First-time buyers
Your first home, one step at a time.
The whole process in order, what each step costs, and the programs that help with the down payment. Kevin has walked first-time buyers through it since 2008.
Book a 15-minute call- Years licensed
- 18+
- Full time in this region since 2008.
- Closed transactions
- 1,000+
- Team-inclusive, since 2008; 347 of them Kevin’s own sales.
- The agreement
- Easy exit
- Required across the region before touring; Kevin’s can be ended at any time, no questions asked.
- Client rating
- 5.0
- On Google, Zillow, Realtor.com and in writing.
The seven steps
From the first call to the keys.
- 01
Get pre-approved
A lender looks at your income, your savings and your credit, and puts in writing what you can borrow. That letter is what makes a seller take your offer seriously.
- 02
Set the real budget
The price is only part of it. Kevin walks you through the true monthly cost: the payment, the taxes, the insurance, any HOA dues and the utilities, so you shop at a number you are comfortable with.
- 03
Sign the buyer agreement
Required across the region before an agent can show you homes. Kevin’s can be ended at any time, no questions asked.
- 04
Tour with the numbers in hand
Before each showing Kevin checks what nearby homes actually sold for, so you know what a home is worth before you fall for it.
- 05
Write the offer
The price matters, and so do the terms: the deposit, the inspection, the closing date. Kevin builds the offer the way a seller wants to read it.
- 06
Inspection and appraisal
The inspection tells you what you are buying; the appraisal tells the lender what it is worth. Kevin tells you what is worth asking the seller to fix, and what first-time buyers tend to miss.
- 07
Close and get the keys
You get the closing disclosure at least three business days ahead, walk through the home one last time, sign, and get the keys.
Help with the down payment
Programs that can help, and Kevin checks which fit.
Programs change their terms; Kevin checks what you qualify for on the first call.
Home loans for first-time buyers in Virginia, and grants that can help with the down payment and closing costs.
The Home Purchase Assistance Program: help with the down payment and closing costs on a home in the District.
Maryland’s home loans with help on the down payment, for a home in the state.
A government-backed loan with a smaller down payment and more room on credit.
For veterans and service members: often no down payment and no mortgage insurance.
Trained for the buyer’s side
Four NAR credentials, all of them for buying.
Training for the purchase, the first mortgage, the negotiation, and a move on military orders.
NAR Designation · ABRAccredited Buyer’s RepresentativeTrained to represent the buyer from the first search to the closing table.
NAR Certification · HFRHome Finance ResourceFinancing choices, lender terms and what a payment really includes.
NAR Certification · RENEReal Estate Negotiation ExpertThe terms of the offer, not only the number.
NAR Certification · MRPMilitary Relocation ProfessionalRelocation on a PCS timeline, VA loans and allowances.
Questions first-time buyers ask
The ones that come up on the first call.
How much do I need for a down payment?
Often less than the 20 percent people expect. Several loan types ask for a small down payment, and the programs above can help with it. Kevin and your lender work out your real number before you tour anything.
What does it cost to work with Kevin as a buyer?
The buyer-broker agreement sets it out in writing before you tour. How it is paid depends on the agreement; Kevin walks you through it on the first call, with no surprise at closing. Commissions are always negotiable.
How long does it take?
The search takes as long as it takes to find the right home. Once your offer is accepted, closing usually follows in about a month or two, and Kevin keeps every date on track.
What if my credit is not perfect?
It may still work. Some loans are made for buyers who are still building their credit, and a good lender can tell you what would help before you apply. Kevin can introduce you to one.
Fifteen minutes on the phone.
No presentation, no pitch, nothing to sign. You describe the situation, I tell you what I’d do about it, and you decide from there whether there’s more to talk about.