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Your Guide to Buying a Home in Arizona

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. 

Client Success Stories

Testimonials

"I have worked in Real Estate and Property Management for for over 4 years and I must say that I had no idea what level of true customer service within the industry could rise to. When I approached Dhana about listing my property, I knew that there were going to be multiple challenges and hurdles to get over before the property would close. Together, with Dhana's experience and specific recommendations, we agreed upon a marketing and sales plan. Throughout the process, Dhana was always customer service-oriented and professional with me. As a first-time seller, there were many questions that I had as a result of the selling process. Dhana patiently answered all of them and in a way that the novice seller could understand. Ultimately, it was the customer service she provided to a potential buyer that was the catalyst to close the sale. I would use her again and again for any real estate transaction in the future and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a positive real estate experience."
"I have worked in Real Estate and Property Management for for over 4 years and I must say that I had no idea what level of true customer service within the industry could rise to. When I approached Dhana about listing my property, I knew that there were going to be multiple challenges and hurdles to get over before the property would close. Together, with Dhana's experience and specific recommendations, we agreed upon a marketing and sales plan. Throughout the process, Dhana was always customer service-oriented and professional with me. As a first-time seller, there were many questions that I had as a result of the selling process. Dhana patiently answered all of them and in a way that the novice seller could understand. Ultimately, it was the customer service she provided to a potential buyer that was the catalyst to close the sale. I would use her again and again for any real estate transaction in the future and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a positive real estate experience."
Andre D.
"Responsiveness 5 Stars Negotiation skills 5 Stars Professionalism and communication 5 Stars Market expertise 5 Stars Experienced, dedicated and caring. All the qualities you want in a realtor and desperately need in order to sell a home during a worldwide pandemic. Dhana really listens to your needs and takes the time to get to know you. She helps you navigate tough decisions and provides multiple options. Decisive, but not pushy. She truly rolls up her sleeves, follows through and goes the extra mile(s)! Thank you!"
"Responsiveness 5 Stars Negotiation skills 5 Stars Professionalism and communication 5 Stars Market expertise 5 Stars Experienced, dedicated and caring. All the qualities you want in a realtor and desperately need in order to sell a home during a worldwide pandemic. Dhana really listens to your needs and takes the time to get to know you. She helps you navigate tough decisions and provides multiple options. Decisive, but not pushy. She truly rolls up her sleeves, follows through and goes the extra mile(s)! Thank you!"
Helene J.
"Dhana helped and absolutely guided us through selling of our home. She offered tips and notes throughout the entire process. She was personal and always professional. Dhana was always one call away if we needed anything. She was able to guide us through multiple offers that we received on our house and was able to sell it for a top dollar. Knows her market and is a great negotiator. Thank you Dhana for all your hard work! If you are looking to sell or buy I highly recommend Dhana."
"Dhana helped and absolutely guided us through selling of our home. She offered tips and notes throughout the entire process. She was personal and always professional. Dhana was always one call away if we needed anything. She was able to guide us through multiple offers that we received on our house and was able to sell it for a top dollar. Knows her market and is a great negotiator. Thank you Dhana for all your hard work! If you are looking to sell or buy I highly recommend Dhana."
Dorin B.
"We've worked with a number of Real Estate Agents over the years. Some were friends or became friends. We have to say that Dhana possessed so many more qualities that made her exceptional! Friendly, Personable and Professional Very Knowledgeable - Makes good suggestions, yet gives caution and realistic expectations at the same time. Markets the property well - Goes above and beyond in service (we're sure a lot happened "behind the scenes" that we didn't even know about). Great follow-through and feedback throughout the process We can't say enough we were beyond thrilled to have Dhana as our agent!"
"We've worked with a number of Real Estate Agents over the years. Some were friends or became friends. We have to say that Dhana possessed so many more qualities that made her exceptional! Friendly, Personable and Professional Very Knowledgeable - Makes good suggestions, yet gives caution and realistic expectations at the same time. Markets the property well - Goes above and beyond in service (we're sure a lot happened "behind the scenes" that we didn't even know about). Great follow-through and feedback throughout the process We can't say enough we were beyond thrilled to have Dhana as our agent!"
Mike H.
"Dhana is very professional, she is quick in response, knowledgeable about local market. A pleasure working with her."
"Dhana is very professional, she is quick in response, knowledgeable about local market. A pleasure working with her."
Li Q.
"Dhana helped and absolutely guided us through the selling of our home. She offered tips and notes throughout the entire process. She was personal and always professional. Dhana was always one call away if we needed anything. She was able to guide us through multiple offers that we received on our house and was able to sell it for a top dollar. Knows her market and is a great negotiator. Thank you Dhana for all your hard work! If you are looking to sell or buy I highly recommend Dhana."
"Dhana helped and absolutely guided us through the selling of our home. She offered tips and notes throughout the entire process. She was personal and always professional. Dhana was always one call away if we needed anything. She was able to guide us through multiple offers that we received on our house and was able to sell it for a top dollar. Knows her market and is a great negotiator. Thank you Dhana for all your hard work! If you are looking to sell or buy I highly recommend Dhana."
Pomeranetz Family Trust

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