Why Buy With Us

A Step-by-Step First Time Buyer's Guide

Buying your first home is an exciting milestone — and we’re here to make sure it’s a positive, empowering experience from start to finish.
To help you feel confident every step of the way, we’ve created this step-by-step guide just for first-time buyers. Whether you’re still dreaming or ready to dive in, this resource is designed to simplify the process, reduce stress, and help you enjoy the journey to finding a place to call your own.

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Step 1: Research

Not quite sure where you want to buy yet? Still deciding between a condo, townhome, or single-family home? Wondering what features you love — or what you definitely don’t want? If you’re answering “no” or “not yet” to any of those questions, now is the perfect time to start exploring.

Spend some time researching homes that catch your eye and take note of what’s happening in the market — especially any changes in listing prices. Watching these trends closely can give you valuable insight into specific neighborhoods and position you to make a smart, confident offer when the time is right.

 

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Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

Here’s a pro tip: decide on your budget before you talk to a lender. Why? Because a mortgage company might pre-approve you for more than you’re actually comfortable spending — and just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Take a good look at your household budget and think through the full picture of homeownership. Moving from an apartment or shared living situation? New costs like garbage service, water bills, or HOA dues can sneak up on you. Get clear on the monthly payment that feels manageable for you — not just on paper, but in real life.

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Step 3: Get Prequalified

On the flip side, the lender might not approve you for as much as you think. Things like job history, credit score, or past financial hiccups (we’ve all had them!) can affect your loan approval. Before you start touring homes or imagining furniture placement, talk to a mortgage professional. Knowing your pre-approved amount not only helps you shop smarter — it also strengthens your offer when you find the home. Many sellers won’t even consider an offer that isn’t backed by a pre-approval.

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Step 4: Choose a Real Estate Agent

Sure, you can search for a home and make an offer without a REALTOR®, but why go it alone? Our services don’t cost you a dime as a buyer, and we’ll take a huge load off your plate. We’ll help you find homes that match your criteria, set up showings, guide you through the offer process, and advocate for your best interests every step of the way. We know this market inside and out, and we’re here to help make the journey less stressful — and a whole lot more fun.

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

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Step 5: Find the Right Home

This is the exciting part! We’ll set up showings for homes that check your boxes and fit your budget. As you walk through each one, take notes — not just about what you love, but also what doesn’t quite work. Flip light switches, test doors, run faucets — get a feel for the home’s quirks and character. And don’t forget to explore the neighborhood! Drive by during different times of day to see how traffic flows, check out the parking, and scout how close you are to schools, shops, or your favorite coffee spot.

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Step 6: Make an Offer

Once you’ve found the one, we’ll work together to write a smart, fair offer based on what similar homes are selling for. Depending on the current market, your offer might be at, above, or below the asking price — we’ll help you decide what makes the most sense. If there’s a counteroffer, don’t worry — we’ll negotiate on your behalf to get you to a deal you feel great about. Once everyone agrees, the home officially goes into escrow!

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Step 7: Have the Home Inspected

Most offers are contingent on a home inspection — and for good reason. This step helps ensure there are no surprise issues like structural damage or major repairs needed. We’ll help you get an inspection scheduled quickly, usually within a few days of your offer being accepted. If everything checks out, we move forward. If not, we can either renegotiate with the seller or, in some cases, walk away. Either way, you’re protected.

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Step 8: Select Your Loan

Now it’s time to circle back with your lender and choose the mortgage that fits you best. From fixed-rate to adjustable-rate, 15- or 30-year terms, and even special programs like VA or FHA loans — you’ll have options. We recommend working closely with your lender to make a choice that aligns with both your financial goals and your comfort level.

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Step 9: Get a Home Appraisal

Next up: the appraisal. Your lender will have the home appraised to make sure its value lines up with the purchase price. This step helps protect both you and the lender, confirming that the price you’re paying is fair for the property.

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Step 10: Finish Paperwork

Nobody dreams about the paperwork, but it’s a vital final step. Your lender and title company will handle the bulk of it — all you’ll need to do is review, sign, and celebrate. Once everything’s signed and sealed, the home is officially yours. Cue the happy dance!

