Steps to Buying Your First Home on Long Island
Buying a first home on Long Island moves in a set order: a consultation, a pre-approval, the search on OneKey MLS, an offer, attorney review and a signed contract, the inspection, the appraisal, a final walk-through, and closing. Your attorney and lender handle their parts, and we work closely with your attorney once an offer is accepted.
By Team RiveraUpdated 5 min readFiled under Buying
What are the steps from first call to closing?
Here is the order we walk buyers through on Long Island:
- Consultation: we talk through what you want, your timeline, and the towns you want to search.
- Pre-approval: your lender reviews your finances and issues a letter.
- The search: we watch listings on OneKey MLS and tour homes with you.
- The offer: we agree on price and terms with you and submit it.
- Attorney review and contract: your attorney reviews and a contract is signed.
- Inspection: a licensed inspector examines the home.
- Appraisal: the home is appraised as part of your mortgage process.
- Walk-through: a final look before closing.
- Closing: you sign the final papers and receive the keys.
The sections below take each stage in turn. For the full picture of how we work with buyers, see our buyer page.
What happens at the first consultation?
This is a conversation, not a showing. We ask what you are looking for in a home, when you hope to move, and which towns you want to search. You can browse our community guides beforehand to see the housing, water, and downtowns in each area.
We also go over a written buyer agreement at the first consultation, before we tour any homes. It explains how we work together and how compensation works, and we answer every question before you sign.
If you want an independent voice on the process as well, HUD invites buyers to talk to a housing counselor. Nonprofit housing counselors are also available through the Homes and Community Renewal Homebuyers page.
Why get pre-approved before searching?
The federal homebuyer roadmap includes getting a prequalification or preapproval letter. A pre-approval sets your price range with your lender and shows a seller that your offer is ready.
Your lender handles the loan. Ask us for lender options and we will tell you how we know each one.
What to do in this stage:
- Ask your lender which documents they need so you can gather them early.
- Ask what the lender will want to see again before closing.
- Ask how long the letter stays valid, so you know when to refresh it.
How do the search and the offer work?
We search listings across OneKey MLS, the multiple listing service that covers Long Island and Queens, and set up alerts so new listings that fit your search reach you quickly. That includes homes listed by any brokerage, not only Keller Williams.
When you find a home you want, we look at the comparable sales with you, decide on price and terms together, and submit the offer. The decision is always yours, and we talk through each term before anything is sent.
If you are comparing towns, our Saint James community guide shows how we describe a town's housing, water, and downtown, and the other town guides follow the same pattern.
What happens after the seller accepts?
In New York an accepted offer is followed by attorney review and a signed contract. Your attorney is the person to ask about any question on the contract. We cover this stage in What Is Attorney Review When You Buy a Home in New York? and the weeks that follow in What Happens After You Accept an Offer in New York?.
Inspection
The CFPB says to schedule the home inspection as soon as possible once you have chosen a home. A licensed home inspector looks at the structure, roof, and major systems. We help you read the report and decide what to ask the seller for, if anything. Ask your attorney how the contract handles inspection results.
Appraisal
The appraisal is part of your mortgage process. Ask your lender when it will be scheduled and what the next step is if questions come up.
What are the walk-through and closing like?
The walk-through is your last look at the home before closing. Check that any agreed repairs are done, that anything the seller said would stay is still there, and that the house is in the condition you expect. If something is off, tell us and your attorney right away.
The CFPB describes the closing process as the focus once your offer has been accepted and you have chosen a loan and a lender. Closing is where you sign the final papers and receive the keys.
We work closely with your attorney and your lender through the contract and inspection. To start, contact us or call or text (631) 213-2005.
- What happens after my offer is accepted in New York?
- In New York an accepted offer is followed by attorney review and a signed contract. We work closely with your attorney from the moment your offer is accepted. Take any question about the contract to your attorney.
- Where do I find first-time buyer programs?
- The official HUD and New York State Homes and Community Renewal pages are linked in this post. A housing counselor or your lender can tell you which programs apply to you. Confirm eligibility details with them.
- Should I get a home inspection?
- We recommend it. A licensed home inspector looks at the structure, roof, and major systems. We help you read the report and decide what to ask the seller for, if anything.
- How do I get started?
- Fill out the form on our contact page or call or text (631) 213-2005. We will set up a consultation to talk through what you are looking for, your timeline, and the towns you want to search.
Get each guide by email, Tuesdays and Fridays.
Sources
Where this comes from.
Each source with the exact line we relied on and the day we read it. Confirm the details of your own sale or purchase with your attorney.
1.Closing on your new home | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, read
Once your purchase offer has been accepted by the seller and you have chosen a loan and a lender, it’s time to focus on the closing process.
2.Schedule a home inspection | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, read
Once you’ve chosen a home, schedule a home inspection appointment as soon as possible.
3.From here to homeowner A roadmap to help you plan
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, read
Get a prequalification or preapproval letter.
4.Buying a Home | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, read
Talk to one of our housing counselors!
5.Homebuyers | Homes and Community Renewal
New York State Homes and Community Renewal, read
Nonprofit housing counselors are available to guide you through every step of the homebuying process.