For First-Time Home Buyers:
Real Estate Resources and Tools, Katy, Texas
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The home buying process can feel overwhelming, even for those who have gone through it before. Being a first-time home owner can make the process doubly difficult if you don't know what to expect. 

At Liz Carter & Team Realty, we specialize in making our clients aware and understanding of each step, while we professionally handle the most stressful parts, ultimately simplifying and providing relief to clients who are intimidated by or inexperienced with complex real estate transactions. As we mentioned elsewhere: We don't invest in houses. We invest in people. Taking care of our clients--first-time home buyers and others--is our number one priority.

Steps in Buying a Home:
Benefits of Using a Real Estate Agent

There are so many things to consider when looking at a major purchase like a real estate investment, and this applies whether you are purchasing a home for yourself or as an investment property. 

Ultimately, using a licensed real estate agent means having a partner in all the steps in buying a house. Any conversations you have with your realtor are confidential (see our Privacy Policy for details), so you can feel secure in being upfront with your realtor. We need all the information you can give us in order to help you find the kind of home and even the type of mortgage that you need. Major questions your real estate broker can answer include:
What house can I afford?
As mentioned above, just as we are clear with our clients about our relationships with buyers and sellers, it is extremely helpful when you are just as clear about your own life situation as a home buyer yourself. In fact, being frank with your realtor about your income, other life expenses, your personal savings, and more can save all of us a lot of time and effort because we can focus our efforts on a smart, realistic search tailored just for you.

In addition to disclosing your financial situation to your licensed realtor, there are simple tools like our Mortgage Calculator that can help you get a sense of how much property you can afford.
How do I know what's available for sale?
This is one place where the rubber hits the road regarding advantages of using a real estate agent. While there are websites galore that advertise property listings, nothing can truly replace the industry insider knowledge that comes from following real estate listings full-time. 
The team at Liz Carter Realty knows these listings inside and out, including some that never even make it to a website. We also often know other realtors who are handling sales in popular or unique neighborhoods, and we happily put our business network to use for our clients.
How do I learn about my new neighborhood?
This is another area where real estate knowledge comes in handy. We've been working in the Katy/Cinco Ranch/Cypress/Sugarland/Houston area for more than 30 years. There's a lot we can tell you in-person and first-hand about the best neighborhood or the best school in Katy and surrounding areas. Additionally, you can use our Neighborhood Report tool  for more details.
I've found a property I love. What's the process for making an offer on a house?
If you've enlisted the help of one of our real estate experts, this process is easy. You just tell your realtor that you're interested! 

We can help you:
  • Determine if making a below-market offer could affect your offer being accepted. 
  • Find out if other offers are being made. 
  • Where other offers are in relation to the asking price.

Each of these pieces would add up to many phone calls, and possibly not to the right people, if you wanted to handle the offer on your own. Instead of playing phone tag and trying to manage your life like an auction house, let Liz Carter & Team Realty do the heavy lifting for you.

Additionally, we help with:
  • Arranging home and property appraisals.
  • Identifying potential property flaws or problems that can affect the sale price.
  • Negotiating home repairs with a seller or sellers' agent.
  • Making sure the proposed home purchase agreement lines up with what was negotiated.
  • Uncovering any and all associated costs and details.
What is "closing on a house" and how do I do it?
Closing a contract on a home is when the final paperwork is arranged and signed, transferring ownership of a property to you and away from the seller. It is a detailed process that requires a lot of attention to make sure it's done properly. We have the staff with the real estate skills necessary to make this paperwork as simple as possible for you while making sure that all the parts behind the scenes are moving as they should.
What can I expect after I buy my first home?
Things you need to consider when buying a house include some of the expenses that come afterward. These include:
  • Property taxes.
  • Home repair costs not covered by the seller.
  • Home maintenance costs, usually estimated at 1% of the purchase price of your home.
  • Having a "rainy day" fund to cover some of the unexpected costs that are a natural part of owning a home and a yard.

For more information about buying houses generally, see our comprehensive realty resources page.

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At Liz Carter & Team Realty, we do all this and more to serve our clients, and we do it very well. Check out our Press Release page to see that we don't just consider ourselves the top realtors in the Katy, Texas area; other industry resources recognize our exceptional realty services as well.
Please call us or contact us to set an appointment so we can start relieving your stress and simplifying your home buying experience immediately. We're here to help!

Call (281) 391-7653 or (281) 392-2910 to take the first steps into your real estate adventure with us.
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