Know before you offer.
This guide is the buying process the way I teach it: programs you might qualify for, neighborhoods worth comparing, the rules that changed in 2024, and an offer strategy built on data, not instinct. By the end, you will know exactly what to expect and what to ask me next.
Seven steps, no surprises.
Every buyer walks the same road, and the road is clearer when you have seen the map. Here is the order we work in.
01
The Initial Consult
An opportunity for us to learn more about each other, see if we're a good fit to work together, and if we are, start laying out a plan for a successful home search.
02
Pre-Approval
Learning about your financing options, how much you can afford, and what sorts of programs are out there is a really important early step. I always like to say, you wouldn't walk into a store without knowing how much money you have in your wallet, and the same is true for pre-approval.
03
Discussing the Forms
Buying real estate involves a lot of forms and paperwork, not that any of it is on paper anymore until settlement, but it's still a lot of forms. I like to discuss them early on so you get the chance to pre-read many of the forms you're going to face. Then when the right house comes along, you're prepared and not surprised by all the different contingencies and terms.
04
The Neighborhood Short List
This is where we dig in and look at your list of must-haves and your list of want-to-haves, see what the best fit is in terms of locations, and start to understand the compromises that will have to be made.
05
Learning the Market
Actually getting out there and smelling the roses: getting into houses, looking around neighborhoods, studying submarkets, and getting educated.
06
Offers
Once we find the right house, you put in an offer, and we negotiate it to try and get you the best balance of terms that works for you and is acceptable to the seller.
07
The Road to Settlement
Once your offer is accepted, there are all kinds of things that need to happen to get across the finish line. I use my roadmap to settlement to help you understand what all the steps are and have a clear vision of how you'll get to the settlement table.
Buying by area
Start with the area where you are looking, because the down payment and closing cost programs available to DC-area buyers differ by jurisdiction.
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery Homeownership Program + McHAF
County first-time buyers can access state and county down payment and closing cost help through the Maryland Mortgage Program and the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County.
Read the Montgomery County guideWashington, DC
HPAP
DC buyers can get interest-free loans and gap financing for the down payment and closing costs through DHCD and DCHFA, plus companion programs.
Read the Washington DC guideNorthern Virginia
Virginia Housing DPA grant
Northern Virginia buyers can tap Virginia Housing's down payment assistance grant, its first mortgage programs, statewide DPA loans, and county-level options like Arlington's.
Read the Northern Virginia guideProgram terms and funding availability change, and buyers should verify current details on the official program pages.
Buyer agency, in writing, before the first tour.
Since the NAR settlement took effect in August 2024, buyer-agent compensation is no longer advertised in the MLS, and you sign a written representation agreement before touring. It is a better system, and it needs explaining.
- Compensation is negotiated outside the listing, often as a seller concession in your offer.
- The written agreement states the fee and who pays it, before you walk through any door.
- You may owe your agent directly if the seller declines to cover it, so the numbers are on the table from day one.
- In the DMV, most buyers still see the seller cover the buyer agent fee; through 2025, rates held near 2.5% for most sales.
Neighborhoods first
The hardest part of buying is narrowing the map. I make that the first conversation.
Ready to run your numbers?
Tell me your budget, your commute, and your timeline. I will come back with the honest version of what that buys in Montgomery County.
Received
Thank you. I will be in touch shortly.
Every inquiry gets a personal reply, usually within one business day. In the meantime, browse the guides to keep the research moving.