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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. 

Discover What My Clients Have to Say

Testimonials

"Marilyn is an experienced, excellent agent. She helped us buy, and then sell 2 years later. I cannot recommend Marilyn highly enough. She is sharp, organized, and unflappable."
"Marilyn is an experienced, excellent agent. She helped us buy, and then sell 2 years later. I cannot recommend Marilyn highly enough. She is sharp, organized, and unflappable."
Kristy G.
"Great buyer's agent experience! Marilyn has been a realtor for years and her knowledge shows this. She's been very helpful and gave me some guidance throughout the buying process. She's always available for calls and questions! Highly recommend!"
"Great buyer's agent experience! Marilyn has been a realtor for years and her knowledge shows this. She's been very helpful and gave me some guidance throughout the buying process. She's always available for calls and questions! Highly recommend!"
Darren M.
"Marilyn was on top of things, no stone unturned. It was a very nice experience working with such a professional woman. The house sold before the sign notifying the public that it was for sale was put up, in fact, there was no need! I highly encourage anyone selling a house to use Marilyn, whose reputation with me is stellar. She knows how to sell houses fast!"
"Marilyn was on top of things, no stone unturned. It was a very nice experience working with such a professional woman. The house sold before the sign notifying the public that it was for sale was put up, in fact, there was no need! I highly encourage anyone selling a house to use Marilyn, whose reputation with me is stellar. She knows how to sell houses fast!"
James D.
"Knowledgeable, caring, and has good insights on what's real and not real! We can call Marilyn anytime and she always answers very attentively, hands-on, and always knows how to handle the situation at hand and she knows the ins and outs of selling a house. I really knew she was the one when we went to a house and even though she uses a cane, she can and will get the job done. Kudos to Marilyn, she is a real go-getter, she's the woman for the job all day every day, hands down!"
"Knowledgeable, caring, and has good insights on what's real and not real! We can call Marilyn anytime and she always answers very attentively, hands-on, and always knows how to handle the situation at hand and she knows the ins and outs of selling a house. I really knew she was the one when we went to a house and even though she uses a cane, she can and will get the job done. Kudos to Marilyn, she is a real go-getter, she's the woman for the job all day every day, hands down!"
William J.
"Excellent agent. Clients will not find a harder-working agent. She is also thoroughly knowledgeable and practical. Her advice is always sound. She is patient and I believe the reason she works tireless, weekends and nights, is because she genuinely loves the business."
"Excellent agent. Clients will not find a harder-working agent. She is also thoroughly knowledgeable and practical. Her advice is always sound. She is patient and I believe the reason she works tireless, weekends and nights, is because she genuinely loves the business."
Arthur J.
"I couldn't work and ask God for a better agent! No words to describe the type of agent she is. Her work speaks for itself, and I pray God continues to bless her because she's an amazing person inside and out. Very patient, understandable, and reliable. I have given 4 friends her information already, because they deserve the same treatment I received from beginning to end, and it can only come from Marilyn. Thanks again! You are the best."
"I couldn't work and ask God for a better agent! No words to describe the type of agent she is. Her work speaks for itself, and I pray God continues to bless her because she's an amazing person inside and out. Very patient, understandable, and reliable. I have given 4 friends her information already, because they deserve the same treatment I received from beginning to end, and it can only come from Marilyn. Thanks again! You are the best."
Darlene P.
"Marilyn was great. Delivered timely results that were above expectations."
"Marilyn was great. Delivered timely results that were above expectations."
Lou C.
"First Time Home Buyer Success! As a first-time home buyer, I had many concerns about being able to purchase a home and doing so safely during a pandemic. From the moment I spoke to Marilyn, she was very attentive to my preferences and made me feel comfortable during each step of the process. She made time to speak with me on a weekly basis to discuss my preferences, homes that I'd seen on the market, and how to best prepare for open houses. Her guidance ensured that I was able to purchase my condo in my top choice condo complex and simplified the process so that there was less stress on my end. Please know that with Marilyn's knowledge and work ethic, you are in very good hands!"
"First Time Home Buyer Success! As a first-time home buyer, I had many concerns about being able to purchase a home and doing so safely during a pandemic. From the moment I spoke to Marilyn, she was very attentive to my preferences and made me feel comfortable during each step of the process. She made time to speak with me on a weekly basis to discuss my preferences, homes that I'd seen on the market, and how to best prepare for open houses. Her guidance ensured that I was able to purchase my condo in my top choice condo complex and simplified the process so that there was less stress on my end. Please know that with Marilyn's knowledge and work ethic, you are in very good hands!"
