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Buyer's Guide

A Step-by-Step First Time 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 first time buyer’s guide created by our team will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey as much as possible.

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Step 1: Choose the Right Realtor!

This is the most important decision you’ll make in the process. A home purchase is one of the largest investments of your life—you need a partner who has the experience, local knowledge, and commitment to put your best interests first. At LIV ORL, we’re more than agents; we’re advocates, negotiators, and cheerleaders for your success. We’ll guide you step-by-step, always keeping your goals at the center. And yes, we make it fun too—because finding your dream home should feel exciting, not stressful.

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Step 2: Define Your "Why"

Every great move starts with motivation. Are you buying your first home to build generational wealth? Moving up to a bigger place to fit your growing family? Downsizing into something easier to manage? Relocating to Central Florida to embrace sunshine and lifestyle? Whatever your “why,” write it down. This reminder will keep you focused when the process gets busy or emotional. At LIV ORL, we’ll constantly help you connect the dots between your “why” and the home you choose.

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Step 3: Get Preapproved

Before touring homes, you need to know your true buying power. Pre-approval isn’t just about getting a number—it gives you confidence, helps us narrow the search, and strengthens your offer when it’s time to negotiate. Nothing steals joy faster than falling in love with a home you can’t afford. Whether your budget is $350K or $3M+, our trusted lending partners will help secure the best options for you, while we strategize how to maximize value within your range.

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Step 4: Choose Wants vs. Needs

Let’s get clear on what matters most. On a sheet of paper, create two lists: Needs (non-negotiables like location, number of bedrooms, or school district) and Wants (extras like a pool, bonus room, or lake view). This helps us focus on must-haves while still keeping an eye out for those dream features. If we can’t get every want right now, don’t worry—we’ll keep future goals in mind and strategize your path to get there.

Our goal is to provide you with the most personalized service that is designed to help you buy your dream home

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Step 5: Find the Right Home

House hunting can be overwhelming, which is why we keep it focused. From the curated listings we send you, select your top 5 to see at a time. Too many homes in one day and they all start to blur together. Touring with intention ensures you remember what you liked (and didn’t like) about each property. Plus, it gives us space to talk strategy and keep the process enjoyable instead of exhausting.

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Step 6: Make an Offer

Once you fall in love, it’s game time. We’ll run a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to determine fair value and create a negotiation strategy. Our goal is to protect your money while giving you the best shot at winning. From writing the offer to handling counteroffers, we negotiate fiercely so you feel confident about your investment. Once both parties agree and sign, you’re officially under contract—cue the celebrations!

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Step 7: Have the Home Inspected

After going under contract, you’ll typically send your escrow deposit (usually around 1%) within 3 business days. This shows the seller you’re serious. Next comes inspections. This is where you get to really understand the home—its strengths, its quirks, and any issues that need addressing. If repairs are needed, we’ll negotiate for fixes, credits, or concessions. And if something major isn’t right, you can walk away with your deposit protected.

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Step 8: Appraisal & Financing

Now it’s time for the appraisal. Your lender wants to make sure the home is worth what you’re paying. Different loans have different rules (FHA, VA, Conventional), and we’ll guide you through each one. During this phase, it’s crucial to keep your finances stable—no new cars, no running up credit cards, no job changes. We’ll keep you informed every step of the way so you don’t accidentally derail your financing.

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Step 9: Clear To Close & Final Walkthrough

When the lender gives the “clear to close,” we’re nearly at the finish line. Before signing, we’ll do a final walkthrough to confirm the home is in the condition we agreed upon and that repairs (if negotiated) are complete. It’s a simple but powerful moment—you’re about to become a homeowner! Oh, and don’t forget—we’ll have matching closing shirts ready because at LIV ORL, we believe closings should feel like a party, not paperwork.

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Step 10: Closing Day, Keys, and Beyond

Closing Day is where the magic happens. You’ll sign the paperwork, wire the final funds, and then—confetti cannons, keys, and hugs. But our relationship doesn’t end at the closing table. We’ll follow up to make sure you’re settling in, check on you after the move, and ask for your honest feedback. If you loved working with us (and we’re confident you will), we’d be honored by your 5-star review and referrals. More than that, we want to be your lifelong real estate team—whether you’re buying, selling, or investing in Central Florida for years to come.

Congratulations!

We love to celebrate with our buyers! One of the ways we do that is by throwing a housewarming party for you! Let us know after you've finished unpacking and then invite your family and friends over to your new home and give us a headcount.

We do the rest! 

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Let's Talk About your Move

We’re passionate about helping buyers, sellers, and investors navigate the real estate journey with confidence and ease. Rooted in integrity, transparency, and personalized service, our team is committed to making every step as smooth and stress-free as possible. Whether you’re finding your first home, growing your investments, or selling your property, we’re here to deliver the expertise and local insight you deserve.

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Contact Details

Liv Orl

Phone

(631) 834-0816

Email

[email protected]

Address

37 N ORANGE AVE STE 900E ORLANDO FL 32801

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