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Buyer's Guide

Everything you need to know about searching for the perfect home, making an offer, and successfully closing on your new property.

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 Real Estate Experts

Can you shop for, look at, and ultimately make an offer on a home without real estate experts? 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 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.

Passion & Expertise

Our goal is to provide you with the most personalized service possible, meticulously designed to help you navigate the process of buying your dream home. We are 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!). 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. 

Success Stories

Testimonials

Read what our clients have to say about working with us.

"Michael was simply fantastic - he helped us every step of the way with buying our first home. When we started the process, we didn't know the first thing about real estate, but Michael was a really great teacher and took the time to explain everything to us in detail. By the end of our home search, we knew exactly what we were looking for in a house and got the perfect house that fit all of our criteria. He's also just a fun guy. We mentioned we hated squeaky floors, and he made it a point to get to home showings early so he could hop around and judge the squeakiness of the wood floors. That's commitment!"
"Michael was simply fantastic - he helped us every step of the way with buying our first home. When we started the process, we didn't know the first thing about real estate, but Michael was a really great teacher and took the time to explain everything to us in detail. By the end of our home search, we knew exactly what we were looking for in a house and got the perfect house that fit all of our criteria. He's also just a fun guy. We mentioned we hated squeaky floors, and he made it a point to get to home showings early so he could hop around and judge the squeakiness of the wood floors. That's commitment!"
Jonathan B.
"Great experience working with Aaron Weber Group, specially with realtor Aaron. Very responsive and willing to help in every step of home buying from searching home, finding inspector for home inspection, loan process, settlement etc. He is a complete guide to buying home."
"Great experience working with Aaron Weber Group, specially with realtor Aaron. Very responsive and willing to help in every step of home buying from searching home, finding inspector for home inspection, loan process, settlement etc. He is a complete guide to buying home."
Buyer
"Will is a great choice, especially if you are a first time buyer! He is honest during prospective open house walk throughs and will help guide you through the process without pressuring you into decisions. He is readily available for questions and can make things happen even at the last minute."
"Will is a great choice, especially if you are a first time buyer! He is honest during prospective open house walk throughs and will help guide you through the process without pressuring you into decisions. He is readily available for questions and can make things happen even at the last minute."
Buyer
"Working with Michael was the best decision my wife and I made during our home buying journey. We would highly recommend his services to anyone but especially first time home buyers."
"Working with Michael was the best decision my wife and I made during our home buying journey. We would highly recommend his services to anyone but especially first time home buyers."
Buyer
"This is my second home purchase with Mike and he’s great and easy to work with. He made selling my last home easy and I drag him around looking a lot for my second. He was always on top of things and answered my questions. He also won’t let me make a bad choice if he see’s issues. I really appreciate everything he and his team have done."
"This is my second home purchase with Mike and he’s great and easy to work with. He made selling my last home easy and I drag him around looking a lot for my second. He was always on top of things and answered my questions. He also won’t let me make a bad choice if he see’s issues. I really appreciate everything he and his team have done."
Lance E.
"Outstanding Realtor Experience with John Stanislawski. We had the pleasure of working with John Stanislawski when relocating to Middleton, Wisconsin, from out of state, and we couldn't be more grateful for his dedication and expertise. From the very beginning, John went above and beyond to accommodate our needs, even conducting virtual tours to help us navigate the housing market remotely. John's knowledge of the area and his network of local professionals made the entire process seamless. He connected us with all the service providers we needed to make our house truly feel like home. Despite our countless questions, John always remained patient, friendly, and quick to respond, ensuring that we felt supported every step of the way. If you're looking for a realtor who is reliable, knowledgeable, and committed to your best interests, we highly recommend John Stanislawski. His professionalism and positive attitude made a world of difference for us, and we are thrilled with our new home thanks to his efforts."
"Outstanding Realtor Experience with John Stanislawski. We had the pleasure of working with John Stanislawski when relocating to Middleton, Wisconsin, from out of state, and we couldn't be more grateful for his dedication and expertise. From the very beginning, John went above and beyond to accommodate our needs, even conducting virtual tours to help us navigate the housing market remotely. John's knowledge of the area and his network of local professionals made the entire process seamless. He connected us with all the service providers we needed to make our house truly feel like home. Despite our countless questions, John always remained patient, friendly, and quick to respond, ensuring that we felt supported every step of the way. If you're looking for a realtor who is reliable, knowledgeable, and committed to your best interests, we highly recommend John Stanislawski. His professionalism and positive attitude made a world of difference for us, and we are thrilled with our new home thanks to his efforts."
