Buyers

Buying a home is exciting, but it can feel overwhelming too. There's a lot to learn, from the terms you'll hear thrown around, to the offer strategies other buyers in your area are using, to finding a lender who's the right fit for your situation.

My job is to cut through all of that and help you feel confident before you even start looking. That means giving you real information early and being upfront with you every step of the way.

Here are a few things to get you started.

Find the Right Lender

Knowing your budget is step one, and it's what makes the rest of this process feel manageable instead of stressful. The lender you talk to first doesn't have to be the one you go with. Part of my job is helping you find someone local who's a good match for your situation.

A Few Things to Know

Learn the Lingo

Terms like earnest money, escrow, contingency, and appraisal get thrown around a lot, and they can feel like a foreign language if no one's explained them to you. Getting familiar with these early means less stress and more confidence when you're ready to make an offer.

Think About Timing

Most people are buying around some kind of life event. Maybe your lease is ending, you've got a wedding coming up, you're starting a new job, or something else is shifting. Whatever it is, let's talk about it early. If you're thinking about buying in the next 6 to 12 months, now's a great time to start the conversation.

Understand How Offers Work

Your agent should walk you through how offers work in your specific area, including things like contingencies, timelines, escalation clauses, and other strategies that can help your offer stand out.

Know What YOU Want

Start with your dream scenario, then work backwards. Once you know what the perfect home looks like, it's a lot easier to figure out what's a must-have versus what's nice but not essential, and how that fits your budget.

Know What Costs to Expect

Finding a clear breakdown of what you'll actually need to budget for can be tough. Talking to a lender early is the best way to get numbers specific to you, but keep scrolling for a general overview to start with.

What Costs Should I Expect?

*All numbers below are general estimates based on local trends, not quotes or guarantees.

Down Payment

  • Most conventional or FHA loans require 3 to 5 percent of the purchase price.

  • VA loans and some assistance programs may require 0 percent down.

  • Your exact number can shift depending on your debt-to-income ratio.

Home Inspection

  • Typically $550 to $650 per property

  • Dependent on square footage, the age of the home, and which company you use.

Sewer Scope

  • Usually $250 to $350 per property

  • Price dependent on the company, distance, and site conditions.

Appraisal

  • Usually $800 to $1,200 per property.

Closing Costs

  • Typically 2-4% of the purchase price. In some cases, sellers may cover part of the buyer's closing costs.

HOA Consultant

  • Generally $400 to $500 per property, if applicable.

Client Reviews

I will recommend Collene to all my family and friends! She was helpful, patient, kind, funny, and not pushy one bit! Collene helped up close on our first home and we couldn't be happier with the experience!

— Sydney, Granite Falls Buyer

Collene just helped me close on my very first house! She was informative, super responsive, and even helped me move in!!! As a first time home buyer I had no idea what all the different facets of an offer were, or how to think about negotiating with a seller. She took care of everything and my very first offer was accepted! :)

— Abby, Seattle Buyer

Collene is a very skilled real estate agent. She understands trends in the housing market and has great ways of communicating complex strategic approaches for offers. In today’s housing market it is required that a buyer can trust the agent to present best in class modern day approaches towards the seller. An approach that takes into consideration both the humanity of the experience as well as the need to be flexible and competitive. That’s a real skill. Collene helped me buy my first house. I was unsure and nervous the whole time and Collene was patient and always offered new creative solutions through the buying process that always revitalized my hope and excitement for taking this big step. Her communication management and transparency through the stress of the offer process and through ESKRO made all of difference for me. I highly recommend Collene as your Real Estate Agent in today’s real estate climate in one of the most competitive cities to buy in the United States. I couldn’t be happier with my house and my offer. All thanks to Collene. I feel secure in my decision to own thanks to the support and professionalism that Collene brought to every interaction I had with her.

— Sebastian, Seattle Buyer