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Buyer's Guide

Homebuyer's Guide

Buying a home should be 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 homebuyer’s guide created by your agent will reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey.

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Step 1: Compile Your Wish List

Decide which communities, home features, and property types you and your family prefer. Have candid conversations about which of these characteristics are required, and which are “nice to have” in your next home.

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Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

Examine your current expenses and determine how they might change if you purchase a home. Create a comprehensive household budget so you can factor in any new ongoing expenses that might come with a home purchase, such as garbage and recycling, water, or homeowner’s association fees. Once you decide how these expenses will change, you’ll be better equipped to leverage the information you get in step three.

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Step 3: Get Prequalified

Prequalification is a great start for understanding your purchasing power, but it’s not the only factor. A lender may pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why the budget you compiled in step two is so important. The opposite can also happen, where you believe you can afford a certain payment every month, but the bank doesn’t agree. This often happens when you’re new to your job, have insufficient credit, or have bankruptcies or other financial issues in your history.

You’re not required to stick with this lender when you ultimately finance your purchase, but this process is a great way to vet mortgage providers. Also, a prequalification letter can make you a more competitive candidate in multiple-offer situations.

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Step 4: Choose Your Real Estate Expert

Now it’s time to find your dedicated real estate representative! Regulations enacted in 2024 require real estate agents to obtain a signed buyer’s agreement before showing consumers homes. Of course, your agent does a great deal more than opening up listings; Your agent can help you understand your local market, identify areas and properties that fit your specific criteria, help you create competitive offers that match your financial and logistical needs, and much more.

Dedicated Service, Real Results

Finding the perfect home and navigating the purchase process can be daunting. Leverage my knowledge and expertise and enjoy your personalized real estate journey.

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Step 5: Find the Right Home

Your agent will arrange showings of properties that meet your specific criteria and price range, taking note of your likes and dislikes to further refine their search parameters. Your agent will help you explore the details — from storage to light switches to the flow of a home — and understand the pros and cons of the options in front of you. Your agent will also help you make time to explore the neighborhood and examine elements like local traffic at different times of the day, parking options, and proximity to neighborhood amenities like schools and grocery stores.

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Step 6: Finalize Your Financing

Once you’ve narrowed down your home search, it’s time to go back to the mortgage provider who prequalified you in step three and obtain preapproval. With a property and purchase price in mind, your lender can get much more specific about your interest rate, monthly payments, the term of the loan, and special programs such as first-time homebuyer grants and loans through the VA and FHA. While you will primarily work with your bank to select the right options for you, I'm here (Your agent) to offer support and recommend a mortgage provider I've worked with in the past if you get stuck.

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Step 7: Make an Offer

Once you have selected the perfect home and have your finances in order, your agent will help you craft a fair offer price based on the value of comparable homes on the market. You’ll also work through details such as timing, contingencies, and fees. After your agent submits the offer on your behalf, your agent will help you negotiate counteroffers and reach an agreement with the seller. At this point, the house will go into escrow.

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Step 8: Have the Home Inspected

In most cases, your offer will be contingent on the home passing inspection. This protects you from purchasing a property that has serious structural issues or requires major repairs. Your agent has a list of trusted local providers, but you can hire any licensed home inspector you like. If the inspection uncovers major issues, you can withdraw from the sale or renegotiate your offer based on what needs to be fixed.

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Step 9: Obtain a Home Appraisal

The appraisal ensures that you are paying a fair price for the house. Your mortgage provider will hire an appraiser to inspect the property and offer an independent opinion of its value. Sometimes, appraisals may come in too low, which can impact the amount of money the bank is willing to lend. In this case, your agent can help you determine next steps and navigate the appeal process.

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Step 10: Complete the Paperwork

No one looks forward to all the paperwork stacked up on the closing table, 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 be the legal owner of your new home.

