Home Buying Guide
Buying a Home in Greenville and the Upstate, Step by Step
From your first budget conversation to the day you get the keys, The Moore Team guides you through buying a home in Greenville, Spartanburg and the surrounding Upstate. Here’s how the process works and where we help.
The Process
How Buying a Home Works
- Prepare. We start with a conversation about your goals, budget, timeline and the areas you’re considering. You leave with a clear plan and a written buyer agreement that explains how we work together.
- Coordinate financing. Talk with a lender of your choice about pre-approval before you tour. We can share names of local lenders our clients have used and then coordinate with whichever lender you pick. Loan terms and approval come from your lender, not from us.
- Search. Get MLS listings that match your criteria, including new construction. We help you read listing details, compare neighborhoods and spot red flags early.
- Tour. We schedule showings around your calendar, can walk you through homes by video when you can’t be there, and give you candid feedback on condition, layout and value.
- Make an offer. We review recent comparable sales with you, then write an offer covering price, earnest money, due diligence period and closing date, and negotiate on your behalf.
- Inspect and negotiate repairs. During due diligence you hire licensed inspectors and order any other reports you want. We help you prioritize findings and negotiate repairs or credits with the seller.
- Close. We keep your lender, the closing attorney and the other agent on schedule, walk the home with you before closing, and make sure you know what to bring to the closing table.
Preparation
Getting Ready to Buy
- Check your credit and gather recent pay stubs, W-2s or tax returns, and bank statements. Your lender will tell you exactly what they need.
- Set a monthly budget that includes property taxes, homeowners insurance and any HOA dues. Our mortgage calculator gives you a starting estimate.
- Plan for cash beyond the down payment, such as earnest money, inspections, the appraisal and closing costs.
- List your must-haves and nice-to-haves, and think about commute, schools and lifestyle.
- If you need to sell first, start with a home value review so you can plan both moves together.
Who Does What
The Professionals on Your Purchase
Buying a home brings several professionals together. We coordinate the timeline, and each has a specific role:
- Your lender reviews your finances, issues your pre-approval and makes the loan. The Moore Team does not provide mortgage loans or lending advice.
- Your closing attorney handles the title work, closing documents and the closing itself. In South Carolina, real estate closings are conducted by attorneys. We do not provide legal advice.
- Your home inspector and any other specialists you hire evaluate the property’s condition.
- Your insurance agent quotes homeowners insurance and, if needed, flood insurance.
- Your Realtor represents your interests, helps you find and evaluate homes, negotiates for you and keeps everyone on schedule.
Why The Moore Team
Where Our Experience Helps
Local market guidance
We follow how homes are priced across Greenville, Spartanburg and nearby counties, and we share what recent sales show before you write an offer.
New construction know-how
Laura Moore spent more than a decade in new home sales with national builders, so we can help you compare builder contracts, upgrades, lot premiums and timelines.
Design and renovation perspective
Laura is a Certified Interior Designer and co-owner of Elite Decorative Services, a painting, remodeling and flooring company, so you get practical input on what a home might need after you move in.
Start Exploring
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Upstate Communities
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FAQ
Home Buying Questions
How much do I need for a down payment?
It depends on the loan. Some conventional loans allow as little as 3% down, FHA loans require 3.5%, and VA and USDA loans may allow no down payment for eligible buyers. Your lender will confirm what you qualify for.
Do I need a pre-approval before touring homes?
It is strongly recommended. A pre-approval shows your realistic price range, and many sellers expect one with an offer.
Do I have to sign an agreement with a buyer’s agent?
Yes. Under current Realtor rules, buyers sign a written agreement with their agent before touring homes. It explains the services we provide and how we are paid, and we walk you through it before you sign.
How long does it take to buy a home?
Once your offer is accepted, a financed purchase commonly closes in about 30 to 45 days, depending on the lender, appraisal and contract terms. Cash purchases can close faster.
What is earnest money?
A good-faith deposit you make when your offer is accepted. It is held under the terms of the contract and is usually credited toward your purchase at closing. The amount is negotiable.
Who pays closing costs?
Buyers and sellers each have customary closing costs, and some can be negotiated in the contract. Your lender’s Loan Estimate lists your expected costs.
Get Started
Ready to Start Your Home Search?
Schedule a buyer consultation or send us a message, and a member of The Moore Team will follow up to talk through your goals.
The Moore Team is a real estate team with CENTURY 21 Blackwell & Company Realty. We do not provide mortgage lending, legal or tax advice.