The first-time buyer timeline, start to finish

Buying your first home feels huge because you have never done the steps in order. Once you see the order, it gets smaller.

This is the timeline I use with first-time buyers in Kansas City and the surrounding areas. Your dates will change with the house and the loan, but the sequence stays pretty steady.

1. We meet and get specific

Before we tour a long list of houses, I want to know what you need, what you want, what you will not accept, and where you are willing to live. That conversation becomes your search. If you are comparing towns, start with my community pages or just tell me the names you keep hearing.

2. Get clear on money

A pre-approval tells us your real budget.

I work with Kaden Roller as a lender. You can use someone you already trust.

This is also when we talk about down payment help, including MHDC programs in Missouri, and whether FHA or conventional is likely to fit. Do not skip this and then fall in love with a house that your file cannot buy.

3. Search and tour homes

I will send you matches and walk houses with you. I will be honest about condition, location, and what a house is likely to appraise for.

You should be honest too. If a place feels wrong in the first five minutes, we can leave.

First-time buyers sometimes think they have to talk themselves into every house. You do not.

4. Write the offer

We look at comparable sales, the seller’s situation, and the terms that actually matter: price, earnest money, inspection period, closing date, and any extras you need. I explain each line before you sign.

Buyer agent compensation is negotiable and not set by law. I will walk you through how that works before you commit to anything.

5. Inspections

After you are under contract, the inspection clock starts. Typical costs I see are about $400 to $500 for a whole-home inspection, about $130 for radon, about $100 for termite, about $200 for a sewer scope, and about $300 for structural if we need it.

Schedule early. If we miss the inspection deadline, you can lose your earnest money. That is not me being dramatic. That is how the contract works.

6. Appraisal and closing

The lender orders an appraisal, often about $500 to $700. Title work moves in the background. You will get a closer look at cash to close, which for many buyers lands around $7,000 to $12,000 in closing costs plus whatever remains of the down payment after earnest money is credited.

A financed purchase often closes about 30 to 45 days after we go under contract. Cash can be faster. Those are typical windows, not a guarantee.

One more thing about timing: your lease, your job start date, and the seller’s move-out all have to fit in the same window. If you need to close before your apartment ends, tell me on day one.

If you need a rent-back because the seller cannot move that fast, we can ask for it in the offer. These details feel small until they are the reason you are paying for two places at once.

We do a final walkthrough, you sign a stack of documents, and you get the keys. After that, you can call me if something comes up. Buying is the start of the relationship, not the end of it.

If you want the money side in one place, read how much you need and earnest money, inspections, and closing costs. If you want to avoid the usual traps, read what first-time buyers get wrong.