Testimonials

"Meggin helped us find and purchase our current home. After months of searching and showing us every house out there, Meggin was always positive and encouraging the whole time, We finally found the winner. She made the entire buying process a breeze. She’s knowledgeable, responsive, and on top of it, always. I would highly recommend her for any buying or selling needs."
"Meggin helped us find and purchase our current home. After months of searching and showing us every house out there, Meggin was always positive and encouraging the whole time, We finally found the winner. She made the entire buying process a breeze. She’s knowledgeable, responsive, and on top of it, always. I would highly recommend her for any buying or selling needs."
Buyer
"Meggin helped to guide me through my first home buying experience in this crazy market. Not only did she find me an amazing house and deal, but she was always there to answer any of my questions that I had. I highly recommend her for any of your realtor needs."
"Meggin helped to guide me through my first home buying experience in this crazy market. Not only did she find me an amazing house and deal, but she was always there to answer any of my questions that I had. I highly recommend her for any of your realtor needs."
Eric E.
"Great communication throughout the whole process, honest and hard working. Great understanding of return on investment great at setting and managing expectations."
"Great communication throughout the whole process, honest and hard working. Great understanding of return on investment great at setting and managing expectations."
Simon L.
"Meggin helped us sell our home and purchase a new home with both closings scheduled within a couple of days of each other. She is extremely knowledgeable about the process and paperwork that goes into both buying and selling, and she made herself available for showings immediately upon a house hitting the market. She is a dream agent to work with, and we will recommend her to all friends and family."
"Meggin helped us sell our home and purchase a new home with both closings scheduled within a couple of days of each other. She is extremely knowledgeable about the process and paperwork that goes into both buying and selling, and she made herself available for showings immediately upon a house hitting the market. She is a dream agent to work with, and we will recommend her to all friends and family."
Madeline O.
"Meggin is very professional, responsive to all our questions, and most definitely knows the market. She’s the only realtor we’d consider if we decide to buy or sell in the future. She sold our St. Louis home before it was listed and helped us find our new home. She’s the best!"
"Meggin is very professional, responsive to all our questions, and most definitely knows the market. She’s the only realtor we’d consider if we decide to buy or sell in the future. She sold our St. Louis home before it was listed and helped us find our new home. She’s the best!"
Jean G.
"As a first time home buyer, I felt completely overwhelmed with the searching and financing processes, but Meggin made everything so accessible and understandable for me. She was very responsive to all my inquiries and made me feel so much calmer about embarking upon my home buying journey! I absolutely love the house she found for me and would highly recommend her to anyone looking to buy!"
"As a first time home buyer, I felt completely overwhelmed with the searching and financing processes, but Meggin made everything so accessible and understandable for me. She was very responsive to all my inquiries and made me feel so much calmer about embarking upon my home buying journey! I absolutely love the house she found for me and would highly recommend her to anyone looking to buy!"
Buyer
"Working with Meggin was a wonderful experience even though home buying can be a stressful experience. I knew that she was as committed to finding a home that was a good fit for me as I was. She’s amazing and I would recommend her to anyone!"
"Working with Meggin was a wonderful experience even though home buying can be a stressful experience. I knew that she was as committed to finding a home that was a good fit for me as I was. She’s amazing and I would recommend her to anyone!"
Jonelle H.
"Megan is the dream realtor. She has a keen understanding of the market, listens to her clients, never pressures, and is always there for you. She will find you the perfect home! Once she does, she has an amazing list of contacts to help you settle in. You simply can’t go wrong."
"Megan is the dream realtor. She has a keen understanding of the market, listens to her clients, never pressures, and is always there for you. She will find you the perfect home! Once she does, she has an amazing list of contacts to help you settle in. You simply can’t go wrong."
Buyer
