Markets with the most Demand

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 I 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 an agent like me to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will I help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but I also have a knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where my expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let me 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!). I 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. I 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. I 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.

My Testimonials

See why my clients love working with me.

Edward

Till is the best agent I have ever worked with. Till helped us purchase our new home and rent out our current home, and I have to say, he delivered on all fronts. Anyone who is looking nowadays understands how challenging the m...

Cindy

Would never list with anyone else than you - Till Horkenbach, Keller Williams Village Square Realty. You have looked after us since our arrival in 2008 through 2 rentals, to buying this house in 2013 before we did the major ren...

Yigal

A true professional with a great personality, maintains high ethical behavior and an optimistic approach throughout all tasks involved in the buy/sell process. He should be your go-to team when it comes to handling your residen...

Alexandra

Till was an amazing agent to work with. He has an in-depth knowledge of the local market and guided us through the process in an extremely competitive market during peak buying time. Just as importantly, Till seemed to very qui...

Sandy

Till helped us sold a house, bought a condo, and listed two rental properties last year, so this year, when we were ready to sell again, of course they were our "go to" Realtors®! Same as last year, thanks to Till, the transact...

Byung C.

Till is best Realtor® I worked with. He is knowledgeable / familiar with NJ and give me proper / prompt direction when needed. He is also responsive all the time during lengthy home buying process. Highly recommend him to anyon...

Mike

Till was the consummate professional from day one. Knowledgeable, prepared, organized, timely, and courteous. He was an absolute pleasure to deal with. I would recommend Till to anyone seeking a Real Estate Professional in Berg...

Kai

It was a pleasure working with Till. He answered all of our questions throughout the process. He followed up with us and the seller's agent and attorneys to get the deal done. He was always available any time and day.

Madriana

Till did an amazing job knowing the needs and wants when we were purchasing. Highly knowledgeable in his profession. Very reliable. Great personality and easy to work with. On multiple occasions, he made time in his busy schedu...

Haien

Till helped us sell our house! He was so helpful and guided us through the process every step of the way. He is knowledgeable, personable and an expert in this field. We are so thankful to have had the opportunity to work with ...

Brooke W.

Till was great! As first time homebuyers he helped us navigate a complicated housing market. We never felt pressured by him, always provided objective advice with our goals in mind. We don’t plan to sell anytime soon, but when ...

Nicole

Till and his team were great. They were super knowledgeable about the area and were very helpful during every tour. They also did a fantastic job in drumming up interest in our home that allowed for a smooth sale! Everyone shou...

Jessica

Till immediately understood what we were looking for and expertly directed us to it. As first-time buyers, we truly appreciated his guidance and knowledge, helping us identify our priorities, and being a partner throughout ever...

Rita

A combination of great local market knowledge, marketing skills and very friendly sales personality makes Till an excellent Realtor®. Through drone pictures, house staging, guidance with minor improvements, Till highlighted the...

Bill

Till has been great! Probably the best service you can get. As a first time home buyer, I had too many questions and needed a lot of guidance. Till was very passionate about his work and super responsive and helpful in every li...

Simon

Navigating housing market is overwhelming, daunting, and can be downright brutal - especially in today's circumstances. So when we started our journey for a new home, it was by chance we came across Till Horkenbach. He was incr...

Agnieszka & Janusz

Our home search wasn't easy and lasted about a year. We were giving up in the process and Till was always there, patient, and encouraging, but never pressing. I knew I could rely on his knowledge and always honest opinion, even...

Janelle

We had a great experience working with Till on the purchase of our new home. We met Till when we first began our search for a home in Bergen County. His vast knowledge of the area was essential in our ability to narrow down our...

Maxuques

Our friends were raving about Till and we are so glad we followed their advice and had Till as our real estate agent! He is absolutely amazing and a true professional. Thanks to Till's expertise and market knowledge we were abl...

Alikhovi

My wife and I met Till by chance at an open house. Although we didn’t love the house Till was showing and we were honest about it, we took an opportunity to ask the questions we had regarding the area and current market and Til...

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Buyer's Guide

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