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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

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 we 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 agents like us to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will we help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but we also have a knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where our expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let us show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.

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

This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). We 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. We 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. 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.

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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.

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Buyer
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Always willing to go the extra mile and beyond helpful. I will always recommend them.

— Marjorie T.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joe and Sheri Harris have helped us and many of my friends over the past 4 years. They are true professionals.

— Jim G.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Cheryl was absolutely great to work with. Her communication was always frequent and consistent which is a big part of the process. She did a great job during the whole sales process and we closed sooner than expected over market rate. Highly recommend Cheryl to everybody.

— Brian S

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Sheri, Joe, and Amanda, we can't thank you enough. Your whole team was fantastic to work with. You made the process so easy and comfortable. You answered all of our questions and made us feel at ease. For anyone looking for a great team, look no further, call here today. They will watch your back and make sure to get you the best home for your needs.

— Vicki K.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Sheri and Joe are great to work with. They helped us build our dream home. They showed us multiple homes and when we did not find what we wanted they helped us look at lots to build on. Found the lot and then they helped us find a builder. They are knowledgeable of the area and very responsive. They take the time to find the house for you.

— David C.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joe and Sherri helped us find our dream home in Cape Coral. They really helped us understand the area and find exactly what we were looking for. We were selling our house in Tampa at the same time which can be stressful but they always kept us informed and helped make sure the deal went smoothly. We are very grateful to have found them to help us with our search.

— Soline J.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Sheri and Joe are a great team. Very responsive and good at listening to our needs. Being out of state and looking for a place was challenging, yet they made the process easy by doing video walkthroughs with us. Ultimately, they really understood who we were, and what our key needs were and found us a really great place. We now consider them friends and will continue to remain in contact with them as we ...

— Jeff S.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

My wife and I recently purchased a home in Cape Coral with the help of Sheri and Joe Harris. They were amazing realtors that really helped us understand the area and where we were buying. We found the perfect home in the perfect area and got a great deal during a very hot time in the market and couldn’t be any more pleased. If you’re looking to find realtors that will help you find a true home for you an...

— Eric J.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Sheri and Joe were fantastic to work with. Not only were they extremely knowledgeable about the area and current market conditions, but they were always available to take my calls, answer my many questions, and show me properties at my convenience. As an active Wisconsin realtor/ broker associate, it was important to me that I hire an agent who possesses a strong work ethic and drive to succeed. They not...

— Lisa H.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joe and Sheri did a great job. They are hard workers and always went out of their way to help me and get the sale closed. They are very knowledgeable. They were always available to communicate. Highly recommend them for your selling or buying needs!

— Alan D

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Buying a new home out of state can be exciting and stressful at the same time. Joe & Sheri Harris at EXP Realty took the stressful part out of the equation. They were with me every step of the way making sure everything was done timely & correctly; before, during and even after the closing. They made me feel like I was a close personal friend by continually going the extra mile. Thanks so much for going ...

— Cindy B

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Sheri and her team were wonderful to work with. Our clients were very nervous but she made them feel at ease, communicated well, and coordinated their move perfectly with the home they were buying in Ocala. Very happy to have worked with Sheri!

— Jade C

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

We have purchased 6 homes and I can say Without a doubt Carleen and her team of connections are Outstanding. Without her persistence and financing/insurance connections we would have not been able to purchase our current home. She is kind, thorough, patient and a good person. Thank you Carleen!!!

— Matt O

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

I recently had to sell my aunt’s home after she passed away. Carleen was a knowledgeable and accommodating realtor to work with… from the beginning of the process to the end. She was extremely helpful finding contractors to help me organize & pack, as well as repair and clean. She was very professional and extremely dedicated to finding a buyer for my aunt’s home. Carleen goes above and beyond!

— Kelly M

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Carleen Murone was an excellent real estate agent. Carleen is very experienced professional and is looking out for your best interests. She cares about her clients and communicates very well. She responds to all text and emails in a timely manner. Any question asked she was able to answer. She saved us alot of time and money with her knowledge and expertise on the housing market.

