EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY A HOME

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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 your agent 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: Find an Agent

We'll set up a time to discuss the neighborhoods you’re considering and I'll help guide your search. 

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Step 2: Get Pre-Qualified

Based on your income and credit history, the mortgage broker will determine how much a bank will lend you, to help determine the price range for your search.

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Step 3: Visit Properties

Now is the time to consider your ideal home’s location and amenities. You will attend viewings and open house.

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Step 4: Submit an Offer and Negotiate

Once you identify a home you like, you can put in an offer. The seller will likely return with a counter offer, which you can accept, reject, or make another counter offer. I will provide advice throughout. 

My goal is to provide you with the most personalized service that is designed to help you buy your dream home.

Schedule a Consultation
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Step 5: Attorney Review

Your attorney's job is vital to protecting your interests, and to review paperwork on your behalf.

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Step 6: Home Inspections

You will select all desired inspections and determine the property condition within the agreed timeline and contingencies. You'll review disclosures and preliminary title report as well. 

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Step 7: Loan Appraisals

Organize an appraisal with your bank. Your completed mortgage application should be submitted to your chosen lender for the bank to then issue a loan approval

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Step 8: Final Walkthrough

Confirm that no damage has been done to the home since the inspection and that major systems and appliances are in working order. 

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Step 9: Closing

Documents are signed, payment is exchanged, and you receive the keys! 

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Step 10: Welcome Home!

Congratulations! You're a homeowner.

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.

Peter B.
Buyer
Taylor D.
Nancy
Richard B.
Marshall S.
Amy B.
Pauline N.
Jennifer R.
William P.
Stephanie S.
Buyer
James J.
Giuseppe S.
Kristy
Charles C.
Cara D.
Tj D.
Claire J.
Lori M.
Fahad K.
Becca M.
Kerrie S.
Buyer
Caitlin M.
Buyer
Kimberly L.
Susan W.
Shelly P. R.
Nicole M.
Shannen B.
Seller
Gina D.
Jen K.
Buyer
Parvinder N.
Josh S.
Catherine B.
Amanda & Jason M.
Jonathan T.
Laura N.
Nicolas L.
Molly H.
Kevin I.
Connie and Norman M.
Janice Y.
Andrea V
G Janakas
Nicole D
Stephen L.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
I would like to thank Susan Monette for an excellent home buying experience. Throughout the entire process, Susan was extremely responsive and always had our interests top of mind. Susan assisted in identifying excellent properties that were not on our radar and fell within our requirements. She had a strong handle on each town's market, knew in advance how well each prospective neighborhood holds its va...

— Peter B.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Alie! Our plan was to be in a house by January 2020 and with Alie’s help we moved into a house (that far exceeded our expectations for our first home) in July 2019. Alie was there every step of the way, answered every question, made sure we understood every step, and had thorough house showings. My husband and I never felt like we couldn’t talk open and honestly...

— Buyer

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
We moved to NH from MA and had began the process with a different Realtor®. We felt discouraged after a few weeks of searching for a home, and then we were introduced to Alie! Alie was very positive and excited to help us find our home. Before we went to see any house she sent us disclosure forms and any information she could find. Our previous Realtor® never did that! When we found a home to put an offe...

— Taylor D.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
A trusted real estate agent. When Stephanie helped us sell our home, she provided us three options to sell. The one we chose was to have our house staged. I recommend staging! The house looked amazing. Not only that but she used social media and other online sources to get our house the exposure it needed to sell. She delivered on what she promised. She is the ultimate professional and she is honest! Fur...

— Nancy

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Patty is an integral part of the senior management team. Her balanced approach to solving problems and her attention to detail make her a valuable member of the organization. Her success in leading important corporate initiatives such as the rebranding of the company and developing a cohesive brand message, adds to her resume of successes. Patty is well respected within the community, works well with her...

— Richard B.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Susan was wonderful to work with. She took time with every detail, and yet still moved at the urgent speed required in such a competitive market. We felt extremely well-represented as buyers. Susan wasn't afraid to point out potentially negative issues with properties themselves and the terms of our deal. She really encouraged us to take time with our decisions. One of my biggest fears was that our Realt...

