A Buyer's Guide
A Comprehensive Guide for First-Time Home Buyers
Buying your first home is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel overwhelming if you’re not sure where to begin. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide to help you navigate the home-buying process with confidence. From understanding your financing options to finding the right neighborhood, we’ll walk you through each step so you feel informed and supported along the way. Whether you’re dreaming of your ideal home or ready to take the plunge, this guide is here to make the journey smoother, stress-free, and enjoyable.
Step 1: Choose Your Realtor®
Choosing the right Realtor is the first and most important step in your home buying or selling journey. With so many options out there, it can feel overwhelming—but finding the perfect fit makes all the difference. Angie Tanner brings over two decades of real estate expertise and a personalized, client-focused approach to ensure a smooth and successful experience. As a trusted local expert, Angie goes beyond just helping you buy or sell; she provides the guidance, market insight, and support you need every step of the way. When you choose Angie Tanner, you’re not just getting a Realtor—you’re gaining a partner who truly cares about making your real estate goals a reality.
Step 2: Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
Before you begin your home search, it’s essential to determine how much you can afford. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is a critical step in this process. If you’re not paying cash, partnering with a mortgage professional who understands the local market will help ensure you find the right financing. Your lender will assess your down payment, income, and credit score to calculate what’s comfortable for you to spend. If you have financial challenges—like a low credit score, bankruptcy, or receiving gift money—your lender will work with you to address these issues, ensuring you qualify for the best loan options available. Pre-approval gives you the confidence to move forward and strengthens your offer when the perfect home comes along.
Step 3: Find your Perfect Home
Finding the right home is all about understanding your unique needs and goals. Whether you’re moving to solve specific challenges or looking for a home with features that bring you joy, it’s important to stay focused on what matters most to you. At Angie Tanner Homes, we use cutting-edge tools and a broad network to ensure you have access to the best listings, including upcoming opportunities. As we schedule showings, we’ll provide expert advice on each home’s condition, neighborhood, and community, helping you make an informed decision that aligns with both your practical needs and personal preferences. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Step 4: Submit Your Offer and Negotiate with Confidence
Once you’ve found the home that feels right, the next step is crafting a strong, competitive offer. At Angie Tanner Homes, we guide you through the process by using market analysis to ensure your offer is fair and strategic. Key factors like price, contingencies, and terms all play a role in the strength of your offer. We’ll walk you through each contract detail so you fully understand deadlines, liabilities, and important clauses. Whether the seller accepts, counters, or rejects your offer, our team is here to negotiate on your behalf until both parties agree on the terms and the contract is officially signed and ratified.
Our goal is to provide you with the dedicated service you need to confidently buy your dream home.
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Step 5: Ensuring a Smooth Inspection and Appraisal Process
A home inspection is always recommended, whether it’s a contingency in the contract or not, to ensure you fully understand the property’s condition. If any significant issues arise during the inspection, Angie Tanner Homes will work diligently to ensure necessary repairs are addressed before closing. Additionally, the home appraisal, initiated by your lender, is conducted by a third-party appraiser to assess the property’s value. We collaborate closely with the listing agent to ensure the appraisal is completed on time and accurately reflects the home’s value. Alongside the title company, which handles the title search, earnest money deposit, and prepares settlement documents, we manage these critical steps to keep your transaction on track.
Step 6: Secure Final Loan Approval
As you approach the final stages of your home purchase, your lender’s underwriting team will review and manage your loan for final approval. If any unusual or unexplained financial details arise, such as income discrepancies or large expenditures, they may require additional clarification. At this point, it’s important to respond quickly to any requests from the underwriter to prevent any delays in closing. Once all financing conditions have been met, your lender will issue an estimated Closing Disclosure, which breaks down the costs involved in the settlement. When you receive the “Clear to Close,” you’re ready to proceed to settlement. Angie Tanner Homes will be with you every step of the way to ensure a smooth and timely closing process.
Step 6: Celebrating Closing Day!
Closing day is the exciting final step in your home-buying journey!
Before settlement, we’ll join you for a final walkthrough to ensure the home is in the agreed-upon condition. During the settlement, the closing agent will guide you through the document signing process, explaining everything clearly if needed. The title company will manage the disbursement of funds to the seller and your lender. Once all documents are signed and the deed is transferred, you are officially the proud new homeowner. Congratulations! Angie Tanner Homes will be right by your side to celebrate this milestone and ensure everything goes smoothly.
Congratulations And Welcome To Your New Home!
Congratulations on becoming the proud owner of your new home! After signing the final documents, you’re just a few steps away from officially moving in. While it may take a few days for your loan to be funded and for the seller to receive the final payment, rest assured that the process is nearly complete. Soon, you’ll be unlocking the door to the home of your dreams. Angie Tanner Homes is thrilled to have been part of your journey, and we’re here to support you as you start this exciting new chapter.
Don't Trust Us, Trust Their Voice
Discover heartfelt accounts of joy and fulfillment as our valued clients embark on the quest for their dream homes and prime investments.
If you are seeking to purchase a home, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND Angie Tanner. Angie was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and amazing to work with. As an Educator, Angie was the perfect realtor to meet the needs of my family. She always remained positive, and responsive, and put my family’s best interests first…
Angie was wonderful! She has the expertise and knowledge that got us through our first home-buying experience. She took the time to understand the kind of home we wanted, then helped us negotiate into the perfect house! My husband and I were so fortunate to have her help and guidance...
The best in the business. Angie went above and beyond in every aspect of my first home buying experience. She put me in touch with the best lender, she thoroughly explained every step of the process so I felt comfortable and knowledgeable in my agreements, and even took the time and energy out of her day once we closed the deal…
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Are you interested in buying a home? Look no further than working with a real estate expert.
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At Angie Tanner Homes, success is all about happy clients.
With over 20 years of real estate experience and a background in education, Angie is passionate about helping people buy or sell their homes smoothly. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or selling your home, Angie’s personalized approach ensures a stress-free experience.
She’s not just your Realtor, she’s your partner in making your real estate dreams come true.