let's buy
a house

Buying a home is exciting but can also feel overwhelming.

Follow this step-by-step guide to make your journey from pre-approval to closing smooth, and even fun!

step #1

Get Preapproved For A Mortgage

Why is this important?
Pre-approval gives you the green light to start house-hunting seriously. Plus, it shows sellers you’re not just
dreaming. You’re ready to make a deal!

How do you do it?
Start by contacting a lender (your bank or a mortgage broker). They’ll ask for your financial details: income, savings, debt etc. Once approved, you’ll get a pre-approval letter, which tells you how much you can afford. Think of it as your VIP pass to the housing market!

Pro Tip:
Shop around for lenders! Even a slightly lower interest rate can save you thousands over the life of your loan.

step #2

Define Your Budget & Needs

Let’s get real:
What can you actually afford? Look beyond the sticker price of a house and think about down payment (typically
3%-20% of the home price), closing costs (about 2%-5%), and what your monthly payment will be (mortgage +
taxes + insurance).

Now the fun part:
Write down your must-haves and your “nice-to-haves.” Are you dreaming of a big backyard for summer BBQs, or
is a fancy kitchen with an island more your vibe? This is where you get to imagine your perfect home!

Pro Tip:
Be realistic, but don’t be afraid to dream a little! Focus on things that can’t change, like location and size, over
things that can, like décor.

step #3

Hire a Real Estate Agent

Why you need an agent:
Sure, you could look at homes online, but a great real estate agent knows the market inside and out and can give
you access to homes you might not find on your own. Plus, they’ll help you handle the paperwork, negotiate with
sellers, and guide you every step of the way.

How to choose one:
Look for someone who knows your local market and understands your goals. They should be a good communicator and make the process enjoyable.

Pro Tip:
Ask friends or family for agent recommendations. It’s like hiring a wingman for one of the biggest decisions of your life.

step #4

Start House Hunting

Here’s where the adventure begins:
With your agent’s help, start browsing online listings, attend open houses, and book private showings. Keep an
open mind, but stick to your must-haves.

Pro Tip:
Don’t just think about the house, think about the neighborhood! Walk around, talk to neighbors, visit nearby
shops, and imagine your life there.

step #5

Make An Offer

Exciting times:
You found the one! Now it’s time to make it official. Your offer will include the price you're willing to pay, contingencies (like an inspection or appraisal), and your desired closing date.

Negotiation 101:
The seller might counteroffer, asking for more money or a quicker closing. Don’t stress, this is normal! Work with
your agent to navigate the back-and-forth.

Pro Tip:
Include a personal note to the seller! It might give you a slight edge if they feel a connection to your story.

step #6

Conduct a Home Inspection

Inspector Gadget time:
Hire a certified home inspector to check for hidden issues. They’ll review everything from the foundation to the
roof, making sure there are no major surprises.

What to expect:
You’ll get a detailed report with any potential issues. If repairs are needed, your agent can help negotiate with the
seller to fix them or offer credits.

Pro Tip:
Attend the inspection if possible! You’ll learn a lot about the house and get a better understanding of any problems.

step #7

Finalize Your Mortgage

It’s time to seal the deal:
Once your offer is accepted, contact your lender to lock in your interest rate and finalize the mortgage. You’ll
need to provide updated financial documents, so keep everything organized.

Pro Tip:
Don’t make any big financial changes before closing! No new credit cards or car loans. This could jeopardize
your mortgage approval.

step #8

Appraisal + Underwriting

What’s an appraisal?
It’s the lender’s way of making sure the house is worth the amount they’re lending you. A third-party appraiser will
visit the home and determine its value based on the market and comparable properties.

Underwriting:
This is where the lender takes a deep dive into your finances to make sure you’re a good risk. It’s a waiting
game, but stay calm, your lender will let you know if they need more info.

Pro Tip:
If the appraisal comes in low, don’t panic! You can negotiate with the seller or come up with a creative solution
with your lender.

step #9

Perform a Final Walk-through

Last chance to check things out:
On the day of, or one day before the closing, you’ll do a final walk-through of the home. This is to make sure everything is in order, including any agreed-upon repairs and that the home is still in the same condition as when
you made your offer.

What to look for:
Double-check all appliances, faucets, windows, and doors. Make sure any items the seller agreed to leave are
still there.