— Marshall S.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
I have been working with Sarah Matta on finding the perfect home for my husband and I. I was previously referred by a colleague, who also had a great experience with Sarah. Sarah has been extremely communicative, patient and responsive with my needs. While we are in the early stages of our search, I am already so impressed with how she goes above and beyond to make sure that we are comfortable and happy ...

— Amy B.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
My husband and I had and still have the greatest experience. Patty Koczera such a wonderful Realtor®. Key team Realty is so lucky to have someone like Patty she is so great at her work. She is very responsive any time I needed her and very caring. Very professional and so efficient. Now I feel never want to end our contact with Patty makes she me feel that I am important to her and happy with our new hom...

— Pauline N.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Sarah Matta for several years now. Sarah is an absolute sweetheart – the kind of person who instantly makes you feel welcomed and cared for from the moment that you meet her. She is honest, reliable and will always treat you with the utmost respect. In working with Sarah, you will find that is she is collaborative and consistently goes above and beyond to create expe...

— Jennifer R.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
I was thoroughly impressed with Sarah Matta and her exceptional customer service. Sarah has gone out of her way numerous times to ensure I found a home perfect for me. Living two states away, her flexibility was impeccable and went above and beyond my expectations. Sarah has a genuine care for others and that was evident when we spoke and viewed places together. I cannot thank Sarah enough for all the ha...

— William P.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Susan Monette is an excellent Real Estate Team Leader and Managing Broker in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. She is highly responsive, knowledgeable, and industry savvy and I am so thankful to be a part of Key Team at Leading Edge Real Estate. If you are looking for a real estate team to represent your home sale purchase or sale in New Hampshire or Massachusetts, or, looking to build your own brand as a...

— Stephanie S.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
As first time homebuyers, my wife and I were new to every aspect of the home search and home buying processes. From the initial online searches to the in-person showings, Alie was always available for questions, no matter the day or time. Alie did a fantastic job keeping us on track throughout the purchasing timeline and worked directly with our mortgage company, saving us much time and headaches. I cann...

— Buyer

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Well I would like to let everybody know that leading edge and Jessica St Pierre went above and beyond the necessary things to help me get into my home and I can't thank them enough I don't have any other words but I'm grateful I'm thankful and I'm grateful for everything they did such a good job it took a little it was a battle but Jessica did what she had to do for me to make things happen and I am so g...

— James J.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
My Fiance and I self represented ourselves in the home buying process. Susan represented the seller and was fantastic to deal with. Without her help this process would have been impossible. I would recommend using a Realtor® as it would have been smoother for me. They truly deal with all the behind scenes leg work. When it comes time to sell our second home, Susan will be doing the listing. 5 Star service!

— Giuseppe S.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
I'm just at the beginning of the process but I have to say that Susan is very good at her job and has made me feel very comfortable and not so nervous about the process. She is very professional but personable at the same time. I know eventually she will help me get a house which for some reasons may not be for 6 months or so but she has been there for me so far. I highly recommend her!

— Kristy

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Susan was truly phenomenal in helping us buy our first home. She gave us exceptional guidance, insight, communication and organization throughout every phase of the process. We found a place much quicker than we had originally anticipated thanks to her ability to navigate this highly competitive market. She is a true professional and I would highly recommend her and her team!

— Charles C.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
I’ve had a working relationship with Jess for over 4 years, and have enjoyed every minute of it! She is knowledgeable, kind, and professional. She believes all boats rise with the tide and is an exceptional team player, always building up her colleagues while striving to new heights in her own career goals. Tenacious and talented, it truly is a pleasure working with her.

— Cara D.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
I have had the privilege of having a professional relationship with Jessica St Pierre for several years. Last year she developed a lanyard during covid. Her innovative thinking and creative skills produced a device that tied safety protocols and coaching needs together. Her out side the box thinking helped keep our football organization safe in a time of the unknown.

