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Step-by-Step Process

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 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 Real Estate Experts

Can you shop for, look at, and ultimately make an offer on a home without real estate experts? 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 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.

Passion & Expertise

Our goal is to provide you with the most personalized service possible, meticulously designed to help you navigate the process of buying your dream home. We are dedicated to understanding your unique needs and preferences, ensuring that every step of the journey is tailored to achieve your ultimate home-buying aspirations.

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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. 

See Why Our Clients Love Us

Testimonials

"We had a wonderful experience working with Scott Wickham. From start to finish, He was professional, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable. Scott took the time to understand our needs and preferences, ensuring that every home we viewed aligned with our goals. What stood out most was their dedication and communication throughout the process. He kept us informed every step of the way, answered all of our questions promptly, and offered invaluable advice that helped us make confident decisions. Their negotiation skills were top-notch, ensuring we got the best possible deal. It was clear He genuinely cared about finding the perfect home for us rather than just closing a sale. Thanks to Scott we found a house we love, and the entire process was smooth and stress-free. We highly recommend Scott Wickham to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. He truly goes above and beyond!"
"We had a wonderful experience working with Scott Wickham. From start to finish, He was professional, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable. Scott took the time to understand our needs and preferences, ensuring that every home we viewed aligned with our goals. What stood out most was their dedication and communication throughout the process. He kept us informed every step of the way, answered all of our questions promptly, and offered invaluable advice that helped us make confident decisions. Their negotiation skills were top-notch, ensuring we got the best possible deal. It was clear He genuinely cared about finding the perfect home for us rather than just closing a sale. Thanks to Scott we found a house we love, and the entire process was smooth and stress-free. We highly recommend Scott Wickham to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. He truly goes above and beyond!"
Caio F.
"Scott was wonderful to work with. Great person, with a deep knowledge of the area, and made the stressful process fun. Before even moving to the area, we already know where to get coffee (and how to skip the line!), where the best dog parks are, and where the nearby hiking trails are. We feel like locals already."
"Scott was wonderful to work with. Great person, with a deep knowledge of the area, and made the stressful process fun. Before even moving to the area, we already know where to get coffee (and how to skip the line!), where the best dog parks are, and where the nearby hiking trails are. We feel like locals already."
Melissa C.
"We had a fantastic experience working with Scott. From the beginning, he was wonderful, patient, and truly listened to our needs. Scott went above and beyond to understand what we were looking for and worked tirelessly to help us find our perfect home. His dedication and expertise made the entire process smooth and stress-free. We couldn't have asked for a better real estate agent and are incredibly grateful for his support. Highly recommend Scott to anyone in search of their dream home!"
"We had a fantastic experience working with Scott. From the beginning, he was wonderful, patient, and truly listened to our needs. Scott went above and beyond to understand what we were looking for and worked tirelessly to help us find our perfect home. His dedication and expertise made the entire process smooth and stress-free. We couldn't have asked for a better real estate agent and are incredibly grateful for his support. Highly recommend Scott to anyone in search of their dream home!"
Rob G.
"Scott has been an exceptional real estate agent throughout our home-buying journey that started in November of 2023. He was incredibly responsive and attentive to our needs and countless texts, ensuring we felt supported at every step. After we were outbid on our first offer in SF, Scott helped us pivot seamlessly to a better location for our growing family and we couldn’t be happier to have closed on a home in San Anselmo! Thanks to his expertise and dedication, we are thrilled to soon call our new place home! We highly recommend Scott for anyone looking for a top-notch home-buying experience!"
"Scott has been an exceptional real estate agent throughout our home-buying journey that started in November of 2023. He was incredibly responsive and attentive to our needs and countless texts, ensuring we felt supported at every step. After we were outbid on our first offer in SF, Scott helped us pivot seamlessly to a better location for our growing family and we couldn’t be happier to have closed on a home in San Anselmo! Thanks to his expertise and dedication, we are thrilled to soon call our new place home! We highly recommend Scott for anyone looking for a top-notch home-buying experience!"
