Our Buyer Experience

We Help Buyers
Make BIG Decisions
Everyday.

What It's Like Working With Us

We understand you have choices, often overwhelmingly, when it comes to the home buying process. Choices that include which agent, lender, type of mortgage, houses to view, real estate attorney, how to negotiate, which vendors to use, etc. The choices you make will determine what kind of experience you have and it all begins with selecting the right agent for you.

Our ultimate goal is to make you feel like a genius for choosing us to represent you. When you decide to work with our group, you will work with Terence directly to find and view homes, negotiate your offer and guide you through the transaction. In addition, you’ll also be working with Stephanie whose sole job is to ensure that once you’re under contract, all the little details behind the scenes are taken care of and that you’re aware of each important upcoming milestone.

We will go the extra mile for our clients; here are some of the areas we focus on to make sure we do:

Personalized Attention​

Our team takes the time to understand our client's needs, preferences, and budget to help them find the perfect home. We also make ourselves available to show homes when it's convenient for you.

Expert
Guidance

We have in-depth knowledge of the local market and we're expert negotiators. We provide guidance on market trends, property values, negotiation strategies and vendor recommendations.

Stellar Communication

We communicate the way you would prefer to be communicated with, and promptly. Every client has Terence's personal cell phone for direct access.

The Details
Matter

We pay close attention to every detail of the home buying process, from the initial Buyer Strategy Session to the final closing, to ensure a successful outcome for our clients.

A Conversation is a Good Place to Start

Spend 30 minutes with us to determine your next steps. We’ll discuss what you’re looking for, answer any market questions you have, and, most importantly, get to know each other. It’s completely free, with no sales pitch or obligation afterward – we like to keep it fun.

Relocating To Metro Atlanta

1. Neighborhood Recommendations

Welcome to Atlanta! Whether you’re relocating for a new job, career, or new adventure, we hope you’ll love Atlanta as much as we do! Richardson Real Estate Group offers comprehensive relocation services: from your first home searches to viewing properties either in-person or virtually for out-of-town clients, to planning your move. We know Atlanta! Our years of expertise and in-depth knowledge are at your disposal. We will assist you in finding the perfect neighborhood, the right schools, the ideal house, and the kind of home life you’ve been dreaming of.

Based on your needs, we’ll send you a curated list of neighborhood recommendations that will suit your family size, lifestyle, employment location, home preferences, and budget. If schools are important, we’ll provide you with an overview of all the local metro Atlanta public, charter, and private schools. Deciding on the right neighborhood is your first step in finding the perfect home.

2. Finding The Right Home

When you’ve selected a few homes that meet your criteria, we’ll book a series of showings for you, in-person or virtually. We will ensure your time is well spent during house hunting time.

3. Making The Move

Once you have chosen a new home, we can assist with planning the logistics of moving. We can recommend preferred moving companies, cleaners, and contractors and assist with locking down a timeline, and more.

Ready to Plan Your Relocation?

If you know you’re going to be relocating to metro Atlanta, then having a plan to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible is your next step. A thirty-minute strategy session is all it takes to set you on the right path. Click below to request your Relocation Strategy Session.

Otherwise, feel free to browse our extensive Metro Atlanta Relocation Guide by clicking here.

Terence was personable, easy to reach, and very responsive to any questions or concerns we had. He was very conscientious and flexible with regards to our busy schedules, and we never felt rushed during the entire process of viewing houses.
The Greens
Tucker, GA

First Time Home Buyers

Don’t let anybody fool you; when it comes to purchasing a home, we were all first-timers at one point. For many first-time home buyers, the process can seem daunting because we don’t know what we don’t know. The fear of the unknown can be intimidating, especially when it involves a financial commitment of this magnitude.

What’s a first-timer to do? For starters, hire a Realtor who enjoys working with first-time home buyers. Someone patient and knowledgeable who will be in your corner, your advocate and coach. It’ll make a world of difference and IS the key to having a positive and memorable experience.

We genuinely and thoroughly enjoy working with first-time home buyers. We love to share their joy and excitement when they finish signing at the closing table and realize they are now homeowners. Their smiles when handed the keys become memories we cherish. So if you’re looking for an agent who wants to work with you, please reach out; we’d love to hear from you!

Thinking of Purchasing Your First Home?

Congratulations, you’re one step closer to making that a reality! In just a thirty-minute session, we’ll get to know each other, discuss your needs and priorities and educate you about the buying process and market conditions. You’ll leave with a fresh perspective and confidence in knowing you have a solid game plan to be successful in purchasing your first home!