— Tj D.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
As a first time home buyer, Stephanie made us feel confident throughout the process. Stephanie always goes above and beyond; between scheduling multiple showings and smiling through our last minute suggestions of open houses. Stephanie i someone you want on your team as her knowledge and compassion makes you feel like you are touring with an expert and with a friend!

— Claire J.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Sarah Matta is an amazing agent who is professional and has the drive to help Key Team thrive. She is a hard worker, a team player, and always strives to make her customers happy. Sarah is also a kind person and respects everyone. She has excellent people skills and is so easy to love! When I am ready to sell my home someday, Sarah will be my agent without a doubt!

— Lori M.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Patty was incredible from start to finish (and even afterwards!) She took her time making sure both my wife and I were comfortable in each step of the process. She was kind, warm and welcoming it a time of stress and uncertainty (we were moving from about 700 miles away and never saw the home in person) I highly recommend her and the Key Team Group!

— Fahad K.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
I highly recommend working with Alie Broom for all your home buying needs. As a first time home buyer, I was clueless and had MANY questions. Alie was always there to answer all my questions and walked me through the entire process. She not only gave her expertise but also gave advice! I will be working with her again in the future. She is the best.

— Becca M.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Susan was a pleasure! We knew we wanted to move to Southern NH but were unfamiliar with the towns. She showed us around and gave excellent advice. Susan really listened to what we were looking for in a home and was very respectful in which properties she suggested. She was the one who suggested North Salem which is where we ended up buying.

— Kerrie S.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Alie was so wonderful to work with! She helped make the process easier from start to finish with both her expertise and easy going personality. She was quick to answer either text or calls whenever we needed her, and always answered our questions in a way we could understand as first time home buyers. Would highly recommend Alie!

— Buyer

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
My husband and I recently worked with Alie to buy and sell. The process was absolutely seamless on both ends. No stone was left unturned. Alie made it so easy for us. She answered all of our questions, no matter how small and silly they were. We are very happy in our new home. We highly recommend working with Alie Broom!

— Caitlin M.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Words can not begin to express how wonderful my experience was when working with Alie! Alie was extremely knowledgeable and walked me through the entire process of buying my first home! She made me feel comfortable and at ease and always made me feel like her top priority. I highly recommend working with Alie.

— Buyer

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
I've had the pleasure of working for Patty at three separate banks during my marketing career and I would do so again if the opportunity should arise. She is the most competent, fair, and knowledgeable manager I have ever worked for. Patty knows banking, she understand people, and she is a great leader.

— Kimberly L.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Jessica St. Pierre is by far one of the brightest most professional women I know. She is for sure a boss when it comes to taking charge and leading the way. I like to call her "the woman with many hats". Leading Edge must be a great company if Jess is there. Where Jess goes I go

— Susan W.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
“Alie Broom” is very thorough and professional. She does a lot more than I ever expected from a Realtor®. Truly appreciated how you were on top of things and how you keep clients informed every step of the way. You’re definitely the agent I would recommend to anybody.

— Shelly P. R.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Sarah is very responsive to our needs and provides a low pressure environment to make such crucial decisions. She makes us feel as though we are sincerely cared for and listens to our unique requests. I highly recommend Sarah Matta on the Key Team at Leading Edge!

— Nicole M.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Susan is the best! We couldn't have gotten through our home buying process without her. She truly knows what she is doing and is extremely professional in her approach to help in making big decisions. I couldn't recommend her more! Thank you Susan!

— Shannen B.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Susan helped us sell our family home after we lived there for 26 years. She is amazingly responsive and professional. Susan knows the market and was instrumental in us getting top dollar for our sale.

— Seller

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
When working with Jessica St Pierre I have always received first class service from her. She is very responsive and professional. I Highly recommend anyone with real estate needs reach out to her.

— Gina D.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Stephanie Saunders helped us with information on our selling our home and comps in the area comparable to our home. She was very knowledgeable and responsive to our needs. Highly recommend.

— Jen K.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Susan was a excellent Realtor®. She was able to find my growing family a great starter home move in ready. I would definitely go to her when I am ready to sell and move again.

