Let's find the one that actually fits.
First home, next home, or the one you have been picturing for years. We handle the moving parts so you can focus on the decision that matters.
You get an advocate, not just an agent.
Real local knowledge
We are natives to this area. We know which neighborhoods hold value, which ones are quietly changing, and what a fair price actually looks like right now.
Someone in your corner
We will tell you when a house is wrong for you, even when it costs us the sale. You deserve honest advice, not a push toward closing.
Nothing missed
From inspection findings to the fine print, we catch the defects and the details so you are never signing something you do not fully understand.
What buying actually costs.
The down payment is the number everyone knows. These are the ones that trip people up. Figures vary, so treat these as a starting point rather than a quote.
Down payment
Less than you may think. VA and USDA loans can go to zero down, FHA sits around 3.5 percent, and plenty of conventional loans start at 3 to 5 percent. New Mexico also runs down payment assistance programs worth asking about.
Earnest money
A good faith deposit that goes in when your offer is accepted, commonly around 1 percent here. It is held in escrow, not spent, and it credits back toward your costs at closing.
Inspection
Paid by you, up front, usually a few hundred dollars for a standard home. Specialty inspections such as roof, sewer scope, well or septic cost extra and are sometimes worth every penny.
Appraisal
Ordered by your lender to confirm the home is worth what you agreed to pay. Usually paid up front or rolled into closing, and it protects you as much as the bank.
Closing costs
Title, recording, lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance. Commonly 2 to 5 percent of the purchase price. In some markets a seller will contribute toward these, and we will tell you when it is worth asking.
What comes after
Moving costs, utility deposits, and the fact that an empty house needs things. We would rather you plan for that now than discover it the week you move in.
How the process actually goes.
No mystery, no jargon. Here is what working together looks like from the first conversation to the day you get the keys.
Let's talk
We start with a real conversation about what you need, what you can spend, and what your timeline looks like.
Get pre-approved
We connect you with a trusted local lender so you know your true budget before you fall for a house.
Tour homes
We line up showings that fit your list and your schedule, and give you our honest read on every one.
Make your offer
We build an offer designed to compete without overpaying, and we negotiate hard on your behalf.
Close and move in
We manage inspections, appraisal, and paperwork through closing, and stay in touch long after.
How buyer representation works now.
The rules around how buyer agents are paid changed across the industry recently, and a lot of buyers are understandably unclear on it. We would rather over explain this than have you find out at closing.
- You sign a written agreement with us before we tour homes together
- What we are paid is negotiable, and it is written down before you commit
- Some sellers still offer to cover it, and we check that on every home
- If they do not, we tell you before you write the offer, not after
- No surprises on a settlement statement. Ever.
Every part of it, handled.
There is a lot happening behind a home purchase. This is the part we carry so you do not have to.
- Lender introductions and pre-approval support
- Custom home search built around your criteria
- Showings scheduled around your availability
- Comparable sales review before every offer
- Offer strategy and full negotiation
- Inspection coordination and repair requests
- Appraisal and title milestone tracking
- Final walkthrough and closing day support
"This was my first home purchase, and I knew next to nothing about the process in the beginning. Without Tabitha, I'd still be confused and renting. She is very knowledgeable, always answers her phone, and is always willing to meet anywhere to show a property."
Holly HuffinesThings that matter in New Mexico.
Every market has its own quirks. These are the ones that trip up buyers moving here from somewhere else.
Wells and septic
Common in Corrales, the East Mountains, Placitas and on acreage. Both need their own inspections, and water quality and flow rate matter as much as the house itself.
Roofs and stucco
Our sun and our monsoons are hard on both. Flat and low slope roofs in particular have a real service life, and knowing where a roof sits in that cycle changes what a house is worth.
Water rights and irrigation
Properties in the valley and on larger parcels may come with irrigation access or water rights. It is a genuine asset, and it is worth understanding exactly what conveys.
Adobe and older homes
Beautiful, and not like inspecting a tract home. Older valley properties need someone who knows what normal settlement looks like and what is a real problem.
Covenants and HOAs
Newer foothills and Westside communities often have architectural rules. Worth reading before you fall for a house and then discover you cannot park the RV.
Neighborhood by neighborhood
Price, feel and pace vary enormously across the metro. We will walk you through the areas we serve so you are choosing on more than a listing photo.
Buyer questions, answered straight.
How much do I need for a down payment?
Your loan type will determine how much you need to put down. The down payment is typically 3.5% to 20%, with some loans as little as 0% down, and New Mexico has down payment assistance programs worth looking at. A lender conversation early on gives you the real number for your situation.
Does it cost me anything to work with you as a buyer?
We will walk you through exactly how buyer agent compensation works on your specific purchase before you sign anything. It has changed industry wide recently, and you deserve a clear answer up front rather than a surprise at closing.
How long does buying a home take?
Once you are under contract, 30 to 45 days is typical. Finding the right house is the part that varies. Some buyers find it in a weekend, others take a year, and both are completely normal.
How many homes will we look at?
However many it takes, though it is usually fewer than people expect once we have narrowed the criteria properly. Some buyers find it on the first outing. If we are ten homes in and nothing fits, that usually means the search needs revisiting, and we will say so.
What if the inspection turns up problems?
Almost every inspection turns up something. The question is whether it is a maintenance item or a deal breaker. We will help you tell the difference, and we negotiate repairs or credits from there. Walking away is always on the table.
Can I buy before I sell my current home?
Often yes, and it depends on your equity and what your lender will allow. There are a few ways to bridge the gap. We will map out the options with you and your lender before you commit to either side.
Should I get pre-approved before looking?
Yes, and it is worth doing early. It tells you what you can actually afford, and in a competitive situation your offer is taken far more seriously when a pre-approval is attached.
The Albuquerque Buyer's Guide
A clear, no-BS guide to buying a home, from understanding what you can comfortably afford to knowing exactly what happens between making an offer and getting the keys.
- What you actually need saved, including assistance programs most buyers miss
- How pre-approval works, and why it changes what sellers think of your offer
- A full breakdown of costs, including the ones nobody warns you about
- How to read an inspection report without panicking
- What makes an offer competitive when you are not the highest bid
- A neighborhood by neighborhood look at the Albuquerque metro
No cost, no obligation, and we will not hand your details to anyone.
Buyer's Guide Everything worth knowing before you start looking
Send me the guide
Let's start the search.
Tell us what you are looking for and we will take it from there. No pressure, no sales pitch.