First-Time Homebuyer Tips From Mark Spain Real Estate

By Mark Spain Real Estate

Whether you are buying your first home or your fifth home, the home-buying process can be a tricky one to navigate. However, entering the real estate market as a first-time homebuyer is an exciting endeavor to take on when you are ready, and our team of professionals at Mark Spain Real Estate would be grateful to serve you in reaching your real estate goals! Clients like Latoya, who are first-time homebuyers, can attest to the unparalleled service our agents provide; read our recent blog to learn more about her experience!

While you can rest assured that agents at Mark Spain Real Estate will be there to serve you through every step of the buying process, there are a few things we think are important for you to know as a first-time homebuyer.

No matter the motive to enter the real estate market, continue reading the tips we see as most valuable to a first-time home buyer!

First-Time Homebuyer Tips From Mark Spain Real Estate

Check and Strengthen Credit

Your credit score is the determinant of whether you qualify for a mortgage as well as affects the interest rate lenders will offer. Therefore, as a first-time homebuyer, it is in your best interest to strengthen your credit score in order to make the buying process stress-free.

Pay all of your bills on time, and try to keep low balances on your credit cards. Keep your current credit cards open in an effort to maintain the amount of credit to use.

Overall, your finances will be in check if you pay down debt, make payments on time, and avoid opening new loans or credit cards!

Research Neighborhoods For Best Fit

As a first-time homebuyer, regardless of how long you plan to spend in this home, you want it to be in a safe area with a community that meets your standards. The first steps to this research can include going directly to the community’s website, acquiring information based on the zip code, reviewing schools and daycares in the district, and looking up the most up-to-date crime rates.

We also recommend that you network and connect with residents in the areas you are interested in as a first-time homebuyer. When you talk to these individuals, ask genuine questions about their lifestyles and habits and how the neighborhood has contributed to them. Inquire about the amenities you deem most important to your routine as well.

If you can, go there and walk around! Exploring the area on foot can show you more than what a viewer can see online, so take advantage of this opportunity to see and feel the neighborhood for yourself!

Be Prepared To Make A Competitive (Within Your Budget) Offer

Assuming the preapproval process has concluded and offering earnest money has been considered to show the seller that you are a serious buyer, it is time to start thinking about actually making that offer on your dream home. 

After you have decided how much you can afford, consult with your agent about how you can make your offer stand out amongst others on your dream home. Especially in a seller’s market, as we are in now, it is in your best interest to start strong and be ready with a counteroffer if the initial offer does not get accepted.

Also, we recommend including a letter to the seller along with your offer. If you are able to learn more about the seller and the history of the property, a touch of emotional appeal about yourself and your desire for the home could seal the deal and help your offer stick out from the others.

Choose The Best Brokerage To Work With

Our real estate agents are just as excited as you are about this pivotal decision. Therefore, you can count on us to be mindful of your needs and time-sensitive goals. While some first-time buyers may be eager to take on the task without an agent to guide them through the process, we strongly recommend choosing to work alongside an agent to make sure that the experience is an enjoyable and successful one.

As grateful as we would be to serve you in the buying process, we also specialize in selling with our specialized selling programs. With our Guaranteed Offer Program, clients can sell their homes in as little as 21 days without showings and open houses and receive the most competitive all-cash offer in the industry. We also offer our Accelerated Offer Program and our Traditional Market Listing Program. 

About Mark Spain Real Estate

Mark Spain Real Estate is the most trusted name in real estate, earning more 5-star reviews than any other firm in the United States. It has earned the No. 1 real estate team in the U.S. honor for the last four consecutive years by the Wall Street Journal and Real Trends for annual sales production and is a six-time Inc. 5000 recipient, an annual list honoring the fastest-growing private companies in America. The company was honored in 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021 as one of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Top Workplaces. It has earned the Atlanta Business Chronicle Pacesetter Award over the last six years, as one of metro Atlanta’s 100 top, fastest-growing, privately held companies. Mark Spain Real Estate made its fourth appearance on Atlanta’s Top 25 Real Estate Companies annual list in 2021 and made its second appearance on similar lists in both Charlotte and Raleigh.

As a company leader with cutting-edge ideas like its Guaranteed Offer program, Mark Spain was honored in February as a 2022 Real Estate Newsmaker. Compiled by RISMedia, a leading residential real estate industry information provider, the Newsmakers list includes 300 industry professionals in North America. Mark Spain was also recognized as one of the PropTech 100 Most Influential People in Real Estate and has been named to Real Estate Almanac/Swanepoel Power 200, a list of the most impactful industry leaders. The firm had a record sales year again in 2021, with more than $3.33 billion in gross sales volume, a year-over-year increase of more than 130%. In line with its core value of leading with a servant’s heart, Mark Spain Real Estate has ongoing partnerships with charitable causes in Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, and Raleigh.  

If you would like to join the number one residential real estate team, please visit our website and apply today! We would be grateful to serve you in reaching your career goals. We are actively searching for top talent to add to our ever-growing team. Mark Spain Real Estate is a full-service residential real estate firm serving our clients in receiving an unparalleled client experience! 

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We are proud to be the most trusted name in residential real estate. We serve all of Metro Atlanta, including Athens in Georgia, Raleigh and Charlotte and Greensboro in North Carolina, Nashville and Chattanooga in Tennessee, Tampa and Orlando and Jacksonville in Florida, Greenville in South Carolina, and Birmingham in Alabama!