Buyer's Guide

Buying a home is one of the most exciting milestones of your life. To prepare yourself for this moment, you need to know what to expect during the process. This step-by-step buyer’s guide we've created will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey as much as possible.

Even if you’re well-qualified or paying cash, it’s still wise to approach your purchase with a clear financial strategy. Lenders may approve you for more than you plan to spend, but your comfort level—and long-term goals—should drive the decision. Whether this is a primary residence, a second home, or part of a broader investment plan, consider how this purchase fits into the bigger picture. Taxes, maintenance, and carrying costs vary by property type and location, and understanding those details upfront ensures your new home aligns with your lifestyle and priorities.

Why work with a buyer’s agent? Because having the right guide makes all the difference.
Technically, you can search for homes and make offers on your own—but in today’s market, that’s a heavy lift without professional guidance. We’re here to simplify the process, protect your interests, and help you make smart, informed decisions from day one.

We’ll help you identify the right properties, arrange showings, analyze value, and strategize your offer. We know the local market deeply—what's selling, what’s coming soon, and what to watch out for.

Recent industry changes mean that buyer representation is not automatically covered by the seller. That doesn’t mean you’re on your own—it just means having clear conversations upfront. We make sure our clients are fully informed about how compensation works, what their options are, and how we can structure agreements that work for their situation. Our commitment is to transparency, advocacy, and helping you feel confident every step of the way.

Our goal is to offer thoughtful, personalized service that makes the home-buying process feel clear, supported, and completely tailored to you. We take the time to understand your priorities—what matters most to you in a home and in your lifestyle—so that every step we take is aligned with your vision. And our work doesn’t stop at closing. We love helping our clients feel at home in every sense—connecting you with trusted local pros, favorite spots, and even new friends as you settle into your community.

Once you’ve found the right home, we’ll help you craft a thoughtful, competitive offer based on comparable sales, current market conditions, and your goals. Depending on the property and how competitive the market is, your offer may come in below, at, or above the asking price—we’ll help you land on a strategy that makes sense for you.

This is where being prepared really pays off. Because we’ve done the groundwork together—getting your financing in place, understanding your limits, and identifying what’s most important to you—you’ll be ready to move quickly and confidently. And in multiple-offer situations or complex negotiations, our relationships with other agents and our reputation for professionalism often work in your favor.

Once all parties reach an agreement, the home is considered Under Contract, and we’ll guide you through everything that comes next.

If you're financing your purchase, this is when things start moving quickly behind the scenes. Once you’re under contract, your lender will begin the formal loan processing phase, which includes ordering an appraisal, verifying income and employment, reviewing bank statements, and updating any financial documentation they already have on file.

Be prepared for your lender to ask for additional documents—even if you’ve already provided them earlier in the process. This can include recent pay stubs, tax returns, updated bank statements, or explanations for certain transactions. Prompt responses are key to keeping your loan moving forward on schedule.

We’ll stay in touch with your lender to make sure timelines are met and nothing slips through the cracks. Your job is simple: respond quickly, ask questions if you’re unsure, and know that we’re here to keep everything running smoothly.

A title search is conducted to ensure the property is legally clear to sell. This process verifies that the seller has the right to transfer ownership and that there are no outstanding liens, claims, or issues—such as unpaid taxes, boundary disputes, or easements—that could affect your ownership. Your title company or attorney will handle this on your behalf and provide a full report, along with title insurance for added protection. It’s a behind-the-scenes step, but a crucial one that helps ensure you’re buying the home free and clear.

Closing is the final step in the homebuying journey—and in Maine, it’s typically a smooth and straightforward process. Before closing, we’ll do a final walk-through of the property to ensure everything is in the condition you expect and agreed upon. This is our chance to confirm that any negotiated repairs were completed and that the home is ready for you.

The closing itself usually takes place at the office of the title company or your real estate attorney. You’ll sign the final documents, mortgage paperwork (if applicable), and settlement statement. Your funds—whether coming from a lender or via wire transfer—will be verified and disbursed.

As soon as the paperwork is signed, the keys are handed over and the property is officially yours. The deed is then recorded with the county, completing the transfer of ownership.