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 our team 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

Still deciding where to settle down? Whether it's a condo, townhome, or spacious single-family home, consider what features you love.

If you're still exploring, that's okay! Browse our MLS listings and Private Network to imagine yourself in different homes. Keep an eye on asking prices—they reveal valuable insights into neighborhood trends.

Enjoy the journey! Reach out to your Real 1 Realty agent for assistance. Happy house hunting!

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Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

When setting your home budget, prioritize what feels right for you over what a mortgage company approves. Consider all expenses, including those that come with homeownership like garbage, water, or HOA fees.

Moving to your own place may bring new costs, so be mindful to avoid surprises and stay on track.

Find a home that fits your lifestyle and financial well-being. Reach out for guidance if needed. Happy budgeting!

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Step 3: Get Prequalified

Your perception of what you can afford may differ from what a mortgage company approves. Before falling for a home, consult a mortgage expert to grasp your qualification.

This step sets realistic expectations and strengthens your position when making offers. Reach out for assistance navigating the mortgage process. We're here to help you!

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Step 4: Choose a Real Estate Agent

Why navigate the home-buying journey alone when our Real 1 Realty agents are here to make it easier for you?

We take the stress off your shoulders by identifying properties, scheduling showings, and guiding you through the offer process. Our expertise and market knowledge ensure you find your dream home with confidence. Let's embark on this journey together!

Our goal is to provide you with the most personalized service that is designed to help you buy your dream home

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Step 5: Find the Right Home

Get ready for the thrill of finding your dream home! We'll arrange showings of properties that match your criteria, ensuring a stress-free experience.

During showings, explore each home thoroughly and share your feedback with your Real 1 Realty agent. Take a stroll around the neighborhood to gauge its vibe and amenities.

This is your chance to envision your future. Enjoy every moment! Reach out if you need guidance. Let's find your perfect place together!

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Step 6: Make an Offer

Once you've found the perfect home, team up with your Real 1 Realty agent to craft a competitive offer based on market value. We'll handle negotiations, ensuring a satisfying agreement for all parties involved.

Once settled, the house enters escrow, bringing you closer to homeownership. Reach out if you need assistance—we're here to make the process smooth for you. Let's make that dream home yours!

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Step 7: Have the Home Inspected

In most cases, your offer will include a home inspection to check for any major issues. We'll help you schedule it within days of making your offer. If everything looks good, great! If there are concerns, we'll guide you on renegotiating or speak with your attorney about withdrawing your offer. Your peace of mind is our priority!

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Step 8: Select Your Loan

Now it's time to revisit your mortgage lender who pre-approved or pre-qualified you and finalize your mortgage choice. You'll have different options tailored to your financial situation, like fixed-rate, variable-rate, 15-year, 30-year, or specialized programs such as VA or FHA loans. Your mortgage lender will assist you in selecting the option that suits you best.

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Step 9: Get a Home Appraisal

Your lender will arrange for an appraisal of your new home to establish an independent value. This ensures that everyone involved is paying a fair price for the house.

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Step 10: Finish Paperwork

While paperwork may not be the most exciting part of buying a home, it's a necessary step in the process. The good news is, your lender and title company will take care of all the arrangements for you. Once everything's done, you'll have the peace of mind of knowing that you're the proud 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. Again, make sure the utilities have been switched to your name and have any locks rekeyed or replaced for peace of mind.

Our Testimonials

See why our clients love working with us

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Maddy H.

We worked with William to purchase our first home and had a great experience—we highly recommend him and plan to refer him to all our friends when they make the move from the city to the suburbs. As first-time home buyers, he h...
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Buyer

Melissa was nothing short of amazing. She is knowledgeable but very patient and comforting throughout the whole process. She was in contact with me every single day, multiple times a day until I found my dream home. There is no...
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Wioletta D.

We recently purchased a home for my parents in Crystal Lake with Michele F. This was by far the best experience ever purchasing any property! Not only did we meet her by circumstance when we were looking at a property she was t...
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Vy Tran

I had the pleasure of working with Vito during the process of purchasing my first home, and I couldn't have asked for a better realtor. From the initial inquiry to the closing, Vito was consistently attentive, responsive, and h...
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Seller

Very knowledgeable and thoughtful in doing things in order for us to sell the house quickly. She even talked us into offering the house for more money than we wanted to initially list for. She said it would sell quickly. It did...
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Bineesh M.

Working with William was a great experience. He helped us find our dream home in this challenging housing market. William quickly identified what we were looking for and he was willing to go above and beyond in making sure we a...
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Buyer

Melissa is top of the line and knows the business extremely well. She was fantastic, informative and patient. She was keen in negotiating and always talked me through my options and her thoughts surrounding same. I would recomm...
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Jill G.

David has great expertise and people skills. He made an excellent video presentation of our property and an equally excellent and accurate written listing. He always had our best interests in mind and priced our home accordingl...
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Buyer

Whether you are buying or selling Mellisa Campobasso is the perfect realtor for you! Her progressional guidance and personal care throughout the entire process is unmatched.
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Seller

Melissa helped us sell our house, which she helped us purchase back in 2013. She worked with us every step of the way and kept us informed through out the selling process. We love her, she’s the best in the business
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Buyer

Melissa is top notch at what she does!! Not only is she knowledgeable about the industry, she is extremely personable and gets to know her clients on a personal level. One thing that really stood out with her is that she always...
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Jennie F.

I would give this company 10 stars if I could. I found this company on Google. Since I wanted to find a full-time realtor, not a realtor that claims they work full-time. I decided to call and see who picks up and who lets it go...
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Buyer

Melissa is wonderful! She is friendly yet professional and extremely knowledgeable about the current market. I loved that she always made time for us, either by phone or to show us yet another house. What could have been a very...
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Wilbur

Great advice and service from William. Great advice and prompt response when questions were asked. Would recommend it as the #1 Realty Services in the Suburbs.
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Gregory W.

We have now sold and purchased 5 homes in our lifetime and Melissa was by far the best agent we have ever had. Her ability to know the market and research for price point were the most accurate. She was also willing to make us ...
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Pashmina M.

It was a pleasure to work with William Squires. He is very professional, responsive, and understands his clients' needs. He connected us to a great team of people and made our home-buying process very smooth! I highly recommend...
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Ariel A.

Working with Melissa was great! As first time buyers we weren't sure of what we wanted or where. Melissa was great at taking into consideration our wants and needs to help us find the perfect home. She was very patient, underst...
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Elisabeth M.

William helped me and my husband find a home in Palatine, and we were 100% pleased with our experience. As first-time homebuyers, the process of searching for a house can be overwhelming and stressful, but we truly felt that we...
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Buyer

Melissa is awsome to work with always had answers to our questions. Helped us find the right home for us in short notice. I look forward to working with her in the future.
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Monica A.

I am beyond thankful and grateful for finding William. To find him through a Google search for short sales and have it go extremely well, is just amazing to me. He truly makes himself available to you. If you have any questions...
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Real 1 Realty was created to empower ALL agents to grow their businesses more quickly by keeping higher profits so they have more money for retirement or personal marketing to grow their business. Combining this with several company policies that keep the focus on the hard-working agent.

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