Buying Your First Home in Dallas-Fort Worth
You have never bought a home and nobody has explained how it works. We start right there.
Nobody is born knowing this
If you're thinking about buying your first home in Dallas-Fort Worth, chances are nobody in your family has done it here, and what you know comes from what someone you know told you. That's where the trouble starts: every situation is different, and someone else's advice rarely fits yours.
The question I get most isn't which house to buy. It's whether you can really afford it. And very often the answer is yes, or that you're closer than you thought.
That's where we start, with your numbers, before you see a single house.
Can I afford it? Let's find out
The down payment is almost never what you think
A lot of people keep renting because they think they need 20 percent down. For many loans that isn't true, and Texas has assistance programs for people buying for the first time.
Which one fits you depends on your credit, how long you've been at your job and how much you have saved. I connect you with local lenders and we go over the options you actually have, not the ones in an ad.
Meanwhile, every month of rent is money that doesn't come back. I'm not saying that to pressure you. I'm saying it because it's the math worth having clear before you sign another year.
What I'll explain before it happens
What a pre-approval is and why it isn't the same as a pre-qualification. What you sign when you make an offer and what it commits you to. What an inspector checks and what you do with what they find. What happens on closing day and how much money you bring.
I tell you all of that ahead of time, not when it's already in front of you. It's the part first-time buyers thank me for most.
The full process is in how I walk you through buying, and what applies to any purchase is in buying a home.
Your first home, city by city
Where a first home fits your budget changes quite a bit across the metroplex: your first home in Garland, in Denton, in Mesquite, in Dallas, in Lavon and in Celina.
I work across the whole metroplex. Whenever you want to start, reach out and we'll take it one step at a time: call or text 469-441-8890, or email veronica@veronicayeary.com.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really afford to buy?
It's the question I get most, and very often the answer is yes. It depends on your credit, your income and how much you have saved. We go over it with your numbers before you start looking at homes, so you don't waste time or get your hopes up.
Do I need 20 percent down?
For many loans, no. There are low down payment options and there are assistance programs for first-time buyers in Texas. Which one applies to you depends on your situation, and we look at it with a lender before anything else.
What if my credit isn't perfect?
We look at it and work on it. Sometimes you're only a little short of the number you need, and those are things that can be fixed in a few months. I'd rather tell you that than have an offer turned down later.
How long does the whole thing take?
From pre-approval to keys is usually a matter of weeks once you find the house, but the searching part depends on you and on the market. I won't rush you: buying the wrong house costs more than waiting.
Keep exploring
Ready to talk about your move?
Or email veronica@veronicayeary.com