Learn Georgia Home Buyer’s Guide

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Testimonials

See why my clients love working with me.

Abraham L.

Made͏ our first house-buying experience a breeze. We were actually thinking about postponing our plan to buy a house until Miranda informed us of some offers we might be eligible for. When it turned out we were she was ready wi...

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Miranda was the most patient and accommodating realtor I could have ever asked for! She has such wide knowledge of the market, and tons of resources, and was able to point us in all the right directions. Miranda is patient, eas...

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Working͏ with Miranda took the stress out of buying my first home Miranda was referred to me by a mutual friend who said she was the best in town, and boy, were they right! Not only did she take the time to walk me through the ...

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5 Stars isn't enough. Miranda was so patient, helpful, insightful, kind, understanding, and willing to go out of her way to make sure we made the best possible decision on our first home. Home buying for the first time is scary...

Jeff B.

Top Atlanta Agent. Miranda is an expert. As a first-time buyer, she guided my wife and me through the process of buying a home. When I had second thoughts on a property, she helped us rescind our offer and moved quickly to a di...

Greg H.

Absolutely Awesome! Miranda was fantastic! She not only helped guide me through all the different processes, but she actually took the time to get to know me and what I was truly looking for. Miranda had patience through the en...

Danny M.

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Miranda C.

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Tim

Amazing and knowledgeable! Didn’t let sellers take advantage in a seller-dominated market.

Cameron I.

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Austun

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Buyer

Amazing Realtor! Miranda was so helpful as a first-time home buyer. She helped walk us through the process and explain things along the way. She did her research in the area and helped us with all negotiations with her expertis...

Seller

Exceptional and results-driven realtor! In July 2024, I contacted Miranda Crooks and explained that I was going to need a lot of assistance with helping my mom sell her home in the Atlanta area. Miranda took the time to meet wi...

Lexi P.

Miranda found our dream home! We are absolutely thrilled to share our incredible experience buying our first home, and we owe it all to our amazing realtor, Miranda! From the moment we started this journey, she was there, makin...

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Buyer's Guide

A Step-by-Step First Time Buyer's Guide