Our Personalized Guide to Buying a Home

If you're thinking about buying a home in DFW, chances are you already have questions — even if you're still in the “maybe someday” stage. 

That's completely okay.

In fact, that's why I always recommend starting with a pressure-free Buyer Strategy Session. You don't need to be pre-approved. You don't need to know exactly where you want to live. And you definitely don't need to be ready to buy tomorrow.

We'll talk through where you are, what buying could look like for you, and the steps you can take now so that when the time is right, you're prepared.

Start with a conversation — not Zillow. I know it's tempting to immediately start looking at houses, but there's a lot we can figure out before we ever schedule a showing. That's why my first step with buyers is a pressure-free Buyer Strategy Session.

We'll talk about what you're looking for, your ideal timeline, different areas you may be considering, what the buying process actually looks like and what your next steps should be.

And if you're six months or even a year away? That's okay! Sometimes having that conversation early gives you the time to make a much better plan.

No! And this is one of the biggest misconceptions I hear. You can absolutely talk to me before you're pre-approved. In fact, if you're at the very beginning and aren't sure what you should be doing first, that's a perfect time for us to talk.

When the time comes, I'll help you understand what questions to ask a lender and connect you with trusted local lenders if you need one. The goal isn't to pressure you into buying a house. It's to make sure you understand your options and have a game plan.

Probably one of the most common questions I get and unfortunately, there isn't one magic number.

Your down payment can depend on your loan program, and 20% down is definitely not the only option. But there's more to prepare for than just the down payment. We also need to think about inspections, closing costs, your monthly payment, property taxes, homeowners insurance and other expenses that can come with buying a home.

This is exactly why I don't like giving buyers a generic number online. Let's look at your situation and figure out what makes sense for you.

This one catches buyers by surprise sometimes. Your down payment is only one piece of the puzzle. Depending on your purchase, you may also have an inspection, appraisal, closing costs, prepaid taxes and insurance, moving expenses and other costs along the way.

And here in DFW, I especially want buyers paying attention to property taxes. Two homes with similar prices can have very different monthly payments depending on where they're located.

That's why I want you looking at the whole picture,  not just the price you see on the listing.

My answer? Let's look at BOTH.

There are times when a builder's incentives can make new construction incredibly attractive. There are other times when an existing home gives you more house, a larger lot, an established neighborhood or a location you simply can't get with new construction.

And don't assume the advertised builder price or incentive automatically makes something the better deal.

There can be a lot more to compare, and that's where having someone help you look at the entire picture matters.

Some buyers come to me pre-approved and ready to find a house immediately. Others contact me months before they're ready because they're trying to figure out financing, sell another home, relocate to DFW or simply decide whether buying makes sense.

Once you find a home and go under contract, the closing itself may only take several weeks. But your entire buying journey could be much longer, and that's perfectly normal.

I'd rather meet you early and help you prepare than have you call me when you feel like you have to figure everything out overnight.

Your down payment isn't the only amount you'll want to prepare for. Buyers can also have closing costs, which may include lender fees, title-related expenses, prepaid homeowners insurance, property taxes and other costs associated with purchasing the home.

But here's where it gets interesting: who ultimately pays for what can depend on the transaction. Depending on the home, market conditions, financing and how we structure your offer, there may be opportunities to negotiate certain costs or take advantage of lender or builder incentives.

That's why I don't want you looking at a generic closing-cost calculator online and assuming that's exactly what you'll have to bring to closing. Let's look at your specific situation and talk about the entire cost of buying, not just the price of the house.

This is one of my FAVORITE conversations to have because there isn't one “best” city in DFW.

Mansfield, Arlington, Midlothian, Burleson, Grand Prairie and the surrounding communities all offer something different. Your budget may stretch differently from one city to another, and things like commute, lot size, home age, new construction and proximity to the places you spend your time can completely change where we should be looking.

Tell me what matters to you and let me help you narrow it down.

Sometimes the area buyers ultimately fall in love with isn't even the one they originally had in mind.

You can absolutely have your own real estate agent represent you when buying new construction, and I strongly recommend having that conversation before you walk into the model home.

The friendly person in the builder's sales office represents the builder. I represent you.

There's much more to new construction than picking a floor plan. We can talk about builder incentives, financing offers, contracts, inspections, timelines, upgrades and how that particular community compares with other options nearby.

Before you start touring builders, let's talk.