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 we 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 agents like us to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will we help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but we also have knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where our expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let us show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.

Step 5: Find the Right Home

This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). We 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. We 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. We 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.

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Carey C.

We followed Randy’s advice on what needed to be done to get our house ready to sell. We sold our house in seven days for exactly what Randy told us we would. Randy is honest and knows his business. I would recommend him to my f...

Jimmy & Pam T.

As former clients, and now friends, we would highly recommend Randy White to any buyer or seller. Randy is one of the most honest and professional real estate representatives we’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.

Holly R.

Randy was wonderful to work with and is very knowledgeable about the metroplex market. His office staff were always easy to speak with and quick to return our phone calls or emails when necessary. The process went as smoothly a...

Dee M.

Thank you for helping us find a home in the school district we wanted. You were always available for questions on the phone and via email. I am overjoyed that you were able to find our new home so quickly that fit our dreams of...

Marcy F.

My husband and I cannot say enough about how happy our family was with Lisa as our Realtor. Our situation was quite unique. We initially had our home listed with another agent yet Lisa brought several qualified buyers through o...

Don & Sharon C.

We met Randy White in 1994 and instantly knew we would have a great relationship with him. He has helped us sell and buy three homes since we met him. Randy has always been positive in listing our homes and that they would sell...

Yaffa & Chase

As first time home buyers and picky customers, we appreciated her patience and help. We met Lisa at an open house. We had been looking for a house for about 2 months, by then with no luck. She asked us what we were looking for ...

Joe & Lisa

We would like to especially thank Lisa for all the help in purchasing our home. We will surely recommend her to our family and friends!

Rosemary & George

Our experience with Lisa was great. She is very knowledgeable and worked hard for us.

Maria & Jim

We have known Randy White for many years and have had the good fortune to have him as our realtor on two separate occasions. Randy is a true professional who knows his business and the market inside and out, and has given us ex...

Cam M.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Jodi Gaines, an incredible realtor, who made my first home-buying experience nothing short of amazing. From our initial meeting, Jodi demonstrated a deep understanding of the market. ...

Michaela O.

I cannot thank Jodi Gaines enough for all her hard work and dedication in helping me find my perfect home. From our very first meeting, she was passionate about understanding my needs and ensuring that I found a place that trul...

Brad T.

From start to finish, Randy White and his team have always delivered outstanding service. Randy, along with his amazing team—Patrick, Brenda, Teresa and everyone else in the office—are all incredibly professional, responsive, a...

Rachael T.

Working with Randy White Real Estate Services, with my husband, Patrick, as our realtor, was such a unique experience. I see him approach his work with passion and care every day, and he brought that same dedication to helping ...

Marissa A.

Jodi Gaines with Randy White Real Estate Services was awesome to work with. I would highly recommend her and will be referring her to my family and friends. She is very knowledgeable about the local real estate market.

Wendy S.

We had a delightful experience with Randy White Real Estate Services when selling our home in Southlake, Texas. Our home was priced right and sold within hours of being listed- for asking price. It is no surprise that Randy Whi...

Brianna B.

Randy and his team are not only phenomenal agents but people as well. They are knowledgeable on the market and know how to get the job done by providing premium service. Everyone is so kind a pleasure to work with. I would reco...

James T.

Several family members have used Randy White Realty for help in both purchasing and in selling homes-over many years. We would not use anyone else. Highly recommended!

Harley T.

We are first time homeowners thanks to Randy and his team! They made the whole process stress-free and found us lots of wonderful homes in our price range and helped us find our dream home.

Shirley H.

Randy White and his entire office staff were extremely helpful in the sale of our home of over 30 years. We were going through a very difficult time as my husband got sick and had to be hospitalized in the middle of this proces...

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