First-Time Buyer's Guide
Buying your first home is the biggest purchase most people have made, and the process is full of steps nobody explains. My job is to make it make sense, then guide you through it.
Get ready before you shop
The first move is not touring homes, it is talking to a lender and getting fully pre-approved. That tells you your real budget, shows sellers you are credible, and lets you act when you find the right home. I can introduce you to lenders who do what they say they will.
While you are at it, get clear on your must-haves versus your nice-to-haves. The buyers who struggle are usually the ones who never decided what actually matters to them.
Know the costs nobody mentions
Beyond the down payment, plan for closing costs, the home inspection, an appraisal in many cases, and your first round of property tax and insurance. In Arizona you will also hear about earnest money, the BINSR repair-request step after inspection, and escrow. I explain each one as it comes up, before it costs you.
None of this is meant to scare you. It is meant to remove surprises, which is the whole point of having someone experienced on your side.
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Why representation costs you little and protects you a lot
As your buyer's agent I represent your interests through search, offer, inspection, appraisal, and closing. I help you write an offer that competes without giving away protections, and I hold the deal together when something goes sideways, which it sometimes does.
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Written by
Jon Hegreness
REALTOR / Associate Broker, Howe Realty. AZ License BR540940000. 24 years in Phoenix Valley residential real estate.
I am a full-time Valley broker, not a call center. If anything here raised a question about your own move, ask me and you get a straight answer from the person who wrote this, every time.
Common questions
- How much do I need for a down payment in Arizona?
- It depends on your loan program, and several options allow far less than 20 percent. The right answer comes from a lender looking at your situation. I am not a lender, but I can connect you with good ones and help you understand the trade-offs.
- What is earnest money?
- It is a good-faith deposit you put up when your offer is accepted, held in escrow and credited toward your purchase at closing. I walk first-time buyers through exactly how it works and how it is protected.
- What is the BINSR?
- It is Arizona's Buyer's Inspection Notice and Seller's Response, the formal step after your inspection where you can ask the seller to address items. It is one of the most important negotiating moments in the deal, and it is where I earn my keep.
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