Buyer's Guide

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.

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.

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.

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, 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.

My goal is to provide you with the most personalized service that is designed to help you buy your dream home

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Testimonials

Jaculine A.

Alees was so easy to work with on selling my mother’s house. She’s patient, kind, and highly knowledgeable of everywhere in Northern New Jersey. I highly recommend working with Alees!

Matt K.

Easiest recommendation I can make. Incredibly knowledgeable, hard working, experienced, and responsive. Alees is the best at what she does. As first-time home buyers, she made what is an incredibly daunting process seem easy. S...

Buyer

This experience was more than just a business transaction; it was personal. Having worked with several agents, I can confidently say that Alees stands out as one of the best. What sets her apart is not only her professionalism ...

Michael Z.

Alees is an amazing real estate agent! She really made this a personal experience. She was a great listener and always hustling to pursue leads. I never once felt like this was a business transaction for her. I would highly rec...

Buyer

We met Alees accidentally when my husband and I searched for a house. Alees was showing a house we were interested in, and it was an instant click for me. We did not put an offer on that house but found a great person to help u...

Karen G.

I can’t put into words how grateful I am to have had Alees as my real estate agent. COVID-19 was one of the toughest times many of us have ever gone through. It also happened to be when my husband and I were finally ready to bu...

Mat G.

Alees was recommended by family and quite simply was a godsend. She is not only prompt and courteous, but she has extensive knowledge of the homebuying process and the local area markets and trends. She was able to inform my wi...

Jane V.

Alees is an absolutely incredible realtor. She is just wonderful to work with - an excellent leader, listener, communicator, and negotiator. You want Alees on your side. She managed every single step of the purchase and sale ha...

Buyer

Alees was very instrumental in selling our property at an extremely competitive price. In turn she helped us roll the proceeds into a purchase of an investment property in a very favorable and competitive area. She is a great c...

Steven A.

Alees was great to work with; she helped my family and me sell and, at the same time, purchase a new home. I must say this was an incredible task. We had tight due dates; it was a scramble, to say the least, but Aleese was a tr...

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In choosing to work with Alees, you're selecting a partner who values integrity, transparency, and the power of community. She invites you to join her in not just buying or selling a property, but in making a positive impact on the community that makes Bergen County truly special. Connect with Alees today and experience the difference that genuine care, unparalleled expertise, and a commitment to community service can make in your real estate journey.

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A Step-by-Step First Time Buyer's Guide

Step 1: Research

Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

Step 3: Get Prequalified

Step 4: Choose a Real Estate Agent

My goal is to provide you with the most personalized service that is designed to help you buy your dream home

Step 5: Find the Right Home

Step 6: Make an Offer

Step 7: Have the Home Inspected

Step 8: Select Your Loan

Step 9: Get a Home Appraisal

Step 10: Finish Paperwork

Congratulations!