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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. 

Real Client Experiences

Testimonials

"Amy Is A Wonderful Agent! My husband and I have planned to retire on the Cape for over 20 years. We were there in September for a long weekend. We saw a listing that caught our eye and decided to take a look. Amy happened to be the one to show it and our relationship with this wonderful realtor began. We really liked the townhouse she showed us but there was no way we could sell our house and close there in two months. Amy was very understanding and encouraged us to work on clearing out our house and keep in touch with her. She was just an email away and shared her knowledge of buying on the Cape and closing in Massachusetts. Just before Christmas, we saw another townhouse in the same community we had toured before. It actually had a few more features that we wanted in our home than the first one we saw. We called Amy and set up a showing a few days before Christmas. We hoped to close the deal quickly but another offer came in at the last minute and the sellers decided to keep the listing open for a couple of weeks due to vacations taken at that time of year. We were very worried we might lose the townhouse. Amy kept us informed about the options we had and we decided to remove contingencies and increase our offer. We woke up a few days later to a call from her telling us they had accepted our offer. We were so grateful to Amy because she never got tired of answering our questions and educating us on the many things that could go right or wrong in the process. We just closed on our property two days ago and look forward to retirement on the Cape. Even though Amy’s involvement with us could be over, it isn’t because she is the type of person who follows through on her commitment to her clients. There were hoops to jump through along the way and Amy relieved our stress many times by assisting us with finding an attorney, insurance agent and carpenter to get through this process and help make our dream come true. We highly recommend Amy Vickers for your real estate needs. She will not fail you!"
"Amy Is A Wonderful Agent! My husband and I have planned to retire on the Cape for over 20 years. We were there in September for a long weekend. We saw a listing that caught our eye and decided to take a look. Amy happened to be the one to show it and our relationship with this wonderful realtor began. We really liked the townhouse she showed us but there was no way we could sell our house and close there in two months. Amy was very understanding and encouraged us to work on clearing out our house and keep in touch with her. She was just an email away and shared her knowledge of buying on the Cape and closing in Massachusetts. Just before Christmas, we saw another townhouse in the same community we had toured before. It actually had a few more features that we wanted in our home than the first one we saw. We called Amy and set up a showing a few days before Christmas. We hoped to close the deal quickly but another offer came in at the last minute and the sellers decided to keep the listing open for a couple of weeks due to vacations taken at that time of year. We were very worried we might lose the townhouse. Amy kept us informed about the options we had and we decided to remove contingencies and increase our offer. We woke up a few days later to a call from her telling us they had accepted our offer. We were so grateful to Amy because she never got tired of answering our questions and educating us on the many things that could go right or wrong in the process. We just closed on our property two days ago and look forward to retirement on the Cape. Even though Amy’s involvement with us could be over, it isn’t because she is the type of person who follows through on her commitment to her clients. There were hoops to jump through along the way and Amy relieved our stress many times by assisting us with finding an attorney, insurance agent and carpenter to get through this process and help make our dream come true. We highly recommend Amy Vickers for your real estate needs. She will not fail you!"
Sheila
"Amy is the best! Look no further! We recently had the pleasure of having Amy represent us with a purchase of a home on the Cape. She is everything you could want in an agent - she is honest, attentive, knowledgeable, and has such a calming presence in what can be a very stressful process. She actively listens and was soooo patient in answering our many questions. I never felt like she was "selling" me - she made me feel like she genuinely wanted us to find the right fit for us. Amy goes above and beyond for her clients. I would absolutely use her again and would recommend her to anyone."
"Amy is the best! Look no further! We recently had the pleasure of having Amy represent us with a purchase of a home on the Cape. She is everything you could want in an agent - she is honest, attentive, knowledgeable, and has such a calming presence in what can be a very stressful process. She actively listens and was soooo patient in answering our many questions. I never felt like she was "selling" me - she made me feel like she genuinely wanted us to find the right fit for us. Amy goes above and beyond for her clients. I would absolutely use her again and would recommend her to anyone."
Chrysti
"Helpful, knowledgeable, and sweet! Amy was very helpful to us with our recent purchase. The sellers were in a huge hurry to sell and Amy got everything done with amazing grace and speed. Highly recommend!"
"Helpful, knowledgeable, and sweet! Amy was very helpful to us with our recent purchase. The sellers were in a huge hurry to sell and Amy got everything done with amazing grace and speed. Highly recommend!"