Build Your Home

Atlanta is one of the nation’s hottest markets for builders and developers. New neighborhoods and communities are springing up around town all the time. Purchasing a new construction home in metro Atlanta can be one of the most rewarding experiences a home buyer can have. But, it can also be the most frustrating if you haven’t surrounded yourself with the right team.

Terence’s first transaction as a new agent in April 2010 was new construction. Since, Terence and his team have helped many clients purchase a new construction home over the years.

Whether you’re looking to buy in a subdivision or build on your land, we have relationships with local and national home builders that can help. As a result, we often know of upcoming communities and opportunities before they are released.

We know how to negotiate the best possible terms for our clients. We understand how builders think. We are your strongest advocate during construction to ensure your interests are protected.

Build your dream home with confidence when you choose us to represent you.

Thinking of Purchasing Brand New?

We know new construction. In just a 30 minute strategy session, we can help you devise a plan to bring your dream of buying new construction to reality. You’ll leave with a fresh perspective about the process and have your questions answered while we get to know each other. Let’s start the conversation!

Financing Options

There are a multitude of loan options available for home buyers seeking a mortgage. Explore the specifics of each loan by clicking on each type below:

A conventional loan is a type of mortgage that is not government-insured or guaranteed. It is instead backed by private lenders such as banks and mortgage companies and adheres to underwriting guidelines established by government-sponsored entities such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Conventional loans are available in a variety of terms, such as fixed-rate or adjustable-rate, and can be used to purchase a home or refinance an existing mortgage. They usually require a higher credit score than government-backed loans, but they may have lower interest rates and more flexible underwriting criteria. 

Loan Maximum: In metro Atlanta it is $726,200. Jumbo loans allow you to stretch beyond this limit.

To qualify for a conventional loan, you’ll typically need:

These are general guidelines and specific requirements may vary by lender. If you have any concerns about your eligibility, it’s a good idea to talk to a loan officer to review your individual financial situation.

An FHA loan is a mortgage that is insured by the Federal Housing Administration. FHA loans are for primary residences only. It has lower down payment requirements and less stringent credit score requirements to help low-income and first-time home buyers qualify. The FHA insures the lender, but the borrower is responsible for mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) for the life of the loan. Because this insurance can raise your monthly mortgage payment, you should carefully consider your financial situation before deciding whether an FHA loan is right for you.

Loan Maximum: In metro Atlanta it is $592,250. In the counties outside of the metro area, the loan limit is $472,030. Here’s a link with each county’s limit.

To qualify for an FHA loan, you’ll typically need:

These are general guidelines and specific requirements may vary by lender. If you have any concerns about your eligibility, it’s a good idea to talk to a loan officer to review your individual financial situation.

A VA loan is a mortgage guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help eligible military veterans, active-duty personnel, and surviving spouses buy a home with no down payment and favorable loan terms. VA loans are issued by private lenders and backed by the VA, allowing for lower interest rates and no PMI. Eligibility requires meeting specific VA requirements and obtaining a certificate of eligibility, with some restrictions on property type and loan amount. Loan Maximum: If you have full entitlement, you don’t have a loan limit. If you have remaining entitlement, you do have a loan limit. If you meet at least one of the following requirements, you have full entitlement: 1. You have never used your home loan benefit; or 2. You have paid off a previous VA loan in full and sold the property; or 3. You have used your home loan benefit but had a foreclosure or compromise claim (also known as a short sale) and repaid the VA in full.

To qualify for a VA loan, you’ll typically need:

These are general guidelines and specific requirements may vary by lender. If you have any concerns about your eligibility, it’s a good idea to talk to a loan officer that specializes in VA loans to review your individual financial situation.

A USDA home loan, also known as a USDA Rural Development Loan, is a government-backed mortgage program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It is designed to provide affordable financing to low- and moderate-income households in rural areas to purchase, build, or improve a home. A USDA home loan has several advantages over traditional mortgage options, including:  1. No down payment required.  2. Lower interest rates.  3. Flexible credit requirements.

Loan Maximum: It varies by eligible county. In eligible areas in Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Douglas and Paulding counties for instance, it’s $377,200. For counties a bit further out like Floyd and Polk, it’s $336,500. Whereas Cobb, Dekalb and Fulton are not eligible. Here’s a link to the USDA’s Loan Limit Map

How do I know if an address is eligible? Use the USDA’s address verification tool, click here.

To qualify for a USDA loan, you’ll typically need:

These are general guidelines and specific requirements may vary by lender. If you have any concerns about your eligibility, it’s a good idea to talk to a loan officer to review your individual financial situation.

