Buy a home

Buying in Raleigh

Nine steps, roughly forty-five days, and a handful of moments where good advice saves real money.

The steps to buying a home

North Carolina does a few things differently — most notably due diligence money. Here's the whole path, start to keys.

01
Talk before you tour
Thirty minutes on the phone about budget, timing and what you actually want saves months of wrong houses. No pressure, no contract yet.
02
Get fully pre-approved
Not pre-qualified — pre-approved, with documents reviewed by an underwriter. In a competitive Raleigh offer, this is what makes your bid credible.
03
Set the search
We build a saved search with the streets, schools and price you care about, and I flag the ones worth your Saturday before they hit the portals.
04
Tour with a plan
Five houses in a day is the maximum before they blur. I take notes and photos so you can compare on Sunday instead of relying on memory.
05
Write a strong offer
In North Carolina you negotiate due diligence money and an earnest money deposit, plus the due diligence period itself. Price is only one of the levers.
06
Due diligence
Your window to inspect anything: general, structural, sewer, radon, pest, survey. You can walk for any reason during it — the due diligence fee is what you'd lose.
07
Appraisal and loan
The lender orders an appraisal. If it comes in low we renegotiate, cover the gap, or exit. Meanwhile, keep your finances completely still.
08
Final walkthrough
The morning of closing we confirm repairs are done and the house is empty and in the condition you agreed to.
09
Closing and keys
In NC an attorney closes the transaction. You sign, funds are recorded, and keys are yours — usually the same afternoon.