Buyers

Buy your Central Jersey home with a plan.

Whether it's your first home or your next one, I walk you through every step, from your first lender call to the day you get the keys.

First-time buyers welcomeAsk me about New Jersey first-time buyer and down payment programs.
Free moving boxesAnd use of my moving truck on moving day.
One point of contactI coordinate your lender, inspector, appraiser and attorney.

The buying process

Fifteen steps, three stages

This is the same roadmap from my buyer guide. You'll always know which step you're on and what comes next.

Stage 1

Prep work

  1. 01Decide if you're readyJob, savings and how long you plan to stay.
  2. 02Calculate what you can affordIncluding New Jersey property taxes, not just the mortgage.
  3. 03Save for down payment and closing costs
  4. 04Talk to a lenderFind the right loan for you.
  5. 05Get preapprovedSellers expect it with your offer.

Stage 2

The search

  1. 06Create your wish listMust-haves, nice-to-haves and deal-breakers.
  2. 07Hire your REALTOR®That's me.
  3. 08Tour homesI set up showings and point out what photos don't show.

Stage 3

Under contract & closing

  1. 09Offer accepted
  2. 10Finalize your mortgage
  3. 11Get homeowners insurance
  4. 12Home inspection
  5. 13Appraisal
  6. 14Negotiate repairs or credits
  7. 15Close on your new home

Buying in New Jersey

What's different here

A few New Jersey steps catch out-of-state and first-time buyers. I'll make sure none of them surprise you.

Attorney review
After you sign a contract, both sides have three business days for attorneys to review it. Either attorney can propose changes or cancel during that window.
Property taxes
New Jersey taxes vary a lot from town to town, so two similar homes can have very different monthly costs. I'll show you the tax bill for every home we look at.
Town inspections
Sellers usually need a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm certificate before closing, and many towns require their own resale inspection. I keep track of these so closing isn't delayed.

Who I work with

Every kind of buyer

First-time buyers

We start with budget and preapproval, then I explain each step in plain English so nothing feels rushed.

Move-up buyers

Buying and selling at the same time takes careful timing. I plan both sides so you're not paying for two homes for long.

Buyers thinking long term

Two-family homes, a basement apartment, room to rent out later. As a landlord myself, I'll point out homes that can build wealth for you.

Cover of Buying A House, a step-by-step guide to homeownership

Free buyer guide · 32 pages

Take the whole roadmap with you

All 15 steps in detail, what to expect at inspection and appraisal, and a checklist for each stage. Enter your name and email and the guide opens right away.

Form not showing? Open the download form

“As first-time home buyers, my husband and I didn’t know where to start and spent months searching without success. Finding Ketty made all the difference.”Maria · First-time buyer · Google review

Ready to start looking?

Book a free consultation online, or call or text me at (908) 239-1057. We'll talk through your budget, timeline and must-haves.