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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 your agent 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 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.

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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 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, and 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.

Passion & Expertise

My goal is to provide you with the most personalized service possible, meticulously designed to help you navigate the process of buying your dream home. I am 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!). 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.

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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. 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.

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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. 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.

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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 My Clients Say

Testimonials

"Kristen did an outstanding job helping us find a perfect home for us to return to Connecticut where we lived many years before. Kristen is incredibly organized, extremely responsive, super kind, great sense of humor and she came up with great ideas throughout the process to keep things moving, and on-track. Kristen was so generous with her time and knowledge in sharing her extensive knowledge in the area and the market. Kristen communicated with me every step of the way, and she went above and beyond in so many ways, not the least of which by taking her time out and arranging for professionals (and meeting them at the property) to facilitate our move. We were so extremely fortunate to have Kristen help us find a home, and will always be grateful for her professionalism."
"Kristen did an outstanding job helping us find a perfect home for us to return to Connecticut where we lived many years before. Kristen is incredibly organized, extremely responsive, super kind, great sense of humor and she came up with great ideas throughout the process to keep things moving, and on-track. Kristen was so generous with her time and knowledge in sharing her extensive knowledge in the area and the market. Kristen communicated with me every step of the way, and she went above and beyond in so many ways, not the least of which by taking her time out and arranging for professionals (and meeting them at the property) to facilitate our move. We were so extremely fortunate to have Kristen help us find a home, and will always be grateful for her professionalism."
Maurie E.
"After meeting Kristen, we realized in a very short time that she was the perfect person to help us find our new home. She was focused in in finding the perfect home for us without making us waste our time. In a very short time we found the perfect home in a great area. We will always be so grateful for her dedication and professionalism. Based on my experience working with Kristen, I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a home in the area."
"After meeting Kristen, we realized in a very short time that she was the perfect person to help us find our new home. She was focused in in finding the perfect home for us without making us waste our time. In a very short time we found the perfect home in a great area. We will always be so grateful for her dedication and professionalism. Based on my experience working with Kristen, I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a home in the area."
Maricar M.
"Kristen was outstanding. She walked us through the entire process, and went to bat for us throughout. She is so easy to work with and extremely knowledgable. Kristen will always be my first call whenever I need a realtor! Thank you, Kristen!"
"Kristen was outstanding. She walked us through the entire process, and went to bat for us throughout. She is so easy to work with and extremely knowledgable. Kristen will always be my first call whenever I need a realtor! Thank you, Kristen!"
Buyer | Seller
"I really wish that I could give Kristen more than a five star rating in the above categories - particularly in the areas of "local knowledge" and "negotiation skills." Kristen is a life-long Greenwich resident, so she truly knows the town inside and out. She was extremely generous with her time and answered my (many) texts and phone calls in a timely manner. Her expert negotiation skills allowed us to be the successful party among the many other bidders for the home that we will be moving into on July 1. In addition to being a great agent, her wonderful personality makes her a pleasure to work with."
"I really wish that I could give Kristen more than a five star rating in the above categories - particularly in the areas of "local knowledge" and "negotiation skills." Kristen is a life-long Greenwich resident, so she truly knows the town inside and out. She was extremely generous with her time and answered my (many) texts and phone calls in a timely manner. Her expert negotiation skills allowed us to be the successful party among the many other bidders for the home that we will be moving into on July 1. In addition to being a great agent, her wonderful personality makes her a pleasure to work with."
Kristen R.
"Kristen is a realtor with a large amount of knowledge of the real estate market in south Fairfield county Connecticut, in Stamford and Greenwich. Her knowledge and inclination to help me in my search (including being available in person and accommodating my schedule) was of great assistance in finding a very satisfactory place to live, matching up well with my criteria, including budget."
"Kristen is a realtor with a large amount of knowledge of the real estate market in south Fairfield county Connecticut, in Stamford and Greenwich. Her knowledge and inclination to help me in my search (including being available in person and accommodating my schedule) was of great assistance in finding a very satisfactory place to live, matching up well with my criteria, including budget."
Narva
"Kristen studwell was amazing to work with. She is a keen listener and a strong champion for her clients. She found us exactly what we wanted and was an excellent negotiater. I would highly recommend her!"
"Kristen studwell was amazing to work with. She is a keen listener and a strong champion for her clients. She found us exactly what we wanted and was an excellent negotiater. I would highly recommend her!"
Buyer
"Kristen was a pleasure to work with. She was responsive and very attentive to the needs of my 96 year old mother. She was super helpful in determining which properties would work for my mom. She even worked for us while on vacation! I highly recommend her and would love to work with her again."
"Kristen was a pleasure to work with. She was responsive and very attentive to the needs of my 96 year old mother. She was super helpful in determining which properties would work for my mom. She even worked for us while on vacation! I highly recommend her and would love to work with her again."
Kathleen F.
"Kristen is a true professional. She knows the local area and is well versed in both marketing and negotiation. You can rest comfortably knowing that your best interest is her priority. She makes herself available and responds quickly by either a call or text. I highly recommend her to anyone looking to sell."
"Kristen is a true professional. She knows the local area and is well versed in both marketing and negotiation. You can rest comfortably knowing that your best interest is her priority. She makes herself available and responds quickly by either a call or text. I highly recommend her to anyone looking to sell."
Paula M.
"Kristen is absolutely Fabulous! She is “the” most Awesome RE Agent I’ve ever worked with. First, she exhibits unrelenting patience, honesty, hard work, and determination ~ and works in the best interest of everyone involved. I was very impressed by her work ethic and perseverance re: a situation which took a great deal more time and effort than perhaps either of us expected. Yet, despite that, Kristen met the challenge head on, with immense determination, optimism, and a laser focus. She never once made me feel like anything she did was too much work or a hassle. etc. which exemplifies, on her part, enormous humility too! Frankly, after she closed the deal. I wasn’t quite sure whether I had stumbled upon the best realtor or a really good friend?! (I can assure you that when you work with her. you too, will likely not be able to tell the difference!) Finally, I could not be Happier about the Results she yielded. Kristen Studwell is undoubtedly a cut above the rest!"
"Kristen is absolutely Fabulous! She is “the” most Awesome RE Agent I’ve ever worked with. First, she exhibits unrelenting patience, honesty, hard work, and determination ~ and works in the best interest of everyone involved. I was very impressed by her work ethic and perseverance re: a situation which took a great deal more time and effort than perhaps either of us expected. Yet, despite that, Kristen met the challenge head on, with immense determination, optimism, and a laser focus. She never once made me feel like anything she did was too much work or a hassle. etc. which exemplifies, on her part, enormous humility too! Frankly, after she closed the deal. I wasn’t quite sure whether I had stumbled upon the best realtor or a really good friend?! (I can assure you that when you work with her. you too, will likely not be able to tell the difference!) Finally, I could not be Happier about the Results she yielded. Kristen Studwell is undoubtedly a cut above the rest!"
A. LoCascio
"Kristen was an absolute pleasure to work with. She’s incredibly responsive, deeply knowledgeable about the local market, and always one step ahead. Kristen attended walkthroughs and open houses on our behalf when we couldn’t be there, and she truly advocated for us every step of the way. We couldn’t recommend a better agent."
"Kristen was an absolute pleasure to work with. She’s incredibly responsive, deeply knowledgeable about the local market, and always one step ahead. Kristen attended walkthroughs and open houses on our behalf when we couldn’t be there, and she truly advocated for us every step of the way. We couldn’t recommend a better agent."
Joseph S.

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