Pro Tip:
Take your time and bring a checklist! This is your home-to-be, so be thorough.

step #10

Closing Day

You made it!
Closing day is when all your hard work pays off. You’ll meet with your attorney to sign the final documents.

What to bring:
A valid ID  and a cashier’s check or wire transfer for your down payment and closing costs. The attorney will guide you through signing paperwork. There’s a lot, but it’s worth it!

The best part:
Once everything is signed and your lender funds the loan, you’ll get the keys. You’re officially a homeowner.
Congrats!

Pro Tip:
Celebrate! Take some photos with your new keys, pop a bottle of champagne, and enjoy your new home. And of
course share with the world what an awesome realtor you got to work with 🤩.

With these steps, you’ll go from dreaming of a home to making it a reality, stress-free and fun!

Enjoy your homebuying journey!

Ready to work with us?

Ring or text us at 860.406.4060

Past Clients

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

Why They Love Us

Evelyn AvatarEvelyn
Peter is simply the best! My fiancĂ© and I are so glad we chose Peter to be our realtor. He always had our best interest in mind and gave us his honest profesional opinion. He always responded quickly, even when on vacation with his family! If it wasn’t for Peter advocating for us and helping us put in the strongest, smartest offer, we would have never found our forever home. Thank you Peter for guiding us every step of the way! Your expertise and integrity truly shows how dedicated you are to your clients! - 6/11/2024 
read more
Jan C AvatarJan C.
I contacted a selection of realtors to interview before listing my home. Konrad impressed me from the first interaction, through the process and right through to closing. Konrad is a keen business man and skilled marketing expert. Konrad combined drone footage, interior floor plans, a virtual walk through and professional photographs into a custom website showcasing my home beautifully.

Selling a home is stressful and can be overwhelming. Konrad is an excellent communicator and guided me expertly through each step. When the unexpected arose, which it inevitably does , Konrad had efficient & effective solutions with his well honed rolodex of contacts as well as rolling up his sleeves and helping me hands on.

I have bought & sold multiple properties in my life. Konrad stands far above any agent I have ever worked with. Home selling can be highly emotional. I lived in my home 25 years. In the end , the sale is a business transaction. Konrad supported me through the emotional, prepped my house with me to be its best, and negotiated an excellent deal bringing in a well over asking sales price.

I highly recommend anyone in the local area looking to sell their home to give Konrad & his business partner Piotr a call at The Property Dudes. - 11/10/2024 
read more
Wanda K AvatarWanda K.
We had a great experience in working with Konrad to sell our home. He was easy and pleasant to work with and offered valuable advice that resulted in our selling the house in less than 1 week! He kept in contact throughout the entire process and was very responsive. We cannot thank Konrad enough for making this daunting process less stressful and successful! - 9/18/2023 
read more
Babcia AvatarBabcia
Konrad is the most amazing and the best to work with. He was wonderful to work with. Konrad did an incredible job helping us sell our house. He was always available to talk to us and offered excellent advice. Thank you! We highly recommend using The Real Estate Dudes.
Anna - 2/14/2024 
read more
Mateusz Bregisz AvatarMateusz B.
Konrad was truly exceptional. We were impressed with his level of knowledge and the amount of data that he had about the market. His responsiveness was incredible. His knowledge of the market, strategic mindset, kindness and good energy made this chaotic purchase process simple. If you are looking to buy or sell, we would highly recommend The Real Estate Dudes team! - 10/17/2024 
read more
Jim Otis AvatarJim O.
Great Marketing of home, including Ariel views! Would recommend! - 12/24/2022 
read more
Zuzia Lavriv AvatarZuzia L.
We couldn’t be happier with our experience working with Konrad! From start to finish, he went above and beyond to make sure our home was sold in the best possible way. Konrad guided us through every step with expert advice, clear communication, and an incredible attention to detail. Selling our home could have been stressful, but he made the process smooth and even enjoyable. We highly recommend The Real Estate Dudes to anyone looking for a top-notch realtors. Thank you for helping us move on to our next adventure!! (: - 10/20/2024 
read more
Caitie Near AvatarCaitie N.
Selling my parents house was easy and effortless all because of Konrad. He did everything that needed to be done, from suggesting what needed to be fixed, giving me the right people/contractors to use, organizing, overseeing and following up after the work was done. Since I don’t live in the area he checked on the house constantly. We were able to sell it the first day it was listed and it sold seven percent over the list price. Best experience and the best, most honest hardworking realtor you could find. - 11/18/2024 
read more