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A Step-by-Step Guide to Buying a Home

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, 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.

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

Schedule a Consultation
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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.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Krista closed on our dream home during one of the toughest housing market cycles. She is great to work with and her experience in the Arizona market is priceless. Thank you, Krista!

— Buyer

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Krista spent the time and effort to understand what we were looking for in a home. This saved us time and energy by only looking at houses we would buy. In a limited time we found the perfect home and purchased it. Krista helped beyond the purchase and sale agreement lining up pest control, pool cleaners, concierge service, and anything else we needed. She did a great professional job.

— Mary W.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

We met Krista as out-of-state home buyers looking to settle in the Phoenix area. From the start, our experience with her was outstanding. Not only did she know the area real estate market exceptionally well, but she also made our entire home-buying experience easy and stress-free. If you're looking for an agent who will be totally committed to you as the customer, Krista is the one. We highly recommend her.

— Greg W.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Krista helped us with the purchase of our house and we couldn’t be happier! She was so patient and kind and helped us maneuver through the bargaining process, so we were able to negotiate everything we wanted. Not only did we find the perfect house, but we also created a wonderful friendship! Anyone who is looking to purchase will always be referred to Krista! She is the best of the best! Thank you, Kris...

— Aldina G.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Working with Krista was such a pleasure. My grandson and I were looking for a condo for him. Krista understood what he wanted and balanced that with what he could afford. She not only found an outstanding purchase but worked successfully to find the best, most reasonable financing possible. Knowing Krista personally, I can assure you that she will provide her utmost effort to care. for her client’s best ...

— Carol D.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

It was a breath of fresh air working with Krista Becka as our realtor! Krista always made herself available for us, she never pressured us to make a decision, and when we found our dream home she sealed the deal! We are so grateful for her knowledge, professionalism, and regional real estate experience that got us into our home even in the toughest market. I could not recommend her services more and I wo...

— Jacquie L.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

I had the pleasure of working with Krista Becka for buying and selling three homes in Arizona, and I couldn't have asked for a better real estate agent. Krista's expertise and dedication were evident throughout the entire process. She guided me seamlessly through each transaction, ensuring I got the best deals for both buying and selling. Krista's knowledge of the local market was outstanding, and her ne...

— Mike H.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

I have known Krista for over a decade. In this time, she has helped me and my family buy 2 houses and sell one. For every transaction, she has gone above and beyond in the process. She is very knowledgeable in the real estate market here in Arizona and she knows how to help whether you are buying your first starter home (which she helped me with) or buying your forever home (which she also helped us with...

— Alex C.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

I have worked with Krista Becka for many years now and have purchased two homes from her. Krista has a positive and happy energy and is very pleasant to work with. Krista is very knowledgeable about her business and in the real estate world, experience is key for home buyers given all of the twists and turns that can happen during the process. As an agent, she knows how to maneuver and offer options that...

— Lori J.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Krista Becka is an amazing real estate agent! Krista has helped me with multiple real estate transactions. The fact that she is the first person I consider is a testament to her ability and professionalism. Krista is incredibly knowledgeable about the local market, and she was able to help me find the perfect home for my needs and budget. She was also very patient and understanding, and she took the time...

— Craig H.

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About

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Work With Krista

Her extensive 15+ year tenure as a full-time agent has seen her navigate the diverse and dynamic markets of Scottsdale, Arcadia, Paradise Valley, and other East Valley cities. Her hands on experience as a property owner and investor in these areas adds a unique perspective to her professional insights.

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Contact Details

Krista Becka

(602) 770-6195

[email protected]


Address

14201 N. Hayden Rd. Ste C-4
Scottsdale, AZ. 85260