Leave a Message

Thank you for your message. We will be in touch with you shortly.

welcome to my

Buyer's Guide

Everything you need to know about searching for the perfect home, making an offer, and successfully closing on your new property.

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 our team will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey as much as possible.

main

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.

main

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.

main

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.

main

Step 4: Choose Real Estate Experts

Can you shop for, look at, and ultimately make an offer on a home without real estate experts? 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.

Passion & Expertise

Our goal is to provide you with the most personalized service possible, meticulously designed to help you navigate the process of buying your dream home. We are dedicated to understanding your unique needs and preferences, ensuring that every step of the journey is tailored to achieve your ultimate home-buying aspirations.

main

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.

main

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.

main

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.

main

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.

main

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.

main

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. 

See Why Our Clients Love Us

The Experiences That Define Our Excellence

Hear from the people who have trusted us with their real estate journeys and discover the difference for yourself.

"Working with Katie and Vogue Realty Group was an incredible experience! Katie’s market knowledge and strategic approach helped us secure our dream home in a competitive market. Her negotiation skills saved us thousands, and she exceeded every expectation we had. The entire process was so seamless because of the full-service support from her team. They handled every detail, from paperwork to inspections, financing, ensuring a smooth transaction. Katie genuinely cared about our goals and kept us informed at every step. Vogue Realty Group delivers unmatched expertise and white-glove service. We couldn’t recommend them more highly!"
"Working with Katie and Vogue Realty Group was an incredible experience! Katie’s market knowledge and strategic approach helped us secure our dream home in a competitive market. Her negotiation skills saved us thousands, and she exceeded every expectation we had. The entire process was so seamless because of the full-service support from her team. They handled every detail, from paperwork to inspections, financing, ensuring a smooth transaction. Katie genuinely cared about our goals and kept us informed at every step. Vogue Realty Group delivers unmatched expertise and white-glove service. We couldn’t recommend them more highly!"
Jessica L.
"Annie from Vogue Realty Group went above and beyond to help us sell our home quickly and for top dollar. Her strategy was spot-on, even in a shifting market. Annie’s expert negotiation skills and market knowledge made us feel confident every step of the way. Her team’s full-service approach was remarkable—they handled staging, marketing, and all the behind-the-scenes work flawlessly. Annie genuinely cared about our goals and worked tirelessly to meet them. Thanks to her hard work, the process was stress-free and smooth. Vogue Realty Group truly delivers exceptional service. We couldn’t be happier!"
"Annie from Vogue Realty Group went above and beyond to help us sell our home quickly and for top dollar. Her strategy was spot-on, even in a shifting market. Annie’s expert negotiation skills and market knowledge made us feel confident every step of the way. Her team’s full-service approach was remarkable—they handled staging, marketing, and all the behind-the-scenes work flawlessly. Annie genuinely cared about our goals and worked tirelessly to meet them. Thanks to her hard work, the process was stress-free and smooth. Vogue Realty Group truly delivers exceptional service. We couldn’t be happier!"
Hoang N.
"Quynh and Vogue Realty Group made buying our first home an amazing experience. Her knowledge of the market and attention to detail helped us find the perfect property within our budget. Quynh’s negotiation skills were top-notch, securing incredible concessions for us. She went out of her way to ensure we felt supported throughout the process. Her team handled everything, from inspections to closing paperwork, making the experience stress-free. Quynh truly cared about helping us achieve our goals and exceeded all expectations. We are beyond grateful for her expertise and highly recommend Vogue Realty Group!"
"Quynh and Vogue Realty Group made buying our first home an amazing experience. Her knowledge of the market and attention to detail helped us find the perfect property within our budget. Quynh’s negotiation skills were top-notch, securing incredible concessions for us. She went out of her way to ensure we felt supported throughout the process. Her team handled everything, from inspections to closing paperwork, making the experience stress-free. Quynh truly cared about helping us achieve our goals and exceeded all expectations. We are beyond grateful for her expertise and highly recommend Vogue Realty Group!"
David M.
"Dustin with Vogue Realty Group provided an exceptional experience from start to finish. His in-depth market knowledge and strategic approach helped us find the perfect investment property in a challenging market. Dustin’s negotiation skills secured terms that maximized our value. What stood out most was his dedication to ensuring every detail was handled, from inspections to closing. The team’s white-glove service made the entire process seamless. Dustin genuinely cared about our goals and worked tirelessly to exceed them. Vogue Realty Group’s unmatched expertise and client-focused approach make them the best in the business."
"Dustin with Vogue Realty Group provided an exceptional experience from start to finish. His in-depth market knowledge and strategic approach helped us find the perfect investment property in a challenging market. Dustin’s negotiation skills secured terms that maximized our value. What stood out most was his dedication to ensuring every detail was handled, from inspections to closing. The team’s white-glove service made the entire process seamless. Dustin genuinely cared about our goals and worked tirelessly to exceed them. Vogue Realty Group’s unmatched expertise and client-focused approach make them the best in the business."