Buyer
"I worked with Kyle to both sell and buy a home. He was very professional the entire time, took time to listen to what I wanted in a home, and was very knowledgeable about the buying and selling process. I would most definitely recommend Kyle!"
"I worked with Kyle to both sell and buy a home. He was very professional the entire time, took time to listen to what I wanted in a home, and was very knowledgeable about the buying and selling process. I would most definitely recommend Kyle!"
Buyer
"Ryan is an exceptional resource in real estate. His deep knowledge of the market, combined with his excellent negotiation skills, made our entire experience smooth and stress-free. From the beginning, he listened carefully to our needs and preferences, ensuring that every property he showed us was a potential fit. Not only did he find us the perfect property that met all of our criteria, but he also negotiated a fantastic deal, saving us time and money. His professionalism, responsiveness, and dedication to helping us navigate the entire process made a huge difference. Ryan was always available to answer our questions and kept us informed every step of the way, which gave us confidence throughout the process. We couldn't be happier with the outcome and highly recommend Ryan to anyone looking to buy or sell property. He is trustworthy, knowledgeable, and will work tirelessly to get you the best results."
"Ryan is an exceptional resource in real estate. His deep knowledge of the market, combined with his excellent negotiation skills, made our entire experience smooth and stress-free. From the beginning, he listened carefully to our needs and preferences, ensuring that every property he showed us was a potential fit. Not only did he find us the perfect property that met all of our criteria, but he also negotiated a fantastic deal, saving us time and money. His professionalism, responsiveness, and dedication to helping us navigate the entire process made a huge difference. Ryan was always available to answer our questions and kept us informed every step of the way, which gave us confidence throughout the process. We couldn't be happier with the outcome and highly recommend Ryan to anyone looking to buy or sell property. He is trustworthy, knowledgeable, and will work tirelessly to get you the best results."
Buyer
"As a first time home buyer Kyle was absolutely essential to the process! He went above and beyond to assist from beginning to end and ensured my best interests were met. He is knowledgeable and friendly. I would highly recommend his expertise to anyone!"
"As a first time home buyer Kyle was absolutely essential to the process! He went above and beyond to assist from beginning to end and ensured my best interests were met. He is knowledgeable and friendly. I would highly recommend his expertise to anyone!"
Buyer
"I recently had the pleasure of working with Will to find and purchase my ideal condo, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the experience. From our very first meeting, Will demonstrated professionalism, dedication, and a deep understanding of the real estate market. What truly set Will apart was his meticulous attention to detail when evaluating each property we visited. He carefully assessed every aspect, pointing out both the positives and potential concerns, ensuring that I had all the information needed to make an informed decision. His honest and insightful guidance made the entire process seamless and stress-free. Will was always responsive and available to answer my questions, no matter how big or small. His commitment to finding the perfect home for me was evident every step of the way. Thanks to his hard work and expertise, I'm now happily settled in a condo that exceeds all my expectations. I wholeheartedly recommend Will to anyone in search of a knowledgeable and trustworthy real estate professional. His exceptional service and dedication truly make him stand out in the industry!"
"I recently had the pleasure of working with Will to find and purchase my ideal condo, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the experience. From our very first meeting, Will demonstrated professionalism, dedication, and a deep understanding of the real estate market. What truly set Will apart was his meticulous attention to detail when evaluating each property we visited. He carefully assessed every aspect, pointing out both the positives and potential concerns, ensuring that I had all the information needed to make an informed decision. His honest and insightful guidance made the entire process seamless and stress-free. Will was always responsive and available to answer my questions, no matter how big or small. His commitment to finding the perfect home for me was evident every step of the way. Thanks to his hard work and expertise, I'm now happily settled in a condo that exceeds all my expectations. I wholeheartedly recommend Will to anyone in search of a knowledgeable and trustworthy real estate professional. His exceptional service and dedication truly make him stand out in the industry!"
Lucas
"Ryan was very knowledgeable about the real estate market and the process of buying a home, and he was always on top of things when it came to scheduling a viewing quickly as soon as a condo hit the market."
"Ryan was very knowledgeable about the real estate market and the process of buying a home, and he was always on top of things when it came to scheduling a viewing quickly as soon as a condo hit the market."
Elizaddie
