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First-time buyers · no pre-approval needed to start
Your first home, in the right order.
Most first-time buyers worry about missing a step or learning about a cost too late. We walk you through the order it happens, starting with the monthly payment you are comfortable with, not the most a lender will approve.
What happens next
Three steps, no surprises
Set the number
Run the payment calculator, then talk through what fits.
Get pre-approved
With a lender who explains the difference between approved and comfortable.
Search, tour, offer, close
A short list, a strategy on every term, and a named person at each step.
Questions people ask
Straight answers
Do I need to be pre-approved before I talk to an agent?
No. The first conversation is about the monthly payment you are comfortable with; the lender comes next.
How much do I need for a down payment?
It depends on the loan. VA and USDA loans can require none, FHA as little as 3.5 percent, and conventional loans vary. Georgia Dream and SC Housing assistance programs have requirements that change; confirm current terms before counting on them.
What does it cost to work with a buyer's agent?
Compensation is set by written agreement before we show homes, and it can vary by transaction. We explain the agreement in plain language before you sign anything.
Buying your first home in Columbia County and the Augusta area
A practical sequence for first-time buyers in Columbia County, Augusta, and Aiken County: budget, financing, the search, offers, due diligence, and closing, with the Georgia and South Carolina differences called out.
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