A.B.
"Amy was an amazing help in my search for a property! She is extremely knowledgeable about the area. Amy was an amazing help in my search for a property! She is extremely knowledgeable about the area. And was a great help in showing properties. Amy is very responsive to any questions I had and got back to me asap, I would recommend Amy any day of the week if you are in the market for a property!"
"Amy was an amazing help in my search for a property! She is extremely knowledgeable about the area. Amy was an amazing help in my search for a property! She is extremely knowledgeable about the area. And was a great help in showing properties. Amy is very responsive to any questions I had and got back to me asap, I would recommend Amy any day of the week if you are in the market for a property!"
Amanda
"Amy was a pleasure to work with! I will recommend her to friends and family without hesitation."
"Amy was a pleasure to work with! I will recommend her to friends and family without hesitation."
A.H.
"Amy Vickers was amazing. She went above and beyond, negotiated well, was always available when needed. I highly recommend her as a broker as she will always look after your best interests!"
"Amy Vickers was amazing. She went above and beyond, negotiated well, was always available when needed. I highly recommend her as a broker as she will always look after your best interests!"
Jessica
"I thought Amy did a great job. Excellent realtor and kept me well informed throughout the entire process."
"I thought Amy did a great job. Excellent realtor and kept me well informed throughout the entire process."
Robert G.
"We live in RI and purchased a home in New Seabury, MA. Amy Vickers was a great resource for us. She was exceptionally responsive and well organized, as well as being consistently upbeat. From start to finish, what a pleasure to work with, and overall a great experience for us!"
"We live in RI and purchased a home in New Seabury, MA. Amy Vickers was a great resource for us. She was exceptionally responsive and well organized, as well as being consistently upbeat. From start to finish, what a pleasure to work with, and overall a great experience for us!"
Wilson
"Initially, we selected Amy as she was listed as the local contact for the listing we were interested in. It was apparent that she was very knowledgeable of the area. She established a trusting relationship very quickly and was very responsive. She enabled that we were able to still see the townhouse shortly before the owners made a decision and provided great advice throughout the negotiation process. However, Amy did not stop there. She delivered a true end-to-end service. She was also immensely helpful in helping us make the place move-in ready within a day of closing. She went above and beyond what I would have expected from my realtor, in particular one I had just met."
"Initially, we selected Amy as she was listed as the local contact for the listing we were interested in. It was apparent that she was very knowledgeable of the area. She established a trusting relationship very quickly and was very responsive. She enabled that we were able to still see the townhouse shortly before the owners made a decision and provided great advice throughout the negotiation process. However, Amy did not stop there. She delivered a true end-to-end service. She was also immensely helpful in helping us make the place move-in ready within a day of closing. She went above and beyond what I would have expected from my realtor, in particular one I had just met."
Bach
"Amy was wonderful to work with. I felt that she really understood what I was looking for and did everything she could to help. Amy is very knowledgeable about the real estate market on Cape Cod. Amy often goes above and beyond, including helping me furnish my home, finding tenants and helping to deal with things when I was traveling for work. She was always available when I had questions about anything and I would definitely work with her again. Thank you so much for everything, Amy!"
"Amy was wonderful to work with. I felt that she really understood what I was looking for and did everything she could to help. Amy is very knowledgeable about the real estate market on Cape Cod. Amy often goes above and beyond, including helping me furnish my home, finding tenants and helping to deal with things when I was traveling for work. She was always available when I had questions about anything and I would definitely work with her again. Thank you so much for everything, Amy!"
Wood
"The property is in a desired location and required me to act fast if I wanted to close the deal. I clicked the realtor.com link at 10am on a Saturday, receive a text and a call from Amy a few minutes later, and had my purchase offer accepted by 6pm same day. It helps to offer more than asking, but still, Amy did much of the heavy lifting that Saturday and has been very helpful before and since the closing. I'd imagine many brokers tend to ignore their buyer once the commission is essentially in their pocket, but Amy has been very helpful post close with suggestions, connections, and advice on addressing our other needs, (contractors, furnishings, rental, etcetera). She even left a gift bag in the new house! True, for what I paid for the house it turned-out to be the world's most expensive gift-bag, but it's the thought that counts, and Amy Vickers gives thought to her clients. She has my thumbs-up vote."
