Massachusetts + New Hampshire
Buying Your Home
A clear plan for preparing, financing, searching, offering, and closing—so you can make a confident decision without feeling rushed.
Start with the plan
The plan comes before the showing
A successful purchase begins before you walk into a home. The first conversation should connect your goals, budget, timing, preferred areas, and the decisions you may face along the way.
What are you trying to accomplish?
A first home, more space, less maintenance, a relocation, an investment, or a move across the MA-NH border?
What can you comfortably afford?
Look beyond price. Include the monthly payment, taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, and cash needed to close.
What matters most?
Separate true needs from preferences: location, property type, layout, privacy, condition, parking, and future plans.
What is your timeline?
Leave room for preapproval, searching, negotiations, inspections, financing, moving, and closing.
Financing
Know the payment, not just the price
A solid preapproval defines the search and shows a seller that you are prepared. Review the expected payment, cash to close, deposits, prepaid costs, moving expenses, and a sensible reserve.
Search
Search with a system, not just a feeling
Compare location, layout, condition, ownership costs, restrictions, and resale. Track what you like and reject so the search becomes sharper instead of simply becoming longer.
Showings and due diligence
Look past the furniture and the first impression
A showing is the beginning of the investigation. Look at how the home functions, visible condition, systems, drainage, parking, surroundings, and the questions that need more information.
At the showing
Notice layout, light, noise, odors, grading, storage, access, visible condition, and how the property works for daily life.
Before an offer
Review available disclosures, property records, comparable sales, association information, and questions that may affect the terms.
After acceptance
Complete the inspections and specialist reviews allowed by the contract, then respond within the written deadlines.
Offers and negotiation
A strong offer is more than the highest number
Every offer is a package of price, financing, deposits, contingencies, dates, credits, included items, and risk. The strategy should respond to the property, competition, market evidence, and your comfort level.
Accepted offer does not mean the work is finished
Inspections, financing, appraisal, title work, insurance, final figures, funds, walk-through, keys, and possession all need a clear calendar and steady communication.
Massachusetts and New Hampshire are not identical
The states use different forms, customary contract steps, attorney or settlement practices, and property-specific requirements. We will map the transaction early so responsibilities are clear.
You do not have to know every answer
The first step is simply a conversation about your goal, budget, timing, and what would make sense for you.
This page and guide are for general educational purposes. Every buyer, property, contract, market, loan, and closing is different. Judy coordinates the real estate plan and helps buyers identify questions for their attorney, lender, inspector, insurance professional, tax professional, and other specialists.