Jumbo loans are used when a regular conventional loan won’t be enough to cover the purchase of a high value home due to the conventional loan’s limit of $726,200. Jumbos stretch beyond this limit. They come at a cost of requiring a higher credit score, income and down payment and often carry a higher interest rate.

Loan Maximum: Maximums can vary widely depending on the lender. Some lenders cap the size of the loan at $2-4 Million, while others will let you borrow significantly more, such as $5-10 Million or more. 

To qualify for a Jumbo loan, you’ll typically need:

These are general guidelines and specific requirements may vary by lender. If you have any concerns about your eligibility, it’s a good idea to talk to a loan officer to review your individual financial situation.

A Physician Loan, also known as a Doctor Loan, is a type of mortgage loan specifically designed for physicians, dentists, veterinarians and other medical professionals. These loans often offer special benefits, such as low down payment requirements, no mortgage insurance and flexible qualification criteria.

For instance, some physician loans may require as little as 0-5% down. Furthermore, some loans take into account your high levels of student loan debt and offer flexible qualification criteria that allow you to still qualify for a loan. Physician loans aren’t usually offered with a fixed rate, though some lenders do have them.

Loan Maximum: Similar to Jumbo loans, it varies wildly from lender to lender. Many have a sliding cap, so $1 Million at 0% down, $2 Million at 10% down and so forth.

To qualify for a Physician loan, you’ll typically need:

It is important to check with a lender for their specific requirements for a physician home loan and to compare offers from multiple lenders to ensure you are getting the best deal for your needs.

In addition to the other loans outlined above, there are some options that allow for creative financing when and where applicable. The following loan types also carry varying degrees of risk. Please make sure you understand the risks by discussing the pros and cons with your agent and with a qualified loan officer that specializes in the type of creative financing you’re interested in.

Other types of mortgage financing options:

These are general guidelines and specific requirements may vary by lender. If you have any concerns about your eligibility, it’s a good idea to talk to a loan officer to review your individual financial situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

While 20% down (or more) is certainly an option if you have the cash, conventional loans are available for as little as 3% down, FHA loans for 3.5% down while VA and USDA loans do not require a down payment.

The home buying process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the specific circumstances of the transaction.

Generally 2-3% of the purchase price of the home, a typical buyer’s closing costs when obtaining a mortgage include: home inspection fees, loan origination fee, appraisal fee, credit report fee, title search and title insurance, survey fee, recording fee, homeowners insurance, property taxes, pest inspection and homeowners association (HOA) fees. Note that these costs may vary based on the lender, location, and details of the transaction.

Yes, there are several first-time home buyer programs available in Atlanta, including the Georgia Dream Homeownership Program and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta’s Homeownership Program.

We are here to help you find the perfect home for your needs and budget. We’ll work together to identify your must-haves and preferences, and I’ll show you homes that match those criteria, all within budget.

We will guide you through the process of making an offer on a home. We’ll discuss your budget, the home’s condition, the market and any other factors that may affect the purchase price and come up with the right offer strategy.

We will help you evaluate the condition of a home before you buy it, by doing a walkthrough with you and pointing out any issues that may need attention. In addition, once under contract, you will have a due diligence period where you can hire your own home inspector and cancel on the house without penalty if anything major is found that the Seller won’t address.

Atlanta is a huge market for builders and there are always new neighborhoods opening up all around the metro area. We have relationships with most of the builders which helps with getting information about upcoming neighborhoods.

A fixed-rate mortgage has an interest rate that stays the same for the life of the loan, while an adjustable-rate mortgage has an interest rate that can change over time. When interest rates rise, variable rate mortgages become popular again and people use them until rates drop and then refinance. There are a lot of caveats and potential pitfalls with this strategy. We can help explain the risks.

The home inspection process is an important step in the home buying process. An inspector will thoroughly evaluate the home to identify any potential issues that may need to be addressed.

Georgia is a real estate attorney state. While other states close real estate transactions with title companies, transactions in the state of Georgia must be closed with a real estate attorney. We have relationships with most of the real estate attorneys and can recommend good attorneys all over town.

Some common contingencies that are included in a home purchase contract include due diligence (ie your home inspection window), appraisal  and financing contingencies.

Property taxes in Atlanta typically range from 1-2% of the home’s value.

Need To Sell Your House First?

If you need (or prefer) to sell before you buy, visit our Seller Experience page to learn how our Seller clients earn 3.9% more money than the typical Seller in metro Atlanta.

Request Our Exclusive 2023 Buyer's Guide

Gain an advantage in today’s market with the information we share in our 2023 Buyer’s Guide. Get your free copy today.

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