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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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Fred F.
European Investor
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Richard K.
Jill M.
Alan M.
Ron R.
Rich & Jen R.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Rockstar Realtor David has an approach that’s second to none. Once again David and his team diligently went over, above, around and through all the tasks to get the ball over the goal line to sell and close on my properties.

— Greg B. | Seller

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Market knowledge, communication, and professionalism exceeded expectations! I would highly recommend engaging with David Hall to either buy/sell your next home or investment property. Every aspect of the process of purchasing our home was enhanced as a direct result of David's experience and skill set. He was extremely hands-on and yet encouraged collaboration with all stakeholders. David identified the ...

— Fred F.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Sonia and David did a fantastic job! As a project developer in Germany, I had high expectations for the investment in Florida. They completely fulfilled them. From the purchase and renovation to the sale, they took care of everything, resolved all issues, and did a fantastic job. My expectations for return, quality, and support were more than met! Thank you very much for your hard work!

— European Investor

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Extremely knowledgeable and expert in assessing our needs Total patience was a long process and ended in total success. Not only did they keep searching but followed through right to the closing. I would highly recommend them to anyone searching for a new home. Not only do I have the perfect apartment but two new friends.

— Sandy J.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Top Notch Experience! I cannot say enough good things about David Hall. David was honest throughout the entire process and his knowledge was very widespread. David opened our eyes to a different area altogether as he truly knew what would be the best fit for my family. I cannot thank him enough for his advice and for getting the job done! Calling yourself a Real Estate Broker is 1 thing. Being a Real Est...

— Richard K.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Fast Sale - Record Price! From the incredibly high-quality marketing materials they created to their masterful use of social media platforms, David and Sonia are in a class by themselves. They managed the process so well for us that we sold our unit for the highest price in our building’s history and did it in record time. They are the best agents I’ve ever dealt with.

— Jill M. | Seller

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

The best ever! From start to finish, David and Sonia went above and beyond to deliver for us. They understand the market, are highly experienced and guided us through the entire process with white-glove attention and service. They are exceptional professionals and we couldn’t be any happier with their representation.

— Alan M.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

First class service! David was beyond helpful from start to finish! He really understood our needs and made the entire process easy. He was a pleasure to work with and we would highly recommend him!

— Carlie & David P.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

We highly recommend David and Sonia Hall. We cannot say enough positive things regarding our experience. We were impressed with their professionalism and meticulous attention to every detail. They acted with complete integrity and transparency throughout the entire process. In addition, they were extremely knowledgeable, and responsive, and exceeded all of our expectations. Through their hard work and co...

— Lisa & Todd E.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

David Hall was my broker who found and negotiated the perfect condominium for me and my family in Boca Raton. I had known David for years before selecting him as my broker, which is why I hired him in the first place. David is honest, intelligent, incredibly patient, and enthusiastic, which is the reason why I ended up purchasing the condominium in Mizner Tower. When David viewed the listing, he remained...

— Ron R.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

David provided us with a seamless and easy experience buying a condominium in Boca Raton. He has extensive knowledge of the local market from the neighborhood amenities to the different buildings and units available. Super organized and always able to accommodate our schedule, David showed us listings that met our requirements and always set up our appointments in a timely manner. Once we made our decisi...

— Rich & Jen R. | Buyer

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PRIVATE EXCLUSIVE

Who Says You Only Have One Chance to Make a First Impression?

Listing your home as a Private Exclusive extends your marketing runway and signals to buyers working with Compass agents that new inventory is coming. Drive interest with exclusive marketing and gain insights before launching to the public.

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HALL LUXURY HOMES GROUP

Boca Raton Real Estate Agents

David Hall
(561) 508-1310
[email protected]

Sonia Hall
516-526-1090
[email protected]

Why You Should Use Private Exclusives

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Success Story


"My clients and I tested an aggressive price as a Private Exclusive on Compass. Another agent brought buyers to see the home and they submitted a full price, all cash offer within days. My clients said this was the easiest, no hassle sale they’ve experienced!"

David S & Victoria H, Agents | San Francisco Bay Area

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Looking to Buy in This Competitive Market?

Working with a Compass agent grants you access to privately listed inventory before the rest of the competition.

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Take Your Time to Put Together the Best Offer

Avoid bidding wars with other buyers and prepare the offer that makes the most sense for you, with expert guidance from your Compass agent.

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Preserve Your Privacy

If the home you buy is publicly marketed, the photos can be found on the internet for years to come. Avoid that and preserve your discretion by buying a Private Exclusive.


Private Exclusives may not be available in all markets, and availability is subject to change. Private Exclusives, inclusive of pre-marketing and listing strategies, are at the discretion of the seller. They are only visible to buyers and the Compass agents representing them in that market. Compass does not recommend one particular strategy or guarantee results. #1 in 2023 closed sales volume in the US per RealTrends.

Find Your Dream Home

Why you should hire us as your Buyer’s Agent!

Strategic Guidance

Real estate transactions are intricate, and local market knowledge is crucial. We bring a wealth of expertise and experience to the process. We are well-versed in market trends, property values, and negotiation strategies. As your buyer’s agent, you gain access to our insights about the neighborhood you’re interested in. This helps you to make informed decisions regarding the right location for your needs and budget. Additionally, we offer precious market valuation advice, thus insuring you purchase at a fair price.

Customized for You

Transactions are unique. We listen and take time to understand your goals, life-style, preferences and desires. Whether you seek a beachfront condo, a home in a golfing community, or a boating community, we will customize a search for your needs. This stream-lined process saves you time and effort, as we focus your opportunities to specific properties matching your requirements.

Artful & Skilled Negotiation

Crucial to every real estate transaction is effective negotiation. We, as your skilled negotiator, play a vital role as your advocate, lobbying for you to achieve the most advantageous terms and pricing. We will expeditously handle offers, counteroffers, inspections, punch-lists, and any other negotiation obstacles. Thus, resulting in a smooth transaction that saves you time, money and stress.

Access to Exclusive Opportunities

We will use our extensive network to open doors and tap into any off-market properties not publicly promoted on the MLS. These opportunities may be particularly valuable in high demand / low supply markets, where it is challenging to find the right property to meet your needs and budget.

Guidance Throughout the Journey

From our initial property search and throughout the closing process, we are your confidant and advocate. We will coordinate the transaction and assist with home inspections, mold inspections, coordinate appraisals, and navigate the myriad of required documentation. We are detail-oriented, thus greatly reducing the risk of costly errors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when you trust and hire us as your buyer’s agent, we become your vital partner in this home-buying journey. Our proficiency, customized approach, skilled negotiation, access to off-market opportunities, and guidance throughout will afford you a significant advantage towards your goal of a rewarding and successful home purchase!

 

We look forward to working with you,

David and Sonia Hall

Understanding Buyer Representation

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Work With Us

Our commitment, experience, loyalty and dedication are paramount to our success, and the only way we conduct business. Together, we’re tirelessly passionate about getting the best results for buyers and sellers, while offering first-class professional concierge service through every step of the process.