"Ryan did an amazing job helping my family and I find our forever home. His communication was outstanding and his attention to detail was remarkable. It was a great experience working with him!"
"Ryan did an amazing job helping my family and I find our forever home. His communication was outstanding and his attention to detail was remarkable. It was a great experience working with him!"
Christopher J.
"I have used Will for 3 of my houses now. I will always recommend him to anyone who is looking to buy! He was knowledgeable and always thought out loud when walking through houses. Telling me what I could fix up, what look shady, and what looked great!"
"I have used Will for 3 of my houses now. I will always recommend him to anyone who is looking to buy! He was knowledgeable and always thought out loud when walking through houses. Telling me what I could fix up, what look shady, and what looked great!"
Buyer
"Will is great! Super knowledgeable, very responsive and definitely had our best interest in mind. He always accommodated our schedules as best as he could for showings. He took the time to really understand what we were looking for and made it happen! 10/10 do recommend working with him!"
"Will is great! Super knowledgeable, very responsive and definitely had our best interest in mind. He always accommodated our schedules as best as he could for showings. He took the time to really understand what we were looking for and made it happen! 10/10 do recommend working with him!"
Rebecca W.
"Aaron explains everything. He's patient when needed and very experienced. He looked out for us, which is important because we didn't know the area, local laws, or some of the most important things to look for, even before you get a home inspection. He didn't want us to be unsatisfied with our new home. And he has a good sense of humor, which is important because of the stress that always accompanies home-shopping and moving to a new place."
"Aaron explains everything. He's patient when needed and very experienced. He looked out for us, which is important because we didn't know the area, local laws, or some of the most important things to look for, even before you get a home inspection. He didn't want us to be unsatisfied with our new home. And he has a good sense of humor, which is important because of the stress that always accompanies home-shopping and moving to a new place."
Douglas Allan P.
"Kyle was excellent especially with us being first time homebuyers! He was very responsive and quick to answer any questions that we had arise! We had a great experience! He made it as smooth as possible! Highly recommend!"
"Kyle was excellent especially with us being first time homebuyers! He was very responsive and quick to answer any questions that we had arise! We had a great experience! He made it as smooth as possible! Highly recommend!"
Megan B.
"Aaron is fantastic! He knows the market, and he was not only informative, but he quickly figured out what was important to us and helped us through a search to find the right house. He was patient, funny, and super responsive."
"Aaron is fantastic! He knows the market, and he was not only informative, but he quickly figured out what was important to us and helped us through a search to find the right house. He was patient, funny, and super responsive."
Carrie B.
"Aaron proved to be an excellent agent for us, finding us a great home in a difficult market from 800+ miles away. He and his team were so amazingly helpful and personable, making an inherently stressful process as easy and pleasant as possible every step of the way, from our initial criteria and search right through closing. As first-time homebuyers, we especially appreciated Aaron's helpful explanations, attention to detail, and highly personalized service and recommendations. When unexpected issues arose after an accepted offer, Aaron went above and beyond to make sure things worked out in the most advantageous way possible. I would not hesitate to recommend Aaron and his team."
"Aaron proved to be an excellent agent for us, finding us a great home in a difficult market from 800+ miles away. He and his team were so amazingly helpful and personable, making an inherently stressful process as easy and pleasant as possible every step of the way, from our initial criteria and search right through closing. As first-time homebuyers, we especially appreciated Aaron's helpful explanations, attention to detail, and highly personalized service and recommendations. When unexpected issues arose after an accepted offer, Aaron went above and beyond to make sure things worked out in the most advantageous way possible. I would not hesitate to recommend Aaron and his team."
Nolan L.
"Aaron was a great realtor. As first time buyers, he got us looking at houses when we were ready and picked up on what we liked. He was responsive and accommodating, always able to meet with us when it worked for our schedule and respond to our messages. He was helpful with the whole process: getting a loan, putting in an offer, closing, and inspection. Personable, funny, and helpful! Would highly recommend."
"Aaron was a great realtor. As first time buyers, he got us looking at houses when we were ready and picked up on what we liked. He was responsive and accommodating, always able to meet with us when it worked for our schedule and respond to our messages. He was helpful with the whole process: getting a loan, putting in an offer, closing, and inspection. Personable, funny, and helpful! Would highly recommend."
Buyer
"Michael went above and beyond to help us find our perfect home. I would recommend him to anyone looking for an enthusiastic, trustworthy, knowledgeable realtor!"
"Michael went above and beyond to help us find our perfect home. I would recommend him to anyone looking for an enthusiastic, trustworthy, knowledgeable realtor!"
Jean W.

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