3 Things I Would Do If I Was Buying My First Home in New Jersey This Summer
Buying your first home is exciting, but it’s also one of those life moments where you want to get it right. As a local real estate agent here in New Jersey, I spend my days helping buyers navigate this market - many for the first time! And it had me thinking, if I were in a first time homy buyer’s shoes, here’s exactly what I’d do to set myself up for success:
First Things First - Figure Out Those Finances
I know, the fun part is scrolling through listings and imagining paint colors, but before I’d let myself fall in love with anything, I’d take a good look at my finances. I would start to understand what I can afford and think about how I want to finance my purchase. Then, I would talk to a lender who can lock in my buying power. Why? Because this market moves fast, and the most serious buyers have their financials ready to go. Pre-approval not only shows sellers you’re a strong, qualified buyer, but it also helps you understand exactly what you can afford without surprises later. Consider the pre-approval your golden ticket to getting your dream home!
Pro tip: Rates have been fluctuating—so even if you talked to a lender a few months ago, it’s worth refreshing that pre-approval before summer heats up. Most listing agents want to see a pre-approval from the last 2 months.
Focus on the Must-Haves, Not the Wish List
When I sit down and do buyer consultations with new clients, we go through their full wishlist. Then, we go out shopping and I quickly find out which items on that list are actual must-haves. It’s really easy to get swept up in the idea of a “dream home,” but the reality is, especially in a competitive market, you might not check every single box right away. I’d sit down and make two lists: non-negotiables (these should be the big key items like location, budget, number of bedrooms) and nice-to-haves (like that chef’s kitchen or extra office space).
This keeps you focused when emotions start to creep in and helps you spot the right home for this season of your life—one that you can grow into or improve over time.
Find and Choose a Realtor Who Knows How to Play Offense
When homes are flying off the market, you don’t just need someone to unlock doors—you need someone actively working to put you in the best position to win. If I were buying this summer, I’d want a savvy agent who can help me spot new listings quickly, craft competitive offers without overpaying, and negotiate hard when it counts. Your realtor should feel like your local expert, your listing search engine, and your biggest advocate.
Pro tip: Look up an agent’s Zillow profile - there will be a list of their recent transactions and reviews from customers they worked with to get a sense of their experience and what others say about working with them.
You Can Never Be Too Prepared
There’s still a lot more to know about the home buying process beyond these three tips. There’s more to think about when putting your finances together, like calculating your monthly payment, factoring in other costs that pop up throughout the process. There’s location-specific market research. And there’s so much to know about the process beyond the offer acceptance stage. I had a first time home buyer get his offer accepted then say to me, “wait does this mean you’re done working with us?” I laughed, but it’s a very real thought - what happens after the seller chooses me to buy their home? Maybe you’ve heard about home inspections, appraisals, closings, but how does it all play out? I created a first time home buyers guide for this reason.
Final Thoughts
If you’re thinking about buying your first home in New Jersey this summer, know that while it’s competitive, it’s absolutely doable with the right prep and strategy. And if you’re ready to start exploring, I’m always here to help you map out the steps and make buying that first home a reality.
Want to chat? Click the link below. Let’s make homeownership happen this year!