Beth S.
"Working with Scott to find and close a condo in Sausalito, CA, was an outstanding experience. His in-depth knowledge of the area was evident from the start, and he introduced me to some fantastic options in Sausalito, even though I initially had my sights set on San Francisco. Scott's expertise in the local real estate market was a game-changer, ensuring I made a well-informed decision. What truly set Scott apart was his exceptional patience; he guided me through the process as a first-time homebuyer, never rushing decisions and always addressing my questions promptly. His dedication to providing outstanding customer service was remarkable, and he made the complex closing process feel smooth and stress-free. Thanks to Scott, I found the perfect condo in Sausalito and had full confidence throughout the journey. I wholeheartedly recommend Scott to anyone in the market for a property in Marin or San Francisco!"
"Working with Scott to find and close a condo in Sausalito, CA, was an outstanding experience. His in-depth knowledge of the area was evident from the start, and he introduced me to some fantastic options in Sausalito, even though I initially had my sights set on San Francisco. Scott's expertise in the local real estate market was a game-changer, ensuring I made a well-informed decision. What truly set Scott apart was his exceptional patience; he guided me through the process as a first-time homebuyer, never rushing decisions and always addressing my questions promptly. His dedication to providing outstanding customer service was remarkable, and he made the complex closing process feel smooth and stress-free. Thanks to Scott, I found the perfect condo in Sausalito and had full confidence throughout the journey. I wholeheartedly recommend Scott to anyone in the market for a property in Marin or San Francisco!"
Kristin S.
"Scott was a joy to work with and delivered on getting us into a home that checks all of our boxes! This was our first home-buying experience and Scott navigated us through the process with the utmost patience and professionalism. His deep local knowledge and tenacity in uncovering listings on and off the market were invaluable assets in our search. Ultimately, his guidance allowed us to gain the confidence to place a successful offer on a home that we couldn’t be more excited about! Scott will be our first call when we’re ready to move on to our next home."
"Scott was a joy to work with and delivered on getting us into a home that checks all of our boxes! This was our first home-buying experience and Scott navigated us through the process with the utmost patience and professionalism. His deep local knowledge and tenacity in uncovering listings on and off the market were invaluable assets in our search. Ultimately, his guidance allowed us to gain the confidence to place a successful offer on a home that we couldn’t be more excited about! Scott will be our first call when we’re ready to move on to our next home."
Buyer
"After interviewing multiple agents to help with our Marin home search we decided to go with Scott as our real estate agent and that was the best decision we could have made. From the beginning, Scott was completely transparent, he is incredibly responsive, knows the real estate market inside out, and always sent us homes that match what we were looking for including many off-market properties. We have heard horror stories from friends who wrote offer after offer with no luck. With Scott leading the way and relying on his wealth of knowledge we were able to get our first offer accepted and couldn't be happier! We couldn’t recommend him enough to any home buyers or sellers."
"After interviewing multiple agents to help with our Marin home search we decided to go with Scott as our real estate agent and that was the best decision we could have made. From the beginning, Scott was completely transparent, he is incredibly responsive, knows the real estate market inside out, and always sent us homes that match what we were looking for including many off-market properties. We have heard horror stories from friends who wrote offer after offer with no luck. With Scott leading the way and relying on his wealth of knowledge we were able to get our first offer accepted and couldn't be happier! We couldn’t recommend him enough to any home buyers or sellers."
Shay W.
"Scott did an amazing job with white glove service managing the work needed for my sale: kitchen and bath remodel, painting, plumbing, heating, and more. This was much more than I could have managed myself. No challenge was too great and unflappable in difficult situations. Throughout he was extremely responsive and direct in his communication. Scott worked the limited buyer pool and delivered multiple offers for a quick favorable sale in a tough market."
"Scott did an amazing job with white glove service managing the work needed for my sale: kitchen and bath remodel, painting, plumbing, heating, and more. This was much more than I could have managed myself. No challenge was too great and unflappable in difficult situations. Throughout he was extremely responsive and direct in his communication. Scott worked the limited buyer pool and delivered multiple offers for a quick favorable sale in a tough market."
Juan
