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The buying guide

Buying a home, explained end to end.

Buying a home in the Phoenix area is a series of steps, not a leap of faith. This guide walks you from your first budget question to the day you get the keys, and tells you exactly where I step in at each stage.

Bright retro-modern living room in a Phoenix-area home, cream walls with coral and citrus accents

The six steps

How do I buy a home in Phoenix?

  1. 01

    Know your number

    We'll talk through income, debt, savings, and the monthly payment you're comfortable with, then get you pre-approved with a local lender I trust. This sets the real budget before a single showing.

  2. 02

    Define the wish list

    Location, schools, commute, square footage, yard, pool, the deal-breakers and the nice-to-haves. I write it all down, then we separate the essentials from the upgrades you can add later.

  3. 03

    Shop with strategy

    I search the market for homes that fit your list, send you new listings early, and schedule showings around your life. Off-market and coming-soon homes are part of the hunt too.

  4. 04

    Offer with evidence

    Before we write it, I pull the comparable sales so your offer has teeth: the right price, the right timeline, and terms a seller will actually accept, not just the highest number.

  5. 05

    Inspect, appraise, negotiate

    After the offer is accepted, the inspection and appraisal happen, and every finding gets a straight answer. I negotiate repairs, credits, and price adjustments from a position of data.

  6. 06

    Close on time

    Underwriting requests, deadlines, documents: I coordinate them all and keep you calm through the finish line. Then I hand you the keys and the after-close list.

The money

What does it cost to buy a home?

Three buckets to budget for, and I will help you run each number before you look at houses.

Down payment

As low as 3% on conventional loans, 3.5% on FHA, 0% on VA and USDA loans for eligible buyers.

Closing costs

Lender fees, title and escrow, recording fees, and prepaid taxes and insurance. Often 2-5% of the purchase price, and seller contributions are a common negotiation.

Reserve cushion

A few months of expenses set aside after closing. Moving costs, new furniture, and the first round of home repairs all live here.

Arizona shines here: the state runs down payment assistance programs for income-qualified first-time buyers, including Arizona Is Home with up to 4% assistance, and several credit unions offer WISH grants that match your savings toward the down payment. Rules and income caps change, so we verify the current programs against your situation before you commit. See the first-time buyer hub for details.

Ready to see the guide in action?

The fastest way to learn is a 20-minute call where we put your real numbers to the test.

Book a free consult First-time buyer hub