Kevin P.
"Vogue Realty Group, led by Katie and Quynh is a dream team! Their combined expertise and strategic approach helped us navigate a really tough market with ease. Each team member brought unique strengths to ensure our goals were met. From negotiating amazing deals to handling every detail behind the scenes, their full-service approach was flawless. They cared deeply about our needs and exceeded our expectations in every way. The team’s knowledge and commitment to exceptional service made the entire process smooth and enjoyable. We’re thrilled with the results and highly recommend Vogue Realty Group!"
"Vogue Realty Group, led by Katie and Quynh is a dream team! Their combined expertise and strategic approach helped us navigate a really tough market with ease. Each team member brought unique strengths to ensure our goals were met. From negotiating amazing deals to handling every detail behind the scenes, their full-service approach was flawless. They cared deeply about our needs and exceeded our expectations in every way. The team’s knowledge and commitment to exceptional service made the entire process smooth and enjoyable. We’re thrilled with the results and highly recommend Vogue Realty Group!"
Mitchell R.
"Katie was incredible to work with! She goes beyond what you ask and exceeds expectations. She makes the process for her clients easy as she ensures all our questions were answered and all necessities met. I’d definitely refer her!"
"Katie was incredible to work with! She goes beyond what you ask and exceeds expectations. She makes the process for her clients easy as she ensures all our questions were answered and all necessities met. I’d definitely refer her!"
Buyer | Seller
"I had an exceptional experience working with Katie. Her professionalism and market expertise truly stood out. From the initial consultation the communication was seamless. Katie went above and beyond, addressing every concern promptly. I highly recommend Katie for her outstanding service and expertise."
"I had an exceptional experience working with Katie. Her professionalism and market expertise truly stood out. From the initial consultation the communication was seamless. Katie went above and beyond, addressing every concern promptly. I highly recommend Katie for her outstanding service and expertise."
Jenn K.
"My experience with Katie was truly exceptional. She has great knowledge of the city and took the time to figure out all of my family's needs. We took a look at many homes and when we finally found "the one" Katie took care of us and made the buying process easy and smooth. She was always responsive whenever I needed her, and her proactive approach made me feel the most supported possible."
"My experience with Katie was truly exceptional. She has great knowledge of the city and took the time to figure out all of my family's needs. We took a look at many homes and when we finally found "the one" Katie took care of us and made the buying process easy and smooth. She was always responsive whenever I needed her, and her proactive approach made me feel the most supported possible."
David D.
"My experience with Katie as my real estate agent was absolutely incredible. I'll admit I was a challenging client, but Katie showed unwavering patience and dedication. We toured over 20 homes, and she was always there with a smile, ready to help. What sets Katie apart is her genuine commitment to finding exactly what I wanted. Her grace throughout the process was exceptional– she truly listens to her clients, understands their needs, and doesn't give up until she finds the perfect match. If you're looking for an agent who goes above and beyond with a personal touch, Katie is the one. Katie negotiated some of the best deals, ultimately saving me over $50,000. She transformed my home-buying experience, making it enjoyable rather than stressful. Her expertise really made a difference! Grateful for her dedication and thrilled with the result!"
"My experience with Katie as my real estate agent was absolutely incredible. I'll admit I was a challenging client, but Katie showed unwavering patience and dedication. We toured over 20 homes, and she was always there with a smile, ready to help. What sets Katie apart is her genuine commitment to finding exactly what I wanted. Her grace throughout the process was exceptional– she truly listens to her clients, understands their needs, and doesn't give up until she finds the perfect match. If you're looking for an agent who goes above and beyond with a personal touch, Katie is the one. Katie negotiated some of the best deals, ultimately saving me over $50,000. She transformed my home-buying experience, making it enjoyable rather than stressful. Her expertise really made a difference! Grateful for her dedication and thrilled with the result!"
Kim D.
"I am overjoyed to express my gratitude for an exceptional experience with my real estate agent. Katie’s knowledge of the market was truly impressive, going above and beyond to secure not only an outstanding deal but also substantial reductions in both the price and seller concessions. From the first meeting to becoming a happy homeowner, her dedication and expertise made the entire process seamless. I definitely recommend Katie for anyone seeking a homebuying journey filled with professionalism, expertise, and success. Thank you so much for turning my dream of homeownership into a reality!"
"I am overjoyed to express my gratitude for an exceptional experience with my real estate agent. Katie’s knowledge of the market was truly impressive, going above and beyond to secure not only an outstanding deal but also substantial reductions in both the price and seller concessions. From the first meeting to becoming a happy homeowner, her dedication and expertise made the entire process seamless. I definitely recommend Katie for anyone seeking a homebuying journey filled with professionalism, expertise, and success. Thank you so much for turning my dream of homeownership into a reality!"
Buyer

Follow Us On Instagram