June 2026
Buying your first home is exciting — and it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed. Here are the three mistakes I see most often with first-time buyers, and how we avoid them.
1. Shopping before getting pre-approved. It’s tempting to start touring homes right away, but without a pre-approval you don’t actually know your real budget — or your negotiating power. We start here first.
2. Focusing only on the purchase price. Property taxes, HOA dues, and typical maintenance costs vary a lot by neighborhood. I walk through the full picture so there are no surprises after you move in.
3. Waiving too much, too fast. In a competitive offer, it can feel like you need to waive every contingency to win. Sometimes that’s the right call — but often there’s a smarter way to make your offer competitive without taking on unnecessary risk. That’s where local experience matters.
If you’re getting ready to start your search, let’s grab 30 minutes and talk through your specific situation before you make an offer on anything.