Why choose us

1
Local Expertise
We’ve lived in Iowa City for many years and know every neighborhood inside and out. Our deep understanding of the local market ensures we position your home for success.
2
Unmatched Customer Service
We’re not just about transactions—we’re about relationships. Our team goes above and beyond to provide a personalized experience that makes you feel valued at every stage.
3
Proven Success
With high annual sales volumes and a reputation for excellence, we consistently achieve top results, selling homes quickly and for the best possible price.

Our Testimonials

See why our clients love working with us.
 J. Henley

J. Henley

We worked with Allye to purchase a home during this crazy real estate market. Allye did a great job, was very knowledgeable of the area, attentive to our needs, and exceeded our expectations in every way. It was a joy to work w...
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Lin H.

Lin H.

Super helpful throughout the whole process to help me get the nice condo! Jill helped me with almost everything and solved all my concerns about this condo. Endless grateful for your extraordinary patience and expertise. It’s a...
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Annah V.

Annah V.

Jill is an excellent, knowledgeable, responsive, enthusiastic agent. As a first-time homebuyer, Jill made us feel comfortable throughout the process. After meeting with her, we immediately clicked and she was able to find us ou...
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Buyer & Seller

Buyer & Seller

Jill is very thorough in helping me sift through available properties. She provides an honest analysis and, rather than just chasing the commission, will tell me when she thinks a property is not a suitable investment. I have p...
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D. Gomez

D. Gomez

Jill is knowledgeable, caring, responsible, creative, and a wonderful agent. Jill successfully sold our first house in a very short time. She guided us through the whole process and was with us at every step. She was always a c...
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K. Melendez

K. Melendez

Allye was wonderful! She asked us what we were looking for, what we really wanted/needed in a home, and what we didn’t like in homes that we saw. Didn’t take too long for her to show us our forever home after showing us houses ...
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Buyer

Buyer

We had a wonderful time working with Jill. She is enjoyable to work with, easy to reach and communicates very well. Jill was extremely knowledgeable about the properties we were interested in buying and helped us navigate each ...
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Tyler E.

Tyler E.

Allye assisted us in our first-time home-buying experience. The process was seamless and stress-free. Allye was very knowledgeable and set our expectations for the process from the very beginning preventing any surprises from a...
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Seller

Seller

When it comes to selling/buying a house, to us, it is all about trust. We trust Jill and her team, and they indeed did an amazing job selling both of our houses. The real estate education she provided to us during the selling p...
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Lisa C

Lisa C

We had a great experience with the team. Marcy lead the charge on the sale and I can't speak enough how great she was to work with and incredibly responsive to all our question. Jill has built a great team and we would use her ...
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Dana's Investments

Dana's Investments

I have known Jill for at least 15 years, I do all my real estate business through her because she and her team are the best well organized and fast. I will never go somewhere else
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Jessica P

Jessica P

Jill and her team were so helpful in getting our house sold while my husband and I were living out of state. They have incredible attention to detail and lots of connections to help finish up those last few projects if necessar...
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Andrew H

Andrew H

We mainly worked with Marcy and she was a godsend! After going through several agents (one ending so terribly we almost decided not to sell), I met Marcy coincidentally and she said she could help us. She listened to us and was...
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A

Amanda H

Marcy was great to work with in selling my home! She helped guide the process, communicated clearly, and offered advice at critical moments of the marketing, offer, and closing steps, that made what I imagine could have been ve...
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Ryan Cho

Ryan Cho

I had an excellent experience working with the Jill's team for both buying and selling my condo in Iowa City. From start to finish, Jill and her team were incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and responsive. No matter the time...
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Chad Buchanan

Chad Buchanan

Jill and Darci were awesome to work with. Very knowledgeable about all aspects of the market and home buying process. Loved working with them!
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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. 

Common Terms for Sellers to Know

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Our goal is to surpass each client’s expectations. The difference lies in our dedication to serving your needs as our own, now and in the future.

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