"The property is in a desired location and required me to act fast if I wanted to close the deal. I clicked the realtor.com link at 10am on a Saturday, receive a text and a call from Amy a few minutes later, and had my purchase offer accepted by 6pm same day. It helps to offer more than asking, but still, Amy did much of the heavy lifting that Saturday and has been very helpful before and since the closing. I'd imagine many brokers tend to ignore their buyer once the commission is essentially in their pocket, but Amy has been very helpful post close with suggestions, connections, and advice on addressing our other needs, (contractors, furnishings, rental, etcetera). She even left a gift bag in the new house! True, for what I paid for the house it turned-out to be the world's most expensive gift-bag, but it's the thought that counts, and Amy Vickers gives thought to her clients. She has my thumbs-up vote."
Larry B.
"The best! Amy bent over backwards for us when buying our house. She is patient and helpful, and really knows her stuff! It was a great experience working with her!"
"The best! Amy bent over backwards for us when buying our house. She is patient and helpful, and really knows her stuff! It was a great experience working with her!"
Gail & Ernie
"Amazing Agent! Amy went above and beyond what is expected of an agent - she met me at multiple properties, helped coach us through tons of bids, and ultimately landed us at our dream vacation home. I would absolutely recommend Amy to anyone interested in buying or selling a Cape Cod house."
"Amazing Agent! Amy went above and beyond what is expected of an agent - she met me at multiple properties, helped coach us through tons of bids, and ultimately landed us at our dream vacation home. I would absolutely recommend Amy to anyone interested in buying or selling a Cape Cod house."
K.B.
"Amy was a great help in helping us get our property. She was friendly, courteous, and had great knowledge of the marketplace. Amy asked specifically what our needs were. With that in mind, she showed us properties that met our needs. Amy also took the time to tell us about the area and show us points of interest."
"Amy was a great help in helping us get our property. She was friendly, courteous, and had great knowledge of the marketplace. Amy asked specifically what our needs were. With that in mind, she showed us properties that met our needs. Amy also took the time to tell us about the area and show us points of interest."
A.S.
"Gets It Done! Amy makes things happen. She provides the information you need. Then she provides the information you didn’t even know you needed. You can tell that other agents love to work with her and sometimes that can make all the difference. She responds quickly and never fails to follow up on any questions or request. And she seems to have this extensive network of connections that offer help, guidance and assistance. Her balance of strength and kindness is perfect."
"Gets It Done! Amy makes things happen. She provides the information you need. Then she provides the information you didn’t even know you needed. You can tell that other agents love to work with her and sometimes that can make all the difference. She responds quickly and never fails to follow up on any questions or request. And she seems to have this extensive network of connections that offer help, guidance and assistance. Her balance of strength and kindness is perfect."
M. K. H.
"Amy is wonderful! A hard worker, very knowledgeable and always available for any questions or information! When selling your home , you are her Number 1 Priority! When buying our next home, she was right there beside me , letting us know everything about the home and answering any questions I had. Amy has a great personality, easy to get along with and does everything for you! She’s more like a friend or sister than a realtor."
"Amy is wonderful! A hard worker, very knowledgeable and always available for any questions or information! When selling your home , you are her Number 1 Priority! When buying our next home, she was right there beside me , letting us know everything about the home and answering any questions I had. Amy has a great personality, easy to get along with and does everything for you! She’s more like a friend or sister than a realtor."
Pat
"Amy redefines service! Amy Vickers represented me in buying, and redefined service for a real estate professional. I have sold and bought several homes; Amy’s thoroughness, responsiveness and calm in dealing with an emotional seller (and sometimes this emotional buyer) exceeded my previous experiences. She also recommended helpful local resources and cleared away items left by seller. What a pleasure and treasure she is."
"Amy redefines service! Amy Vickers represented me in buying, and redefined service for a real estate professional. I have sold and bought several homes; Amy’s thoroughness, responsiveness and calm in dealing with an emotional seller (and sometimes this emotional buyer) exceeded my previous experiences. She also recommended helpful local resources and cleared away items left by seller. What a pleasure and treasure she is."
