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Buyer's Guide

Connected to the Land

We are your expert guides to buying land across the state of Texas. We have the local connections to find the land and the expertise to evaluate a property to make sure you know what your buying. We have helped Fortune 500 CEO's, Chief Medical Professionals, Business Owners, and many more find the on or off market property they have been looking for.

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Step 1: Research

Do you already know where you want to buy? If you want a condo, townhome, or single-family home? Which features do you like and dislike? What’s available on the market now? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to start researching. In addition to looking for homes that interest you, also take note of any changes in asking prices. This could give you valuable insight into housing trends in specific neighborhoods and help you when the time comes to make an offer.

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Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

Notice we said to decide on your budget—not determine how much the mortgage company will give you. In many cases, a mortgage company will pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why you need to determine the monthly payment you feel comfortable with before talking to a lender. This likely includes doing a full household budget and taking into consideration what changes other than a mortgage payment will occur once you move into your new home. If you’ve lived in an apartment or with roommates, you may overlook new expenses like garbage, water, or HOA fees that could easily blow your budget.

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Step 3: Get Prequalified

Just because you think you can afford a certain payment every month doesn’t mean the mortgage company will agree. Just as they may approve you for too large of an amount, they may also approve you for a lesser amount or deny you a mortgage altogether. Lack of time at a job, insufficient credit, past bankruptcies, or other financial issues can cause major problems when trying to secure a mortgage. Before you get your heart set on a home, talk to a mortgage professional to find out what amount you can qualify for. This will also be an advantage when you make an offer on a home, as some sellers won’t entertain offers from those who aren’t already prequalified for a loan.

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Step 4: Choose Real Estate Experts

Can you shop for, look at, and ultimately make an offer on a home without real estate experts? Technically yes, but why would you when it costs you nothing for agents like us to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will we help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but we also have knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where our expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let us show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.

Passion & Expertise

Our goal is to provide you with the most personalized service possible, meticulously designed to help you navigate the process of buying your dream ranch. We are dedicated to understanding your unique needs and preferences, ensuring that every step of the journey is tailored to achieve your ultimate land owning aspirations.

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Step 5: Find the Right Home

This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). We will arrange showings of homes you’re interested in that are within your price range. Take notes about what you like and don’t like, and make sure to pay attention to details. Turn light switches on and off, open and close doors, and run the faucets in various rooms. Don’t limit your inspection to the home itself. Make sure to take time to explore the neighborhood and keep an eye on traffic at certain times of the day, the parking situation, and how close it is to necessities like schools and grocery stores.

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Step 6: Make an Offer

Once you have selected the perfect home, work with your agent to craft a fair offer based on the value of comparable homes on the market. Depending on what the home is listed at and whether the current environment is a buyer’s or seller’s market, your offer may be below, at, or even above the asking price. We will be able to help you negotiate if you receive a counteroffer and reach an agreement. At this point, the house will go into escrow.

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Step 7: Have the Home Inspected

In most cases, your offer will be contingent on having the home inspected to ensure there is no major structural damage or large repairs needed. We can help you arrange this, and you can schedule it within days of making an offer. If there are no major issues, the process goes to step eight. If there is, you can renegotiate your offer based on what needs to be fixed, or you can withdraw it.

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Step 8: Select Your Loan

Now is the time to go back to the mortgage lender who pre-approved or pre-qualified you and choose your mortgage. You will be presented with various options based on your unique financial situation, including fixed-rate, variable-rate, 15-year, 30-year, or special programs such as VA loans or FHA loans. Work with your mortgage lender to select the option you feel the most comfortable with.

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Step 9: Get a Home Appraisal

Your lender will have your new home appraised so they have their independent value of it. The appraisal is to ensure that all parties involved are paying a fair price for the house.

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Step 10: Finish Paperwork

No one looks forward to all the paperwork involved in buying a home, but it’s a necessary part of the process. Fortunately, everything will be arranged by your lender and title company and, when you’re finished, you’ll know you are the legal owner of your new home.

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Committed to Finding Your Dream Home

Finding Your Perfect Home Begins With Listening to Your Goals, Preferences, and Desired Lifestyle. We Provide the Very Best Personalized Service to Guide You Through Every Step of the Home Buying Process, From Viewing Properties to Negotiating Offers. Our Highly Skilled and Experienced Agents Have Extensive Knowledge of the Local Market to Help You Make Informed Decisions. Whether You Are Searching for a Family Home in a Great School District or a Luxury Property With Stunning Views, We Are Committed to Finding Your Dream Home.

Congratulations!

After signing the final paperwork to complete the purchase, you are now the owner of a new house. It may take a few days for your loan to be funded once the paperwork has been returned to the lender, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams. 

