First-Time Buyer?
Here's What Nobody
Tells You

Buying your first home is exciting, a little terrifying, and full of things nobody quite explains until you're in the middle of them. Here's the straight version, the costs, the timeline, and the questions worth asking before you fall for a house.

You won't sound smart at every step, and that's completely fine. Nobody does this often enough to be an expert at it. My whole job is to be the person who has done it many times, so you don't have to pretend you have.

The costs beyond the price tag

The sticker price is the headline. These are the numbers that surprise first-timers:

• Down payment. Often less than you think, many buyers put down far below 20%. We'll talk real options with a lender before you assume you can't.
• Closing costs. Typically a few percent of the price, covering lender fees, title, taxes, and more. Sometimes we can negotiate part of these into the deal.
• Earnest money. A deposit that shows you're serious, it isn't extra, it counts toward your costs, but you need it ready.
• Inspection & appraisal. A few hundred dollars each, paid along the way. Worth every penny.
• The first month in. Utilities to set up, maybe a repair, a few things you'll want day one. Leave a little cushion.

The timeline, honestly

From "I'm ready" to keys in hand is usually a couple of months, and it moves in stages: get pre-approved, see homes, make an offer, go under contract, inspect and appraise, then close. The searching part can take a weekend or six months, and that's okay. The under-contract-to-close part is where the paperwork lives, and it's where I do the heavy lifting.

Get pre-approved first

Before you tour a single home, know what you can comfortably offer. My trusted Epique lending partner makes pre-approval simple, apply online, get your letter, and shop knowing your number. It also makes your offer far stronger when you find the one.

You don't need to know everything. You need someone in your corner who does.

Questions to ask before you fall for a house

• What's the real monthly cost, mortgage, taxes, insurance, and any HOA, not just the payment?
• What's the neighborhood like at 8am and 8pm, on a weekday and a weekend?
• What would an inspection likely flag, roof age, systems, water in the basement?
• Why are they selling, and how long has it been listed? The answers tell you a lot.
• Is this a home I love, or a home I've talked myself into because I'm tired of looking?

My promise to first-timers

No judgment, ever. Ask me the "dumb" question, it's almost never dumb, and it's your biggest financial decision, so you deserve a real answer. Text me a listing at 9pm. We move at your pace. And because I know how a home is actually built and what it's really worth, you get an honest guide, not a salesperson, all the way to move-in day.

When you're ready, even if "ready" just means "curious", let's talk it through.

Christie

Christie Moreira · REALTOR® · Epique Realty

The statements and opinions contained in this advertisement are solely those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the positions or opinions of Epique Realty or its subsidiaries or affiliates (the “Company”). The Company does not assume any responsibility for, nor does it warrant, the accuracy, completeness, or quality of the information provided.