Buyer's Guide for Virginia Beach | Brinkman Real Estate

Step 1: Research

Do you already know where you want to buy? If you want a condo, townhome, or single-family home? Which features do you like and dislike? What’s available on the market now? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to start researching. In addition to looking for homes that interest you, also take note of any changes in asking prices. This could give you valuable insight into housing trends in specific neighborhoods and help you when the time comes to make an offer.

Step 2: Decide On Your Budget

Notice we said to decide on your budget—not determine how much the mortgage company will give you. In many cases, a mortgage company will pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why you need to determine the monthly payment you feel comfortable with before talking to a lender. This likely includes doing a full household budget and taking into consideration what changes other than a mortgage payment will occur once you move into your new home. If you’ve lived in an apartment or with roommates, you may overlook new expenses like garbage, water, or HOA fees that could easily blow your budget.

Step 3: Get Prequalified

Just because you think you can afford a certain payment every month doesn’t mean the mortgage company will agree. Just as they may approve you for too large of an amount, they may also approve you for a lesser amount or deny you a mortgage altogether. Lack of time at a job, insufficient credit, past bankruptcies, or other financial issues can cause major problems when trying to secure a mortgage. Before you get your heart set on a home, talk to a mortgage professional to find out what amount you can qualify for. This will also be an advantage when you make an offer on a home, as some sellers won’t entertain offers from those who aren’t already prequalified for a loan.

Step 4: Choose A Real Estate Agent

Can you shop for, look at, and ultimately make an offer on a home without a real estate agent? Technically yes, but why would you when it costs you nothing for agents like us to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will we help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but we also have knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where our expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let us show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.

Step 5: Find The Right Home

This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). We will arrange showings of homes you’re interested in that are within your price range. Take notes about what you like and don’t like, and make sure to pay attention to details. Turn light switches on and off, open and close doors, and run the faucets in various rooms. Don’t limit your inspection to the home itself. Make sure to take time to explore the neighborhood and keep an eye on traffic at certain times of the day, the parking situation, and how close it is to necessities like schools and grocery stores.

Step 6: Make An Offer

Once you have selected the perfect home, work with your agent to craft a fair offer based on the value of comparable homes on the market. Depending on what the home is listed at and whether the current environment is a buyer’s or seller’s market, your offer may be below, at, or even above the asking price. We will be able to help you negotiate if you receive a counteroffer and reach an agreement. At this point, the house will go into escrow.

Step 7: Have The Home Inspected

In most cases, your offer will be contingent on having the home inspected to ensure there is no major structural damage or large repairs needed. We can help you arrange this, and you can schedule it within days of making an offer. If there are no major issues, the process goes to step eight. If there is, you can renegotiate your offer based on what needs to be fixed, or you can withdraw it.

Step 8: Select Your Loan

Now is the time to go back to the mortgage lender who pre-approved or pre-qualified you and choose your mortgage. You will be presented with various options based on your unique financial situation, including fixed-rate, variable-rate, 15-year, 30-year, or special programs such as VA loans or FHA loans. Work with your mortgage lender to select the option you feel the most comfortable with.

Step 9: Get A Home Appraisal

Your lender will have your new home appraised so they have their independent value of it. The appraisal is to ensure that all parties involved are paying a fair price for the house.

Step 10: Finish Paperwork

No one looks forward to all the paperwork involved in buying a home, but it’s a necessary part of the process. Fortunately, everything will be arranged by your lender and title company and, when you’re finished, you’ll know you are the legal owner of your new home.

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.

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Tameka G.

Marie and her team are the absolute best! I am beyond thankful for the help and support she provided me while trying to sell my first home. I was under a lot of stress, especially living across the country trying to manage a pr...

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Marie did an exceptional job selling my home. She made the entire process as stress-free as possible and was always there to answer any questions or concerns. I highly recommend using her for selling any of your properties.

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Maria was very professional she sold my house very fast..she also was on top of everything.

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It was smooth sailing working with Marie and her team, she was very professional and got everything done with ease, I would recommend her to anyone needing Real Estate help. If you want your house sold, call Brickman Real Estat...

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Marie and Mitch were so helpful to my brother and I when we needed to sell my father’s home suddenly. They wasted no time ensuring the process for us was swift and painless. Will definitely use them in the future.

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Great experience and very knowledgeable! I recommended it to family and friends.

Daniel S.

Mitch and Marie are exceptional! Their promptness, knowledge of the market, strategic mindset, kindness, and good energy literally covert a potentially chaotic purchase process into simplicity. Mitch and Marie actually impress ...

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Absolutely thrilled with our experience working with Marie Brinkman and the team! From start to finish, she was professional, attentive, and reliable. Marie and Mitch worked tirelessly to ensure we closed on our dream home and ...

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Very impressed with the knowledge, work ethic, and communication skills of the team. Not one time was my questions never answered in a timely manner. Mitch and Marie did a great job in ensuring I felt safe and comfortable about...

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With moving to Virginia just short of 2 years ago, it is challenging to find people who mean well, or who you know you can trust. In the short time that my wife and I were working with Mitch and Marie, we found ourselves in the...

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Brinkman Real Estate is exceptionally skilled at what they do! Their attention to detail, commitment to excellence, and true dedication to their clients' needs are extraordinarily rare. They daily channel their combined talents...

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Working with Mitch and Marie was a great experience. Marie walked us through the entire process, which made it easy because we had never sold a house before. We received an offer above our asking price within a few days after w...

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Marie and Mitch are the absolute best team you can have by your side. They both go above and beyond to make sure you find the right property. My fiancée and I have begun our journey in real estate, and we really could not have ...

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Marie and Mitch were extremely helpful and ensured that our home-selling experience went as smoothly and pleasantly as possible. They were always available to give advice or lend a hand during the entire process. We are beyond ...

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After working with multiple real estate agents in the area the Brinkman Team is hands down the best real estate agent to work with in the Hampton Roads! They take genuine time to understand what you are looking for and don’t gi...

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Marie and Mitch are very professional. They listen to what you are looking for and the price that you can afford. They do what it takes on their part to make sure you get your dream home. They are in constant contact with you g...

Expertise You Can Trust

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a seasoned investor, or looking to sell, we are here to guide you every step of the way. Let’s embark on this journey together and turn your real estate dreams into reality!

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Buyer's Guide

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