Thinking About Buying a Home? Here is a Sample Timeline.

When Should You Actually Start Talking to a Realtor?

Sooner than you think. Most people wait until they're "ready" — and then wish they'd called sooner. Here's what the timeline actually looks like when you do it right.

Months to Years Out — Get Your Financial House in Order

Before anything else, you need to know where you stand. Credit score, debt, down payment savings — get a general sense of the full picture. This step can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of years, and honestly, this is a great time to reach out to both a realtor and a lender. We can walk you through exactly what to focus on, what to clean up, and how to position yourself to be the most qualified buyer possible. You don't have to figure it out alone.

6 Months Out — Call Me and Get Pre-Approved

These two things happen together. I'll get you set up on a search so you can start seeing what's actually available in your preferred neighborhoods at different price points — and at the same time, I'll connect you with a lender I trust to get you fully pre-approved. As your pre-approval comes together, you're already getting a real feel for the market. If the numbers come back and you want to adjust — different neighborhood, different price range — we figure that out together. This is buyer education at its best.

Pre-Approved — Now We Start Looking

This is the green light. Budget locked in, search dialed in. Now we start touring homes and you're shopping with confidence because you know exactly what you can spend. No falling in love with something out of reach. Just focused on house hunting.

Found Your Home — 30 to 45 Days to Close

Once you've found the one, the finish line is closer than you think. From accepted offer to keys in hand is typically 30 to 45 days. The lender finalizes your loan, inspections get done, and paperwork comes together. It can feel like a lot — but that's what I'm here for. I'll walk you through every step so nothing catches you off guard.

The buyers who have the smoothest experience didn't get lucky. They started early and had the right people in their corner from the beginning.

Ready to get started? Reach out — let's make a plan.