"For anyone needing a knowledgeable agent for their real estate needs, look no further than Scott Wickham and the Isabelle Grotte Team! Scott explained everything in detail and pointed out things during our property tours that I would’ve never thought to consider. Scott took the time to understand my needs and we found the best condo for my lifestyle. As a first-time homebuyer, I dragged Scott to three different counties because I wanted to make an educated decision. I ended up closing on a condo in the same complex as the first townhouse we toured. I am so in love with my new residence and it makes me smile every single time I walk through the gate to my gigantic, sun-drenched private patio. Scott encouraged me to make a list of all of my Must Haves and this unit checked off every single one! Whether you are looking in Marin, San Francisco, or beyond, call Scott! You will thank me later! I cannot express how unbelievably grateful I am for the guidance provided by Scott."
"For anyone needing a knowledgeable agent for their real estate needs, look no further than Scott Wickham and the Isabelle Grotte Team! Scott explained everything in detail and pointed out things during our property tours that I would’ve never thought to consider. Scott took the time to understand my needs and we found the best condo for my lifestyle. As a first-time homebuyer, I dragged Scott to three different counties because I wanted to make an educated decision. I ended up closing on a condo in the same complex as the first townhouse we toured. I am so in love with my new residence and it makes me smile every single time I walk through the gate to my gigantic, sun-drenched private patio. Scott encouraged me to make a list of all of my Must Haves and this unit checked off every single one! Whether you are looking in Marin, San Francisco, or beyond, call Scott! You will thank me later! I cannot express how unbelievably grateful I am for the guidance provided by Scott."
Chris S.
"We hadn't thought we'd be able to find a place we loved in the Bay Area, but Scott helped us make it happen. We'd outgrown the apartment we were living in and knew we'd be in the area for a while, so we started looking for a place to buy. We spent over a year looking, with everything being either too small, too expensive, or needing too much work. It took time, work, and luck, but we were able to work with Scott to find a place that we love. We had to visit multiple houses as we figured out what we wanted (and could afford), and Scott was always great about working around our schedule to visit homes. He was super responsive to all our texts and questions, and he made it easy to go see homes we were interested in, despite the trickiness of looking at real estate during a pandemic. As with all real estate transactions in the area, bidding ended up being competitive, and we were so glad we had Scott guiding us through the process. We loved working with Scott and would recommend him as a great real estate agent to work with."
"We hadn't thought we'd be able to find a place we loved in the Bay Area, but Scott helped us make it happen. We'd outgrown the apartment we were living in and knew we'd be in the area for a while, so we started looking for a place to buy. We spent over a year looking, with everything being either too small, too expensive, or needing too much work. It took time, work, and luck, but we were able to work with Scott to find a place that we love. We had to visit multiple houses as we figured out what we wanted (and could afford), and Scott was always great about working around our schedule to visit homes. He was super responsive to all our texts and questions, and he made it easy to go see homes we were interested in, despite the trickiness of looking at real estate during a pandemic. As with all real estate transactions in the area, bidding ended up being competitive, and we were so glad we had Scott guiding us through the process. We loved working with Scott and would recommend him as a great real estate agent to work with."
Charlie P.
"Scott helped me secure the home of my dreams in Corte Madera, CA, and his knowledge of the Marin real estate market was invaluable. His excellent communication and guidance got me into my dream home well within my budget. Highly recommend his expertise and professionalism!"
"Scott helped me secure the home of my dreams in Corte Madera, CA, and his knowledge of the Marin real estate market was invaluable. His excellent communication and guidance got me into my dream home well within my budget. Highly recommend his expertise and professionalism!"
James G.
"Scott was a pleasure to work with. He helped us purchase a home in our most desired area that unfortunately ended up having many challenges. Scott was by my side the entire time and actually had a solution to an issue that ultimately secured the home for us. I am forever grateful to Scott, he is extremely knowledgeable (as he grew up in Marin County) and aware of the real estate market and the entire process. I would recommend him to whomever is looking to purchase or sell a home in Marin County."
"Scott was a pleasure to work with. He helped us purchase a home in our most desired area that unfortunately ended up having many challenges. Scott was by my side the entire time and actually had a solution to an issue that ultimately secured the home for us. I am forever grateful to Scott, he is extremely knowledgeable (as he grew up in Marin County) and aware of the real estate market and the entire process. I would recommend him to whomever is looking to purchase or sell a home in Marin County."
Brian D.

Buyer Resources

Learn about the nuances of the buying process- from deciding the right type of property to evaluating the benefits of home equity, home financing options, and procedures.

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