Step 1: Assemble Your Team
Buying a home is one of the most important financial decisions you will ever make, and having the right team in place from the beginning is critical to a smooth and successful experience.
Your home buying journey starts with assembling trusted real estate professionals who will guide you, protect your interests, and help you make confident decisions at every stage of the process. This team typically includes a knowledgeable mortgage lender, an experienced real estate agent (me), and a qualified real estate attorney.
Your mortgage lender helps determine your budget and financing options, ensuring you are financially prepared before making an offer. As your real estate agent, I work closely with you to understand your needs, identify the right properties, negotiate on your behalf, and guide you from contract to closing. Your real estate attorney reviews contracts, handles legal matters, and ensures your interests are protected throughout the transaction.
With the right team by your side, the home buying process becomes organized, transparent, and far less stressful—allowing you to focus on finding the perfect home with confidence.
Step 2: Mortgage Financing
Before you begin searching for a home, it’s important to understand how much you can comfortably afford. Speaking with a mortgage lender early in the process helps determine your purchasing power and ensures you are financially prepared to move forward with confidence. A mortgage lender will review your income, credit, and assets to provide you with a pre-approval and an appropriate budget. This step allows us to focus only on homes that align with your financial goals and strengthens your position when submitting an offer. You may work with a lender of your choice, or select from one of the trusted professionals recommended below.
David Schwartz
Senior Vice President
NMLS #66288
🏢 Address
1 Cross Island Plaza, Suite 227A
Rosedale, NY 11422
📞 Direct: (917) 201-7134
📠 Fax: (917) 338-3855
📱 Cell: (917) 744-2875
📧 Email: dschwartz@cmghomeloans.com
📧 Email: jterzi@cmghomeloans.com
Alejandro Leon
Alejandro Leon
VP of Mortgage Lending
CrossCountry Mortgage
📞 Direct: (201) 952-9060
📧 Email: alejandro.leon@ccm.com
🌐 Website: crosscountrymortgage.com
🔗 Profile: /Alejandro-Leon
Danny Lotenberg
Loan Officer
PRMG – Got Mortgages
NMLS #2710143
🏢 Address
1 Main Street, Suite 201 #D
Eatontown, NJ 07724
📞 Direct Office: 732-319-5296
📱 Cell: 732-319-5296
📧 Email: danny@gotmortgages.com
🌐 Website: www.DannyClosesDeals.com
Michael Santos
C.E.O | Mortgage Loan Originator
LionOak Mortgage
NMLS# 199875 | NMLS# 2537226
🏢 Address:
140 Mountain Ave, Suite 101
Springfield, NJ 07081
📱 Cell: 908-296-6608
📞 Office: 908-312-5333
📠 E-Fax: 908-462-6889
📧 Email: Michael@LionOakMortgage.com
🌐 Website: LionOakMortgage.com
Step 3: Finding Your Home
Once your budget is confirmed by the lender, the exciting part begins—finding the right home for you and your family. Using your preferences, lifestyle needs, and desired location, I will help you identify properties that align with both your goals and your approved budget.
We will explore homes in your preferred areas, review features that matter most to you, and schedule showings to ensure you feel confident in your choices. When we find a property you love, I will guide you through the offer process, negotiate on your behalf, and work to secure the best possible terms.
My goal during this step is to make the home search organized, efficient, and enjoyable—while helping you find a home that truly fits your needs.
Step 4: Attorney Review
Once your offer has been accepted, the next critical step is attorney review. A real estate attorney will carefully review the contract to ensure your rights and interests are fully protected before the transaction moves forward. During this stage, your attorney will examine the terms of the agreement, clarify any legal language, address contingencies, and communicate with the seller’s attorney if revisions are needed. This process helps prevent issues later and ensures you fully understand your obligations before proceeding. You may choose any attorney you prefer, or you are welcome to contact one of the trusted real estate attorneys recommended below.
Horan & Aronowitz, LLP
Mark H. Aronowitz, Esq.
100 Hanover Ave, Suite 402
Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927
📞 Office: (973) 263-5800
📠 Fax: (973) 263-5802
📱 Cell: (917) 494-0217
📧 mha@harlaw.net
Carla Cruz
📧 ccruz@harlaw.net
Manuel Lago, ESQ
Jamilete Lopez
Real Estate Assistant
Law Office of Manuel Lago, Esq.
🏢 Address:
701–703 McCarter Highway, Suite 202
Newark, New Jersey 07102
📞 Office: (973) 242-2142 ext. 101
📠 Fax: (973) 242-2143
📧 Email: lawoffice@lagolaw.net
Carlos Sanchez, ESQ
Jennifer Negro
Senior Paralegal / Manager
🏢 Address:
216 North Avenue East, 2nd Floor Cranford, New Jersey 07016
📞 Office: 908-557-5630
📠 Fax: 908-379-3057
📧 Email:1@sanchez.lawyers
Step 5: Once the Attorney Review Is Complete
Once the attorney review is complete, the next important step is scheduling a home inspection. The inspection process is designed to ensure that all major components of the property are in proper working condition. Simply put, it helps confirm that what you see is truly what you are getting. A licensed home inspector will evaluate the structure and essential systems of the home, including the roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing, and heating systems. Attending the inspection is highly recommended, as it allows you to learn valuable information about the property and ask questions directly. After the inspection, the report should be forwarded immediately to your attorney. Repair request deadlines are typically short—often less than two weeks. Your attorney will review the report with you and negotiate any necessary repairs with the seller, if applicable. I can assist you by providing trusted home inspectors that I have worked with in the past.
Realz Inspections
Erick Mejia
90 State Street, Suite 700
Albany, NY 12207
📍 Service Areas: New York City & New Jersey
📞 Office: (973) 680-6870
📱 Cell: (347) 403-1801
📧 erick@realzinspections.com
🌐 realzinspections.com
LESA Inspections
Quality Residential & Commercial Inspections
Simao Alves
General Manager
📍 P.O. Box 246
Hillside, NJ 07205
📞 Tel: 844-537-2552 | 908-988-0933
📠 Fax: 908-345-5004
📧 salves@lesainspections.com
🌐 LESAhomewarranty.com
Step 6: Pre-Closing Preparation
As you approach the final stage of the home buying process, your lender will work closely with you to obtain full mortgage approval in preparation for closing on the property.
During this phase, you will be required to submit and verify all necessary financial documentation, including credit history, income, and asset information. Promptly providing these documents helps prevent delays and ensures the transaction stays on schedule.
Throughout this process, I will remain in communication with your lender and attorney to help keep everything aligned, organized, and moving forward smoothly toward closing day.
Step 7: Closing
Closing day is the final step in the home buying process. This is the day when all required documents are signed, funds are finalized, and ownership of the property is officially transferred to you.
Your attorney and lender will be present to ensure everything is completed accurately and smoothly. Once the paperwork is signed and the transaction is recorded, you receive the keys to your new home.
Congratulations—you are now a homeowner!