Lois
"Amy is the best! I had the pleasure of working with Amy Vickers when buying my home, and I couldn't be more impressed! I used her because she was also my brother's agent for his house on the cape. From start to finish, she was incredibly professional, attentive, and responsive. Her communication skills were outstanding—she kept me updated every step of the way and made sure I understood all aspects of the process which were entirely foreign to me. Whenever I had questions or concerns, she was quick to respond and always took the time to explain things thoroughly. She provided great contacts that I used for my lending agent, lawyer, and inspector who were all wonderful as well. Thanks to her expertise and dedication, I found the perfect home. I highly recommend Amy to anyone looking to buy or sell—her communication and commitment to her clients are truly top-notch!"
"Amy is the best! I had the pleasure of working with Amy Vickers when buying my home, and I couldn't be more impressed! I used her because she was also my brother's agent for his house on the cape. From start to finish, she was incredibly professional, attentive, and responsive. Her communication skills were outstanding—she kept me updated every step of the way and made sure I understood all aspects of the process which were entirely foreign to me. Whenever I had questions or concerns, she was quick to respond and always took the time to explain things thoroughly. She provided great contacts that I used for my lending agent, lawyer, and inspector who were all wonderful as well. Thanks to her expertise and dedication, I found the perfect home. I highly recommend Amy to anyone looking to buy or sell—her communication and commitment to her clients are truly top-notch!"
Ariana
"Exceptional Service and Relentless Guidance. Amy Vickers’ extensive knowledge of the market, upcoming changes in town and county policies was evident throughout the selling of our home and purchasing another. Amy’s relationship with her coworkers, other local realtors, engineers, excavators, bankers, and lawyers created a smooth, positive outcome. Leaving a home after 30 years is difficult. Amy intuitively knew when to offer a dump run, take items to repurpose for others, or save items for new home buyers who may not have the means to equip their kitchen or furnish a room. I would highly recommend Amy Vickers."
"Exceptional Service and Relentless Guidance. Amy Vickers’ extensive knowledge of the market, upcoming changes in town and county policies was evident throughout the selling of our home and purchasing another. Amy’s relationship with her coworkers, other local realtors, engineers, excavators, bankers, and lawyers created a smooth, positive outcome. Leaving a home after 30 years is difficult. Amy intuitively knew when to offer a dump run, take items to repurpose for others, or save items for new home buyers who may not have the means to equip their kitchen or furnish a room. I would highly recommend Amy Vickers."
Judge
"Our experience with Amy Vickers was extraordinary! Amy was a blessing to our family from the beginning to the end of our transaction. She has excellent communication skills and was always one phone call away. Amy was professional, knowledgeable, humble, honest, kind, reliable, respectful and responsive. We never wondered about anything because she communicated every step of the process. She's a planner. We were always one step ahead every time. She paid for professional pictures for our house and did a phenomenal job marketing on our behalf. She wears her heart on her sleeve. She listened attentively to all of our needs and worked hard to make them come to life. We never lacked a referral. She pointed us in the right direction every time. She went above and beyond for us, although she's incredibly busy, she made us feel like we were her only customers every time. Our only regret is we didn't find her sooner. If you are selling or buying we highly suggest hiring Amy."
"Our experience with Amy Vickers was extraordinary! Amy was a blessing to our family from the beginning to the end of our transaction. She has excellent communication skills and was always one phone call away. Amy was professional, knowledgeable, humble, honest, kind, reliable, respectful and responsive. We never wondered about anything because she communicated every step of the process. She's a planner. We were always one step ahead every time. She paid for professional pictures for our house and did a phenomenal job marketing on our behalf. She wears her heart on her sleeve. She listened attentively to all of our needs and worked hard to make them come to life. We never lacked a referral. She pointed us in the right direction every time. She went above and beyond for us, although she's incredibly busy, she made us feel like we were her only customers every time. Our only regret is we didn't find her sooner. If you are selling or buying we highly suggest hiring Amy."
Milagre
"Amy knows it all. We were amazed at how many connections she has throughout the Cape. The list is all inclusive: other brokers, construction people, local town office personnel, architects, people in all trades - electrical, plumbing, painting. You just get the sense that you are in capable hands when you engage her. She is proactive and knows how to navigate all aspects of real estate. And does it with such sincerity and aplomb. We highly recommend Amy."
"Amy knows it all. We were amazed at how many connections she has throughout the Cape. The list is all inclusive: other brokers, construction people, local town office personnel, architects, people in all trades - electrical, plumbing, painting. You just get the sense that you are in capable hands when you engage her. She is proactive and knows how to navigate all aspects of real estate. And does it with such sincerity and aplomb. We highly recommend Amy."
Harris

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