Buying a home
How We Help You Buy a Home, Step by Step
Six steps from the first conversation to your new keys: Consultation, Pre-Approval, Home Search & Showings, Offer & Negotiation, Inspection, Closing.
The short version
Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions most people ever make, and it can feel like a lot of moving parts at once. It helps to know the steps before you start.
With The Mike Webb Team, buying runs in six steps: Consultation, Pre-Approval, Home Search & Showings, Offer & Negotiation, Inspection and Closing. Each one is below, in plain words, with what we do and what you can expect.
Mike and Claudia have been in real estate for more than 34 years, with RE/MAX Allegiance today. We help buyers all over Arlington, across Northern Virginia, in Washington, DC and in Maryland.
Talk With Us About Buying
Consultation: We start with a conversation
Before we look at a single house, we sit down together. We talk about what you want in a home, where you want to be, your timeline and what matters most to you. We set realistic expectations for today's market and talk about your budget, so there are fewer surprises later.
This is also where we explain how we will work together. Before we start touring homes, we sign a written buyer agreement with you, so you know exactly what to expect from us. And we answer your questions. First-time buyers often ask whether there are programs for first-time buyers. There are, and a lender can tell you which ones fit you.
There is no pressure in this conversation. Some people are ready to start right away. Others are a few months out. Either way, you leave knowing your next step.
Pre-Approval: Know what you can buy
Before we start showing homes, you get pre-approved. A pre-approval comes from a lender, or from your own bank or credit union, and it tells you how much you can borrow.
If you are not sure where to start, we can refer you to lenders we trust. We are happy to explain the big picture, like what a conventional loan is, but we are not lenders. Questions about interest rates and what you qualify for are for the lender, and that is exactly why you talk with one first.
Being pre-approved first means two things. You only fall in love with homes you can actually buy, and when the right one comes along, you are ready to make an offer.
Home Search & Showings: The right homes, not every home
We set up a home search built on your criteria, so new listings that fit come straight to you. When you want to know more about a neighborhood or the schools, ask us and we will get you the information.
Then we go see homes together. Showings are with us, or with our showing partner when we are booked, so you can see the homes you want to see.
We will tell you what we really think about each house, the good and the not so good. Right now, the market gives buyers more choice in some places than others. In September 2026, NVAR reported condo and townhouse listings across its Northern Virginia region up 49.7% from a year earlier, while detached listings rose only 5.7%. If you are looking at detached homes, be ready to move when the right one appears.
Offer & Negotiation: The right price and the right terms
When you find the one, we do our homework before we write anything. We prepare a home value report on the house, based on what similar homes nearby have sold for, so you know what it is really worth.
Then we build the offer strategy with you and write the offer. Mike and Claudia negotiate on your behalf, on the price and on the rest of the terms, and you make the final decisions.
Sometimes another buyer wins. It is disappointing, and it happens. In our experience, buyers who keep going almost always find the right home.
Inspection: Your eyes open before you commit
Once your offer is accepted, we can coordinate the home inspection for you, or you can schedule it yourself if you prefer. Either way, we go over the results with you and advise you on how to proceed, including what to ask the seller for.
If the inspection shows that a house is not nearly as good as everyone thought, we will tell you. We have had buyers walk away from homes after inspections because the property needed much more work than they wanted to take on. Yes, that means we lose that sale. We would much rather you buy the right house.
If you need help with what you find, we can refer you to inspectors and contractors we trust.
Closing: All the way to your keys
We stay with you through closing and keep you updated on what needs to happen next. On closing day, or a few days before, we go with you to the final walk-through, so you can see the home one more time.
Then you get your keys, and on closing day we say thank you with a gift.
This page describes our general process. It is not legal, tax or lending advice, and the details of every purchase depend on your contract and your situation.
Ready to start?
Many buyers find the right place in one to three months, and with more homes on the market now it can take a bit longer. Whatever your timeline, the first step is the same: a conversation.
Contact The Mike Webb Team or call or text 703-350-3884. You can also read more about buying a home with us or buying your first home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it usually take to find a home?
Many buyers find the right place in one to three months. With more homes on the market now, it can take a bit longer, and that is fine.
What happens at the consultation?
We talk about what you want, where you want to be, your timeline, your budget and what is realistic in today's market. We explain how we work together, including the written buyer agreement we sign before touring homes, and we answer your questions, like whether there are first-time buyer programs or what a conventional loan is.
Who shows me the homes?
We do, or our showing partner when we are booked, so you can see the homes you want to see.
Do you help after the offer is accepted?
Yes. We can coordinate the inspection, or you can schedule it yourself. We go over the results with you, advise you on how to proceed, and stay with you through the final walk-through and closing.
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Ready to make your move with The Mike Webb Team?