Pennsylvania Buyer's Guide and Tips | The Kelley Perry Group

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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David F.

We used Kelley to sell our townhouse and buy a single family home in Butler County (northern Pittsburgh area). Kelley was awesome to work with. She is very knowledgeable in the business and is always working around the clock. A...

Devin C.

Kelley was amazing to work with! She made buying our first home the easiest process. She was quick to answering all our questions and scheduling tours for us. We trusted her throughout the whole process and she never steered us...

Susan C.

Kelley is a professional from listing until closing. She helped me numerous times to navigate the sale of my mothers property. Since I live out of state she coordinated inspections, repairs and readied the home for a quick sale...

Makenzie K.

Kelley is an absolutely incredible and extremely hardworking realtor. She helped us to sell our home with multiple offers for a good amount over asking price. She gave us advice for repairs and updates that would help our house...

Dustin M.

Kelley was thoughtful and thorough. She listened to our requests and worked hard to help find the very best house for us. Once we found a house, she helped us navigate the negotiation process and helped us to get the best deal ...

Jim C.

Kelley is a top notch professional who knows what it takes to get deals done. She is extremely responsive and always makes her clients needs a top priority. Will use again and will refer others I know. Thanks Kelley.

Maura H.

Kelley was motivated and remained optimistic throughout the process of searching for our home during such a difficult market. She was accommodating with our less than ideal schedule, and didn’t hesitate to think outside the box...

Evanne S.

Kelley is an expert when it comes to real estate. We just closed on our first home, and she made the process so seamless. Given the circumstances with the economy at present, we closed earlier than anticipated. Kelley ensured e...

Amanda K.

Kelley was really helpful during the process of finding our first home! She was quick and responsive and worked hard to coordinate our showings. Kelley is also an experienced professional who gives great advice. My partner and ...

Lucas M.

I can't even begin to say enough about Kelly, she was so incredibly professional it made our lives very easy. As first time home buyers it was like learning a second language. She knew what we wanted and never wasted our time w...

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Buyer's Guide

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

Our 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!