Buying your first home, step by step.

Before we have a single conversation, spend some time thinking about what you want. Do you want a condo in the Pearl District, a craftsman bungalow in Northeast Portland, a newer home in Beaverton or Happy Valley, or acreage closer to Hillsboro? What matters to you — walkability, school district, a short commute, a backyard, a Middle Eastern grocery nearby, a specific worship community?

There are no wrong answers, but the clearer you are up front, the better your search will go. If you are new to the Portland metro, I will walk you through what each neighborhood actually feels like day to day. You do not have to figure that out alone.

This is not the same as asking a lender what they will approve you for. Lenders will often approve you for more than you want to spend. Before any of that happens, sit with your household budget and decide what monthly payment feels comfortable, not what feels maximum.

In the Portland metro, remember that your monthly cost includes property taxes (roughly 1% of the home's value annually in most of the metro), homeowners insurance, utilities, and in some cases HOA fees. If you are moving from an apartment, your water, garbage, and electric costs will probably go up. Factor that in before you sign anything.

Pre-approval is one of the most important steps in this process. In a competitive market like Portland, sellers often will not even consider offers without one.

If you are a first-time buyer, newly self-employed, or relocating from outside the US, work with a lender who understands your situation specifically. There are lenders in Portland who work regularly with international buyers, ITIN loans, and non-traditional income. I can introduce you to lenders I trust, including some who speak Arabic. Having the right lender from the start can make the difference between an easy process and a frustrating one.

You can look at homes without an agent, but there is no reason to. In Oregon, the buyer's agent commission is typically paid by the seller, which means working with me costs you nothing out of pocket in most cases.

A good agent brings local knowledge, honest reads on properties, negotiating experience, and a relationship with other agents in the market. I will tell you when a house is overpriced, when a neighborhood has a problem the listing does not mention, and when you should walk away. That honest guidance is the whole value.

This is the fun part. I will schedule showings for homes that fit what you told me, and I will give you honest feedback on each one. Pay attention to details. Open closets, run water, check the basement, step into the backyard. Walk the neighborhood at different times of day if you can.

In the Portland metro, think about weather. Does the home have good drainage? How does the yard handle winter rain? Is the roof in good shape heading into the wet season? These are not deal breakers, but they matter.

When you find the right home, we move together. I review comparable sales, consider the current market, and help you craft an offer that is competitive without being reckless. In some seasons the Portland market demands over-asking offers, especially for well-priced homes in close-in neighborhoods. In quieter seasons, there is more room to negotiate.

I will walk you through contingencies, timelines, and terms. Nothing goes into an offer that you do not understand.

Almost every offer is contingent on a professional home inspection. I work with inspectors across the metro who are thorough, honest, and will take the time to walk you through what they find.

If the inspection surfaces real issues — a failing roof, foundation problems, outdated electrical — we have options. We can renegotiate price, request repairs, ask for a seller credit, or walk away. The point of the inspection is to make sure you are making a fully informed decision.

Once the inspection is clear, your lender will finalize your loan. You will choose between fixed-rate and adjustable-rate options, 15 or 30 year terms, and in some cases special programs (FHA, VA, Oregon Bond, first-time buyer programs). Your lender will walk you through which option fits your situation best.

The lender will order an appraisal to confirm the home's value. In a competitive market, this is a step where offers sometimes fall apart if the appraisal comes in low. We talk through what that would mean before it happens.

Title and escrow will begin finalizing paperwork, confirming no liens, and preparing closing documents. Oregon uses escrow companies to handle this neutrally. I will stay on top of every deadline so you are never scrambling.

On closing day, you will sign a stack of documents at the escrow company. The lender funds the loan, the seller gets paid, and the keys are legally yours.

Congratulations. You own a home in Portland.