Buyer guide
Your first home, without the guesswork
Five steps, from your first call with a lender to the keys in your hand.
Dave DiGregorioColdwell Banker RealtyWaltham, MA
01
Know your numbers
Find out what you can borrow before you tour a single home.
Pre-qualification
Meet with a mortgage broker and find out what you can afford.
Pre-approval
Apply for the mortgage and get a written commitment from the lender. Sellers take pre-approved buyers seriously — and the cost is usually nominal, payable when you close.
02
Make two lists
You will not get everything. Knowing the difference keeps you focused.
Needs
Must-haves: enough bedrooms for your family, a single storey if accessibility matters.
Wants
Nice-to-haves: a pool, a den, a bigger yard. Lovely, but not deal-breakers.
03
What to look for
Four things to check at every showing.
Your own agent
Work with an agent who represents you, the buyer — not the seller.
The location
School district, noise, what is nearby. Look at it as the seller would: will the next buyer want this street?
The layout
Picture the rooms empty, then with your own furniture. Do they fit how you live? Is there enough light?
A clear head
There will be other houses. Don’t rush a decision you may regret later.
04
What to bring
Keep these in one place so every showing adds up.
- A map with your areas marked
- A file of the listings you have seen
- Paper and pen for notes
- A camera for details you will forget
05
Before you close
Three things worth the extra time and money.
Contingencies
Put inspection and mortgage contingencies in your written offer. They are your way out.
The inspection
Hire a professional inspector, and read the report before you sign anything else.
The final walk-through
Within 24 hours of closing, check that nothing has changed since the offer was accepted.
This is a lot to keep track of. That is exactly what your agent is for.
Start with a conversation
No pressure, no obligation — just answers to the questions you have right now.
