A buyer's guide, from first thought to front door

Start with clarity.

Before we search, we'll talk through your priorities:

• Budget and timeline
• Preferred neighborhoods
• Condo, townhome, or single-family
• Lifestyle and location priorities
• Must-haves vs. nice-to-haves
• Long-term goals for the property

You don't need to have everything figured out. Part of my job is helping you determine what matters most.

Paige's Tip: Your initial wish list will probably change once we start touring—and that's completely normal. Seeing homes in person is one of the best ways to refine what you actually value.

Know your numbers before finding the home.

If you're financing, we'll make sure you're connected with a trusted lender and pre-approved before seriously shopping.

Beyond purchase price, we'll consider your complete cost of ownership—including property taxes, HOA assessments, insurance, parking, and potential maintenance.

Paige's Tip: Being approved for a certain amount doesn't mean you need to spend it. Your home should fit your life after closing, too.

Turn your wish list into a strategy.

We'll define the criteria that matter most—from location, layout, natural light, outdoor space, and parking to building quality and long-term value.

Your buy box gives us direction while allowing enough flexibility to recognize a great opportunity when we see one.

Look beyond the listing photos.

I'll curate opportunities based on your goals and provide context around pricing, comparable sales, building history, and neighborhood activity.

During tours, we'll evaluate both how the home feels today and how it may perform long-term.

• Layout and functionality
• Condition and major systems
• Natural light and exposure
• Building quality
• Location
• Renovation potential
• Resale considerations

The goal isn't to find the most impressive home. It's to find the right one for you.

Winning doesn't always mean offering the most.

Once we've found the right property, I'll analyze comparable sales, competition, market conditions, and the property's history to determine our strategy.

We'll consider not only price, but also terms, timing, financing, and contingencies.

Every offer is different-and every offer should have a strategy behind it.

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.

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.

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.

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.