"Meggin is a great realtor. She worked patiently with us throughout our home search, which lasted about a year. She has a great understanding of neighborhoods and helped us focus our search on the neighborhoods that would suit us best. She was very helpful and provided great insight throughout the negotiation process and always kept our best interests at heart. Meggin's knowledge of the closing process was invaluable, and she worked hard with an unresponsive seller to ensure we closed on time, saving us the stress and cost that would have been associated with a delay in closing. We ended up in the perfect home that met all our needs. I recommend her highly! In fact, I did, and my sister was also very happy working with her."
"Meggin is a great realtor. She worked patiently with us throughout our home search, which lasted about a year. She has a great understanding of neighborhoods and helped us focus our search on the neighborhoods that would suit us best. She was very helpful and provided great insight throughout the negotiation process and always kept our best interests at heart. Meggin's knowledge of the closing process was invaluable, and she worked hard with an unresponsive seller to ensure we closed on time, saving us the stress and cost that would have been associated with a delay in closing. We ended up in the perfect home that met all our needs. I recommend her highly! In fact, I did, and my sister was also very happy working with her."
Karen B.
"Meggin did a tremendous job helping us find the perfect home. She was always incredibly responsive to our questions and always available to show us new houses as soon as they hit the market. Over the course of several months (maybe even a couple of years), she showed us all different types of houses in our desired area, and helped us figure out exactly which features we could live without and which ones we could not. She also did a great job in assisting in the sale of our house, which sold about a week after listing for the asking price."
"Meggin did a tremendous job helping us find the perfect home. She was always incredibly responsive to our questions and always available to show us new houses as soon as they hit the market. Over the course of several months (maybe even a couple of years), she showed us all different types of houses in our desired area, and helped us figure out exactly which features we could live without and which ones we could not. She also did a great job in assisting in the sale of our house, which sold about a week after listing for the asking price."
Brian C.
"We decided to downsize and move from West County to the City of St. Louis. We knew we wanted new or renovated, and the neighborhood was very important to us. Meggin was so patient and professional. There was never a doubt that she was looking out for our best interests and working for us. She provided sound practical advice and was very knowledgeable on market value and the unique aspects of the city. She is a great listener and ultimately found the perfect home in Lafayette Square. We couldn't recommend Meggin any higher. She is a true pleasure and such a great help!"
"We decided to downsize and move from West County to the City of St. Louis. We knew we wanted new or renovated, and the neighborhood was very important to us. Meggin was so patient and professional. There was never a doubt that she was looking out for our best interests and working for us. She provided sound practical advice and was very knowledgeable on market value and the unique aspects of the city. She is a great listener and ultimately found the perfect home in Lafayette Square. We couldn't recommend Meggin any higher. She is a true pleasure and such a great help!"
Buyer
"I loved working with Meghan, she was very knowledgeable on everything I needed to do and supported me throughout the whole buying process. She even got me into my dream home! I can’t say enough good things about working with her!"
"I loved working with Meghan, she was very knowledgeable on everything I needed to do and supported me throughout the whole buying process. She even got me into my dream home! I can’t say enough good things about working with her!"
Buyer
"Meggin was fantastic as a buyer’s agent! She had a portfolio of experts (roofers, HVAC, plumbers) for the inspection, and when they found issues with the home, she knew what to do and even helped schedule repairs after the closing! Meggin goes above and beyond for her clients, has expert knowledge of the market, and really listens, so she doesn’t waste your time on properties that don’t match your requirements. Meggin is, quite simply, the best."
"Meggin was fantastic as a buyer’s agent! She had a portfolio of experts (roofers, HVAC, plumbers) for the inspection, and when they found issues with the home, she knew what to do and even helped schedule repairs after the closing! Meggin goes above and beyond for her clients, has expert knowledge of the market, and really listens, so she doesn’t waste your time on properties that don’t match your requirements. Meggin is, quite simply, the best."
Russell
"Meggin was amazing to work with. The market was very overwhelming at this time, but she made the process easy and enjoyable. Meggin helped us tremendously and was always responsive and proactive, which was crucial given how quickly the right house can be taken. She is truly the best, and we could not have had a better experience."