— Buyer

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Jessica St. Pierre is a fantastic Realtor®! She is very professional, diligent, hard working, and always available. I will highly recommend her to find your dream home!

— Parvinder N.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Excellent experience, especially for a first time buyer. Everyone there are super friendly and will not stop until you are happy with the outcome. Highly recommend

— Josh S.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Working with Alie Broom made the stressful process of selling my house a breeze. She was extremely responsive and professional. Highly recommend.

— Catherine B.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Alie is a fantastic real estate agent! She is very organized and responsive to needs and questions. I would recommend her to everyone I know!

— Amanda & Jason M.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Susan was our realtor for our first home purchase and we were able to work with her again when selling our house and purchasing a new one. Throughout the process she was patient, knowledgeable, and professional. She did a great job helping us stage our house for sale, hosting the open house, and helping us get a fair offer. She accompanied us to see a lot of open houses, was always responsive when we had...

— Jonathan T.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
"Kate Shaw at Key Team is the best! Kate was able to gather market data on our multi family in Haverhill to show the value and return a sale could get us. It was a very smooth listing process as Kate and her team did most of the leg work. Kate provided great care of our tenants during open houses and inspections, allowing the future buyer to see how their investment would also give them return given turn...

— Laura N.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
My experience with Patty was fantastic! We were trying to relocate to Mass and she was fabulous to work with. She made herself available, helped resolve any issues, concerns, or questions, and she was ALWAYS willing to do the extra mile in order to help us find our new home. We were able to find a great home, with what we were looking for, and could not have happened without Patty. The entire team was gr...

— Nicolas L.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Jennifer Simmons helped my husband and I find our first home as quickly and efficiently as possible! The time we spent working with her was short, but we attribute that to her great attention to detail on what we were looking for and making herself available for short notice home viewings! She was with us every step of the way and advocated for us with the seller's agent. Closing was a breeze and all of ...

— Molly H.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
I had a great experience buying my first home with Stephanie! She took the time at the very beginning of the process to learn about me as a person, and was able to tailor the experience around that, so I always had all the information I needed given to me in a straightforward manner, and she was able to find the perfect home for me!

— Kevin I.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
We recently had the pleasure of working with Amy Wholley. She is absolutely the best! She had our home sold in 2 days with her diligence, patience and extreme knowledge of the process! She then continued assisting us for over a year to get us into our new home, which was being built. It was a very grueling experience since there were so many roadblocks! We finally passed papers on July 29th. She neve...

— Connie and Norman M.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Amy Wholley was our realtor for a home purchase. She was diligent, helpful, and responsive. Buying a home in this market is hard, Amy eased the stress immensely. She assisted in procuring financing also. I highly recommend working with Amy for all of your real estate needs!

— Janice Y.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Brian and I would like to thank Amy Wholley for all her dedication and hard work it took to sell our multi-family in Somersworth, NH. She set up a photographer and stager right away and was very honest with us about the process. We had lots of questions and she was there with answers right away. There were no surprises. In the middle of selling our home she helped us find another to downsize too, and h...

— Andrea V

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
From the moment I met Stephanie Saunders she was professional, enthusiastic, and compassionate. Selling my house was going to be emotionally difficult because I lost my husband and was now facing this new transition, but Stephanie treated me with such empathy and love that goes beyond just the kindness of strangers. She made each step along the way seamless, and was great at communicating the process. Fr...

— G Janakas

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Susan was monumental in us finding the perfect home for our family. She moved mountains to get us in to see the homes we wanted to with very short notice and answered emails in a timely manner. She has gone above and beyond to made herself available to help us with so many extra tasks (calling/meeting inspectors, vendors and such at the house when we were not available to do so). She is knowledgeable,...

— Nicole D

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
A while back, I had connected with Alie through a work colleague and immediately knew she was the one to help us move. Back and forth, emails, texts, signatures you name it. She was there to help us with questions and replied instantly with answers we needed. This is so hard to find these days and it’s the reason we got everything done so quickly and efficiently. A few months passed and we began explori...

— Stephen L.

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Windham, NH 03087

10 Post Office Ave.
Andover, MA 01810