— JC

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Carleen sold my 90 yr old dad's house after hurricane Ian. It needed a new roof, and thanks to Carleen, she was able to find a roofer that replaced the roof in time before the closing. She was great and kept us informed of any issues along the way. We thought it would take much longer to sell the house, especially with the hurricane damages. She found the perfect buyer!

— Cheryl A

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joe and Sheri are the best! They listed my house and it sold almost immediately! Very responsive and friendly. Great folks to work with!

— Amber P

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jesse went above and beyond to help us sell our property in Florida as we are out of state. He provided us with necessary information and he kept us up to date on the progress of the sale.He handled everything efficiently and professionally. He made the whole experience completely stress free. We would highly recommend Jesse Spencer to anyone who is selling or purchasing a home.

— Callan

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jesse is always responsive and helpful. He will share his knowledge to provide the available options and respect your decision as you choose the best option for you and your family. Genuinely good guy.

— Hannah

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jesse is a true expert in real state. From the very beginning all the way to the end he was so incredibly helpful. He provided his expertise and guidance while searching for a home. He was so knowledgeable in every detail related to home purchase that I felt so confident navigating the process. He worked with me and engaged in every step of the process, putting the offer , negotiating with the seller on ...

— Mayguen

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jesse was great in helping me find my new home. We found and purchased a home long distance, using today’s technology I viewed homes remotely and in a time sensitive market we are in today Jesse was a great asset in the process, bridging the gap with me being 3 thousand miles away and the purchase of a new home. Plus when the deal was done and the house closed Jesse and his teams job wasn’t over, they d...

— Bella

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jessie by far was the best realtor I’ve ever dealt with. Very knowledgeable and patient. Was willing to do whatever it took to make it work. Responded quickly to any questions I had. I would recommend Jessie to anyone looking to buy or sell. Jessie sold my condo in Tampa. It was a complicated sale due to some unforeseen circumstances that came up during the sale. Jessie did the do diligence and made it w...

— Chad

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jesse is VERY responsive, professional and extremely knowledgable. He listens to his clients and does his best to meet their needs. You cannot find a better real estate agent than Jesse.

— Roger

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jesse & Joe helped out a bunch when it came to selling our house and making sure we got the most return on investments. And these guys helped us sell our house for more than I had imagined. They were also extremely attentive when we began searching for homes and helped us find our dream home! 10/10 would recommend to a friend :)

— Tyler

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

hes a great guy he wont stop hunting you a house till he fine you your dream home he works with your price range he will stay right by your side till the end he will answer any questions you have if he doesn't know the answer he'll find out for you i will gladly recommend him to anybody that need help finding a new home

— Zu

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

All I have to say is Jesse is an awesome Realtor and a well rounded person in general! We were in a less than likely situation and we are grateful to have worked with Jesse to get our property sold. Not only did he work extremely hard to sell our property, he proved to have really great strategies in order to move our property quickly and as smoothly as possible. He was also great with negotiating an...

— Erin

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jesse went out of his way more than was expected to help me find my home. If I ever sell I will only do it with Jesse. He was awesome. Whenever I had questions he found the answer. When I was frustrated he was there to help or answer any questions

— Joanne

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

After Jesse sold us a beautiful new construction property, he became a great friend to my family and me. He was always available when needed. He guided us through the home buying process with ease. Jesse also sold one of our investment properties faster than expected and stress-free. He has always been professional and respectful to my family’s needs. We consider him a part of our family now. I highly re...

— Seller & Buyer

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jesse was very helpful during the stressful process of my home buying experience. He was patient and always available if I needed help with something or had questions. He made sure that things were getting done in a timely manner and was always professional about it. I really appreciate all the effort you put into getting me through the process. Thank you!

— Buyer

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jesse and his team went over and beyond to help us find our dream home as well as walk us through all the complicated paperwork. We had a lot of ups and downs but his positive attitude kept our hopes up. I will recommend Jesse every time. Thanks again Jesse for all your hard work.

— Buyer

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jesse worked very hard to insure that I was satisfied with my new investment! He was very informative and and patient while helping me search for my new home!

