but Survi continued to be highly engaged and wanted to find us the perfect place. We highly recommend Survi!"
"Survi is fantastic! We were looking to rent a 2 bed/2 bath, and Survi really listened to our wants and needs and showed us units that met our criteria. She is super dedicated, and despite having a cast on her leg, she hobbled around with a crutch and continued to show us places. She is also very patient, and we really appreciated that as we were pretty picky and saw over 15 units, but Survi continued to be highly engaged and wanted to find us the perfect place. We highly recommend Survi!"
Buyer | Seller
"Survi is an amazing real estate professional. We are in a perfect home now and it is all thanks to her! She listened attentively to our wish list for our new home and worked tirelessly to help us find the perfect fit. She was not only extremely responsive but was invaluable through our negotiation and paperwork process guiding us to ensure we got the best deal possible. She is was knowledgeable in every step of the process and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a new home in the Chicagoland area."
"Survi is an amazing real estate professional. We are in a perfect home now and it is all thanks to her! She listened attentively to our wish list for our new home and worked tirelessly to help us find the perfect fit. She was not only extremely responsive but was invaluable through our negotiation and paperwork process guiding us to ensure we got the best deal possible. She is was knowledgeable in every step of the process and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a new home in the Chicagoland area."
Buyer | Seller

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