Buyer
"The best agent in MA! Marilyn is the hardest-working, most dedicated agent I have ever worked with. She works tirelessly, day and night, to do whatever it takes to help her clients."
"The best agent in MA! Marilyn is the hardest-working, most dedicated agent I have ever worked with. She works tirelessly, day and night, to do whatever it takes to help her clients."
Dan M.
"Marilyn helped my fiancé and I get the perfect home for us when we casted a broad net over most of Southeast MA. As first-time home-buyers, she was patient and kind with us when we were unsure, and encouraging in the moments of urgency when we were ready to jump. She felt like a friend and an advocate in the most important ways, she answered our questions by sharing her experiences, listened to what we wanted and needed, and went to bat for us. She is a consummate professional and understands the importance of relationships with her clients, other agents, closing lawyers, and mortgage providers. The very first offer we put on a house was accepted over 17 others and we weren't even the highest offer, she knows how to leverage every strength to win a bidding war in a competitive market."
"Marilyn helped my fiancé and I get the perfect home for us when we casted a broad net over most of Southeast MA. As first-time home-buyers, she was patient and kind with us when we were unsure, and encouraging in the moments of urgency when we were ready to jump. She felt like a friend and an advocate in the most important ways, she answered our questions by sharing her experiences, listened to what we wanted and needed, and went to bat for us. She is a consummate professional and understands the importance of relationships with her clients, other agents, closing lawyers, and mortgage providers. The very first offer we put on a house was accepted over 17 others and we weren't even the highest offer, she knows how to leverage every strength to win a bidding war in a competitive market."
Sarah H.
"If I could give Marilyn 10 stars, I would do it in a heartbeat! From the moment we started our home-buying journey in March to closing the deal and moving into our dream home in April, Marilyn was there every step of the way. Her dedication and support were truly exceptional. Marilyn’s expertise and commitment to finding us the perfect home made the entire process smooth and stress-free. She went above and beyond, fighting for us and ensuring that our needs were met. We are incredibly grateful for Marilyn’s hard work and would highly recommend her to anyone in search of their perfect home. Thank you, Marilyn, for everything!"
"If I could give Marilyn 10 stars, I would do it in a heartbeat! From the moment we started our home-buying journey in March to closing the deal and moving into our dream home in April, Marilyn was there every step of the way. Her dedication and support were truly exceptional. Marilyn’s expertise and commitment to finding us the perfect home made the entire process smooth and stress-free. She went above and beyond, fighting for us and ensuring that our needs were met. We are incredibly grateful for Marilyn’s hard work and would highly recommend her to anyone in search of their perfect home. Thank you, Marilyn, for everything!"
Sacha L.
"You just won’t find a harder-working realtor. I really do believe it’s because she loves what she’s doing. She’s also flexible and sees things in a big-picture format. Gives sound advice. I’m going back with her when I need a realtor again."
"You just won’t find a harder-working realtor. I really do believe it’s because she loves what she’s doing. She’s also flexible and sees things in a big-picture format. Gives sound advice. I’m going back with her when I need a realtor again."
Seller
"Marilyn provided an extraordinary level of support for us in managing a complex out-of-state relocation. She understands the market in depth, is extremely responsive, and is a consummate professional. She turned what could have been a very challenging home-buying experience for us into a pleasant and productive experience. I would highly recommend her."
"Marilyn provided an extraordinary level of support for us in managing a complex out-of-state relocation. She understands the market in depth, is extremely responsive, and is a consummate professional. She turned what could have been a very challenging home-buying experience for us into a pleasant and productive experience. I would highly recommend her."
Buyer
"Our experience was Marilyn was excellent. She went out of her way to make things as easy as possible and made sure to explain anything we had questions about (which was quite a bit) along the way. She was extremely responsive and always available when we needed her. I would highly recommend working with Marilyn if you’re searching for a new home!"
"Our experience was Marilyn was excellent. She went out of her way to make things as easy as possible and made sure to explain anything we had questions about (which was quite a bit) along the way. She was extremely responsive and always available when we needed her. I would highly recommend working with Marilyn if you’re searching for a new home!"
Jim D.