"Meggin was amazing to work with. The market was very overwhelming at this time, but she made the process easy and enjoyable. Meggin helped us tremendously and was always responsive and proactive, which was crucial given how quickly the right house can be taken. She is truly the best, and we could not have had a better experience."
Brauer G.
"Meggin has expertly guided my wife and me through several home sales and purchases. She is highly knowledgeable or market conditions and trends and responds rapidly to issues and questions. She is a shrewd negotiator and knows how to work effectively within a complex system. I have already (and will continue to) recommend her to anyone who is in search of a real estate agent."
"Meggin has expertly guided my wife and me through several home sales and purchases. She is highly knowledgeable or market conditions and trends and responds rapidly to issues and questions. She is a shrewd negotiator and knows how to work effectively within a complex system. I have already (and will continue to) recommend her to anyone who is in search of a real estate agent."
Buyer & Seller
"Meggin was fantastic in assisting us with the sale of our home. She was responsive, creative, and helpful at every step. She was great. Five stars."
"Meggin was fantastic in assisting us with the sale of our home. She was responsive, creative, and helpful at every step. She was great. Five stars."
Brian W.
"Meggin is the leader of the pack. Her market knowledge, professionalism, communication, and ability to make buying a home an enjoyable process are matched by no other. Purchasing a home is a tidal wave of emotions and to-dos. From start to finish, Meggin provided the representation, guidance, and clarity we needed to keep calm and carry on. I can’t give enough stars in this review to convey what a rockstar she is."
"Meggin is the leader of the pack. Her market knowledge, professionalism, communication, and ability to make buying a home an enjoyable process are matched by no other. Purchasing a home is a tidal wave of emotions and to-dos. From start to finish, Meggin provided the representation, guidance, and clarity we needed to keep calm and carry on. I can’t give enough stars in this review to convey what a rockstar she is."
Daniele K.
"Meggin is very knowledgeable, attentive, and quick to answer any questions you may have! She got us into our wonderful home that checked all the boxes for us! This home was brand new, and we were able to get it under the asking price! In this market, it was a miracle!"
"Meggin is very knowledgeable, attentive, and quick to answer any questions you may have! She got us into our wonderful home that checked all the boxes for us! This home was brand new, and we were able to get it under the asking price! In this market, it was a miracle!"
Abigail W.
"Meggin did an amazing job for us. She was honest, straightforward, and above all, she was responsive. She answered our questions right away, without fail. Meggin worked with us through some pretty big challenges in our house sale, and we always felt we were in good hands. Recommended without reservation."
"Meggin did an amazing job for us. She was honest, straightforward, and above all, she was responsive. She answered our questions right away, without fail. Meggin worked with us through some pretty big challenges in our house sale, and we always felt we were in good hands. Recommended without reservation."
Sean B.
"We found my forever Real Estate Agent! We're over the moon with Meggin! She's not just an agent; she's become a trusted friend throughout this journey. Meggin's talent for negotiation is like magic. She worked tirelessly to make sure we got the home we've always dreamed of. Her dedication was unwavering, and we're forever grateful for her. If you're looking for more than just an agent, Meggin is your go-to person. She's made our dream home a reality, and we can't thank her enough!"
"We found my forever Real Estate Agent! We're over the moon with Meggin! She's not just an agent; she's become a trusted friend throughout this journey. Meggin's talent for negotiation is like magic. She worked tirelessly to make sure we got the home we've always dreamed of. Her dedication was unwavering, and we're forever grateful for her. If you're looking for more than just an agent, Meggin is your go-to person. She's made our dream home a reality, and we can't thank her enough!"
Jacqueline J.
"Meggin was very helpful in helping us through an unusual process. Always responsive and helpful in working with the sellers on outstanding items. Highly recommend!"
"Meggin was very helpful in helping us through an unusual process. Always responsive and helpful in working with the sellers on outstanding items. Highly recommend!"
Matthew K.
"Meggin was awesome! She provided great help from start to finish. We are looking forward to having her expertise on our side when we go to sell. We will definitely recommend her to any of our friends."
"Meggin was awesome! She provided great help from start to finish. We are looking forward to having her expertise on our side when we go to sell. We will definitely recommend her to any of our friends."
Buyer

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