Buying a home
Buying a home should feel exciting, not overwhelming.
We’ll walk with you from the first “just looking” to the day you get your keys. Plain answers, no pressure, and a real person who picks up the phone.
How buying works
Six steps from first call to front door
Every purchase is a little different, but most follow this path. We’ll tell you what’s coming next at each step.
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Talk with us
Tell us what you’re looking for, where, and when. We’ll listen, answer questions, and explain how we work together.
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Get pre-approved
A lender reviews your finances and tells you what you can borrow. That letter shows sellers you’re ready to buy.
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Tour homes
We set up showings, walk through with you, and point out what’s worth a closer look, good and bad.
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Make an offer
We look at recent sales together, help you decide on price and terms, and write and negotiate the offer.
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Inspection & appraisal
A home inspector checks the house and the lender orders an appraisal. We help you sort out any repairs or questions.
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Close & get your keys
You sign the final paperwork with the title company, and the home is yours. Time to move in.
Straight talk
What working with us looks like
Before we tour homes together, we’ll sit down and go over a written buyer agreement. Industry rules that took effect in 2024 ask every agent to have one in place with their buyers.
It isn’t fine print meant to trip you up. It puts in writing what we’ll do for you and how we’re paid, so there are no surprises later. We’ll read it through with you line by line, and you’re welcome to take it home and think it over.
What the agreement covers
- The services we’ll provide, from showings to negotiating to closing day.
- How long it lasts, and the area or types of homes it applies to.
- How your agent is paid. Compensation is negotiable and is spelled out in the agreement, never assumed.
- What happens if plans change, and how either of us can end the agreement.
Questions about any of it? Ask. We’d rather you understand it than sign it in a hurry.
VA and military buyers
Moving on orders?
We can walk you through VA financing basics and work around PCS timelines, and our office on Brandt Pike is a short drive from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. [CONFIRM: Brad's VA/PCS experience]
Our founder, Odis Slone Jr., was a U.S. Army veteran who started this firm in 1974. We’re proud of his service, and we understand what a move on orders asks of you.
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PCS moves to Wright-Patt
Report dates don’t wait. We’ll plan the search around your orders, line up showings for a house-hunting trip, and keep things moving while you’re still packing up at your current station.
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VA loan basics
A VA-backed loan may let eligible buyers purchase with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance. You’ll need a Certificate of Eligibility and a VA-approved lender, and the home will get a VA appraisal. We know how that process fits into an offer and a closing date.
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Virtual tours
Still stationed somewhere else? We can walk a home with you on a live video call, show you the street and the neighborhood, and send the details you’d want to see in person. [CONFIRM: live video tours offered]
Mortgage calculator
What might my monthly payment be?
Play with the numbers to get a feel for a monthly budget. Then talk with a lender for real figures.
- Principal and interest, plus property tax and homeowners insurance.
- The tax figure is a rough Montgomery County ballpark. Your county and home will differ.
- HOA dues and mortgage insurance aren’t included.
Good questions
Questions buyers ask us
How much does it cost to hire a buyer's agent?
Buyer's agent compensation is negotiable and is set out in a written buyer representation agreement you sign before an agent shows you homes, consistent with the 2024 NAR settlement practice changes. Ask your agent to walk through the agreement with you before you sign.
Do I need a written agreement before touring homes?
Yes. Under current industry practice, you'll sign a written buyer representation agreement with your agent before touring homes, which spells out services and compensation terms.
What's the first step in buying a home?
Most buyers start by talking with a lender about financing options, then work with an agent to identify homes that fit their criteria and budget.
Can you help me find homes outside the MLS?
Our agents can help you research a range of available properties and will let you know what's on and off the local MLS as options come up.
Do you work with first-time buyers?
Yes. Our agents work with buyers at every stage, including first-time buyers, and can walk you through each step of the process.
Ready to start looking?
Browse homes across the Dayton area, then call us when something catches your eye.