"We dealt with a few realtors over the last 2 years and none of them compare to Marilyn. She is definitely a businesswoman who has a lot of experience and knows what she is doing. She sends out listings of houses within your price range every morning and whenever we are interested in a property we let her know and she gets us viewing as soon as possible after reviewing it and letting us know if it is worth seeing. The day before a viewing she would send us all the details and a time schedule of each property based on the locations (love that). On the day of viewing, she brings a printout of all the properties for that day which surprises us. Marilyn always made herself available and always responded to our phone calls, texts, and emails promptly and we were amazed by it. Marilyn made sure the whole process was carried out smoothly and in a timely manner when dealing with the loan office, processor, underwriters, and lawyer. They gave us a hard time right before closing but Marilyn continued to stay on top of everything and pushed the process along by making phone calls and sending emails to all the appropriate recipients as needed to prevent more delays up until the day of closing. Marilyn is the best realtor and we would and will refer her to any and everyone."
"We dealt with a few realtors over the last 2 years and none of them compare to Marilyn. She is definitely a businesswoman who has a lot of experience and knows what she is doing. She sends out listings of houses within your price range every morning and whenever we are interested in a property we let her know and she gets us viewing as soon as possible after reviewing it and letting us know if it is worth seeing. The day before a viewing she would send us all the details and a time schedule of each property based on the locations (love that). On the day of viewing, she brings a printout of all the properties for that day which surprises us. Marilyn always made herself available and always responded to our phone calls, texts, and emails promptly and we were amazed by it. Marilyn made sure the whole process was carried out smoothly and in a timely manner when dealing with the loan office, processor, underwriters, and lawyer. They gave us a hard time right before closing but Marilyn continued to stay on top of everything and pushed the process along by making phone calls and sending emails to all the appropriate recipients as needed to prevent more delays up until the day of closing. Marilyn is the best realtor and we would and will refer her to any and everyone."
Buyer
"Marilyn assisted us in buying our first house and she made sure we understood each part of the process. Her knowledge, patience, and experience made us feel very comfortable during this trajectory. She goes beyond the real estate steps and responsibilities as she acted as our consultant, psychologist, and friend. I would definitely recommend Marilyn."
"Marilyn assisted us in buying our first house and she made sure we understood each part of the process. Her knowledge, patience, and experience made us feel very comfortable during this trajectory. She goes beyond the real estate steps and responsibilities as she acted as our consultant, psychologist, and friend. I would definitely recommend Marilyn."
Thais D.
"As a first-time home buyer, Marilyn was extremely helpful with guiding us through the entire process, from helping us determine exactly what we were looking for in a home to the recommendation of a mortgage broker and attorney. She was very knowledgeable about each town we were considering and was always extremely responsive to all of our questions throughout the process. Marilyn always had our best interest in mind and made the home-buying process very seamless."
"As a first-time home buyer, Marilyn was extremely helpful with guiding us through the entire process, from helping us determine exactly what we were looking for in a home to the recommendation of a mortgage broker and attorney. She was very knowledgeable about each town we were considering and was always extremely responsive to all of our questions throughout the process. Marilyn always had our best interest in mind and made the home-buying process very seamless."
Leonardi J.
"I met Marilyn in May 2019. I went to look at an apartment for rent but instead of renting, I decided to buy. Marilyn connected me with amazing people to help me get the approval I needed to purchase my first home. Marilyn walked me step by step and stood by my side during the entire process. She is so welcoming and understanding. Marilyn makes sure that she can work with your schedule and to get things done in a timely manner. I would continue to work and refer her to anyone."
"I met Marilyn in May 2019. I went to look at an apartment for rent but instead of renting, I decided to buy. Marilyn connected me with amazing people to help me get the approval I needed to purchase my first home. Marilyn walked me step by step and stood by my side during the entire process. She is so welcoming and understanding. Marilyn makes sure that she can work with your schedule and to get things done in a timely manner. I would continue to work and refer her to anyone."
Kendra D.
"Marilyn made our relocation process a breeze. She gave us the best advice, knew all the right steps to help us close fast, and was so kind and caring through every step of the process. Amazing communication."
"Marilyn made our relocation process a breeze. She gave us the best advice, knew all the right steps to help us close fast, and was so kind and caring through every step of the process. Amazing communication."
Kristy G.
"Marilyn was direct, transparent, honest, and responsive. We presented her with a challenging timeline to purchase our second home. She fought for us every step of the way. The end result, we are now in the home and neighborhood of our dreams. We have Marilyn to thank for this. You can't go wrong with Marilyn."
"Marilyn was direct, transparent, honest, and responsive. We presented her with a challenging timeline to purchase our second home. She fought for us every step of the way. The end result, we are now in the home and neighborhood of our dreams. We have Marilyn to thank for this. You can't go wrong with Marilyn."
Buyer

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