See Why Our Clients Love Us

Testimonials

"Chris is an absolute professional and a true expert at evaluating, marketing, and closing all types of Land Deals. As a veteran and former Army officer, Chris brings an analytical approach, attention to detail, wisdom, and integrity to every aspect of his work."
"Chris is an absolute professional and a true expert at evaluating, marketing, and closing all types of Land Deals. As a veteran and former Army officer, Chris brings an analytical approach, attention to detail, wisdom, and integrity to every aspect of his work."
David A.
"I can personally attest that Chris is friendly, trustworthy, easy to talk to, and highly experienced. Unlike so many others, Chris places a high value on God’s commandments, people’s well-being, and living life with a clean conscience. If given the opportunity to make a mountain of money at someone else’s expense, I sincerely believe Chris would walk away from the deal and never look back."
"I can personally attest that Chris is friendly, trustworthy, easy to talk to, and highly experienced. Unlike so many others, Chris places a high value on God’s commandments, people’s well-being, and living life with a clean conscience. If given the opportunity to make a mountain of money at someone else’s expense, I sincerely believe Chris would walk away from the deal and never look back."
Chris K.
"Chris is a true professional with a great personality. I trust him to handle all my land transactions. He was always quick to respond and handled all interactions with precision and care. His knowledge of the land and ability to navigate all things associated with the sale of land is fantastic. I will continue to use him for the sale of my land in the future."
"Chris is a true professional with a great personality. I trust him to handle all my land transactions. He was always quick to respond and handled all interactions with precision and care. His knowledge of the land and ability to navigate all things associated with the sale of land is fantastic. I will continue to use him for the sale of my land in the future."
Buyer | Seller
"Over a period of five months between January and May, Chris Stearns assisted us in the purchase of a property in Gonzalez County with which we are absolutely pleased. Although new to both of us, Chris patiently assisted in the complex legal, regulatory, and time constraints of an IRS 1031 exchange utilizing proceeds from an investment property I had recently sold to purchase a replacement property. We initially contacted Chris on referral from a friend in January 2017, to ask for assistance and over the next four weeks, Chris helped us identify 15-20 different rural properties meeting our requirements. During the first three weeks of February, Chris and I visited about ten properties in five counties driving over 600 miles. He helped us submit two contracts that were not accepted for acreage in Gillespie county and over the next month, he negotiated a rather complicated contract for the Gonzalez County property we finally closed on in May. During this process, Chris researched and answered numerous questions I had regarding the properties and the purchase process as well as a variety of improvements I wanted to do to the properties. Chris was always ready to help us, continually checking in to see how things were going and providing updates. We were thoroughly pleased with his support, background knowledge, and eagerness to assist. Dealing with him on every occasion was a pleasure and we would not hesitate to do so again. Thank you, Chris!"
"Over a period of five months between January and May, Chris Stearns assisted us in the purchase of a property in Gonzalez County with which we are absolutely pleased. Although new to both of us, Chris patiently assisted in the complex legal, regulatory, and time constraints of an IRS 1031 exchange utilizing proceeds from an investment property I had recently sold to purchase a replacement property. We initially contacted Chris on referral from a friend in January 2017, to ask for assistance and over the next four weeks, Chris helped us identify 15-20 different rural properties meeting our requirements. During the first three weeks of February, Chris and I visited about ten properties in five counties driving over 600 miles. He helped us submit two contracts that were not accepted for acreage in Gillespie county and over the next month, he negotiated a rather complicated contract for the Gonzalez County property we finally closed on in May. During this process, Chris researched and answered numerous questions I had regarding the properties and the purchase process as well as a variety of improvements I wanted to do to the properties. Chris was always ready to help us, continually checking in to see how things were going and providing updates. We were thoroughly pleased with his support, background knowledge, and eagerness to assist. Dealing with him on every occasion was a pleasure and we would not hesitate to do so again. Thank you, Chris!"
G. P.
"Chris Stearns made the selling process so easy. He is calm, efficient, and a great communicator. He is very knowledgeable about ranch property and I highly recommend him to anyone!"
"Chris Stearns made the selling process so easy. He is calm, efficient, and a great communicator. He is very knowledgeable about ranch property and I highly recommend him to anyone!"
Paula C.
"Chris was very instrumental in all aspects of our transaction. He took care of all of the details. Very happy with his professional approach and timely communication. Highly recommend him and his firm."
"Chris was very instrumental in all aspects of our transaction. He took care of all of the details. Very happy with his professional approach and timely communication. Highly recommend him and his firm."
Buyer | Seller
"Chris and Jennifer were our agents and advocates for both, selling and buying, two unique properties this year. Chris is a sharp, honest, and hard-working real estate professional. I recommend him to anyone seeking to buy or sell farm and ranch (rural) property!"
"Chris and Jennifer were our agents and advocates for both, selling and buying, two unique properties this year. Chris is a sharp, honest, and hard-working real estate professional. I recommend him to anyone seeking to buy or sell farm and ranch (rural) property!"
Cody J.
"Chris has provided excellent service in identifying and working with a buyer for our property at 146 Steel Valley Rd. Boerne TX. If you are looking for a larger rural property, I highly recommend Chris since he is very knowledgeable of that class of properties in the area."
"Chris has provided excellent service in identifying and working with a buyer for our property at 146 Steel Valley Rd. Boerne TX. If you are looking for a larger rural property, I highly recommend Chris since he is very knowledgeable of that class of properties in the area."
Jerry B.
"Above and beyond is how we would describe Chris's work as our ranch realtor. He was instrumental in filming a video that highlighted the ranch's qualities. He was always friendly and tactful when personally presenting the ranch to potential buyers. He answered our texts, emails, and phone calls in a timely fashion. We highly recommend him without reservations."
"Above and beyond is how we would describe Chris's work as our ranch realtor. He was instrumental in filming a video that highlighted the ranch's qualities. He was always friendly and tactful when personally presenting the ranch to potential buyers. He answered our texts, emails, and phone calls in a timely fashion. We highly recommend him without reservations."
Maria & Chris T.
"Chris was extremely helpful."
"Chris was extremely helpful."
Joe D.

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