— Buyer

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jesse was incredibly responsive from the first call to the last follow up. Easy to get along with and really understood what I was looking for. I would recommend Jesse asked on my experience.

— Buyer

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jesse Spencer is very professional and friendly. He did so much for us in selling our home beyond what most realtors would do! He keeps in touch and does amazing photos and video of the house. Even helped with the new house that he had nothing to do with. Truly a gentleman that cares. You can not go wrong with Jesse Spencer!

— Seller

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jesse was wonderful!!! He was great to work with, very knowledgeable, patient, and professional. He help us find our dream house in a short period of time. He guided us through the whole process and was there for us 24/7. We highly recommend Jesse to family and friends without question.

— Jackelyn

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

I just closed on a condominium in Naples, thanks to Jesse Spencer. Jesse is organized, thoughtful, honest, hard working, knowledgeable, thorough, and an all around good guy. The kind of guy you want to represent you when you buy or sell. He showed me all over Naples, and we finally narrowed it down to "the one". From offer/contract to closing was less than one month. When I'm ready to sell/upgrade, Je...

— Buyer

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Jesse is an amazing realtor!! He very knowledgeable and forward looking to meet my needs finding the house I wanted!! I will use Jesse again and highly recommended if you’re looking for a property, house or condo to use him as your realtor.

— Steve

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Amanda was a pleasure to work with! Her bedside manner is over the top. Not to mention her professionalism and knowledge!!

— Lynne R

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Sheri and her team were wonderful to work with. Our clients were very nervous but she made them feel at ease, communicated well, and coordinated their move perfectly with the home they were buying in Ocala. Very happy to have worked with Sheri!

— Jade C

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Very helpful easy to work with!! Found all of my needs and made my new life here amazing!!!

— Colleen H

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

It was such a pleasure meeting and working with Joe & Sheri Harris from EXP realty. They interrupted their vacation to call us and set up an appointment to meet & view our home and get the ball rolling, so to speak! I was totally impressed! We hit it off the moment we met. They were funny, helpful, dependable, knowledgable and we appreciated them sharing their expertise of what needed to be done to prep ...

— Mamie T

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Integrity 1st made finding our home a breeze!

— Brittany C

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joe and Sheri Harris and the Integrity 1st team are a class act. With their roots in the Cape Coral community, Joe knows homes that are coming for sale before they hit the market. On the sale side. Joe knows how to use his team of network professionals to get your home sold. From the offer to home improvement contractors to the closing. Sheri is a consummate professional in her own right and gets the tea...

— Paul R

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Sheri and Joe were so great. She responded immediately when I made a request on Zillow for the home we found. They worked very hard to pull our deal together on our new home. We were out of town and they took care of everything for us. They gave us a zoom walk through, responded quickly with all our inquiries and gave us great advice. We HIGHLY recommend Integrity 1st Group!

— Scott R.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Sheila, From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all the hard work you put in for us over these past couple of months, you made the home buying process a breeze and we couldn't have done it without your expertise and guidance....Thanks Integrity 1st Group!!!!

— Lisa A.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Recently had a closing with Sheri Harris & Joseph Gaughan & they were wonderful to work with! Very responsive & knowledgeable & I would highly recommend!

— Heidi F.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Amanda Lagana goes above and beyond for her clients, and other realtors. I highly recommend her!

— Chuck G.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Intergrity 1st Group were the listing agents on a recent transaction where I brought the buyer, they were very responsive and a pleasure to work with. I look forward to working on more deals together in the future!

— Emily Moore

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

This group did an amazing job selling my mom's house! They went above and beyond and helped this difficult transition in our lives go through without a hitch!

— Nancy C.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Carleen was an amazing realtor for our family! She was readily available for questions and very knowledgeable about the market and buying/closing process. Our family moved from the Midwest and she was so kind to take us to dinner and help with recommendations for the area. She kept in touch as we moved in months after closing to ensure we had everything we needed. She truly took an interest in our family...

— Stephanie B.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Amazing team that really works for you. I highly recommend this outstanding team.

— Lisa P.

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