Home Buyer Basics
Your home search is as unique as you and we want to curate an experience that aligns with your lifestyle and home goals!
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Step 1
Qualify
Choose a lender and complete the pre-approval process.
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Step 2
Consultation
We begin every relationship with your custom consultation. We'll discuss your lifestyle and financial goals and craft a plan just for you.
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Step 3
Search
We'll cast a wide net around your values to make sure you're seeing off market and on the market properties that bring your house goals to life.
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Step 4
Offer and Negotiate
We love to negotiate! We're nice but we will fight for what's right for you.
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Step 5
Due Diligence
Inspections, negotiations, and vetting the place where you'll be making memories is such an important step, and we'll be here every step of the way.
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Step 6
Close on your new home
With so many details coming together, it's time to celebrate this momentous accomplishment!
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Step 7
Lifetime of service
We're here as a resource even after you close on your home! Wondering how an upgrade will impact resale? Need a contractor referral? We've got you covered.
Consider your monthly budget, and how much money you have saved for a down payment. At The Muñoz Group, we’ll walk you through determining your housing budget. The most important consideration is staying true to your financial goals. If you don’t have clarity on your monthly expenses, it will be difficult to determine your true housing budget. We can connect you with a lender who will pre-qualify you for a mortgage but there is more to coming up with YOUR number than the lender’s pre-qualification. With clarity in your numbers, you can explore the market with confidence.
It depends! At the Muñoz Group, we help you make sense of the market. While you’re likely excited to jump right in, we recognize that we’re at the mercy of the market for housing inventory. If we think you can do better based on your values and your budget, we’ll let you know. We want the right house to drive the timing though we’ll always keep your timing goals in mind as we move through the process. We’ve worked with folks who found the best house the first time out and others who explored longer. With healthy housing inventory, the process typically takes about 90 days. This means that you’re looking for the right house for a few months and then once you have an accepted offer, you can expect to complete the purchase about 30-35 days later.
A good rule of thumb is to invest 1-2% of your home’s value in maintenance per year. This includes repair and replacement for various components. If your home is older, you’re likely at the upper end of this range and if your home is newer the annual maintenance budget may be lower.
There is no such thing as timing the market! The best time for you to buy is when you are ready. When you have a down payment secured, it’s a great time to meet with a real estate professional to discuss your options. Markets will move up and down but what matters most in deciding when to buy is your personal situation. Schedule a buyer consultation to figure out if now is the right time for YOU to buy a home.
Even if you’re just beginning to think about buying or selling your home, it’s the right time to start the conversation. Our initial meeting will give you lots to consider. We often have a meeting months or even years before our folks make a decision to buy or sell. At The Muñoz Group we’re here to help you make great real estate decisions
Yes, and it’s happening to more Austin sellers than you’d think. If you bought between 2021 and early 2023, near the top of the market, you could net less in 2026 than you paid for the home, even though your house hasn’t lost a shingle of value. Research from Redfin found that a meaningful share […]
7705 Mowinkle Cv is a place to slow down. It sits at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in Oak Hill, on more than an acre of Hill Country oaks, with treetop views from the balconies and decks. If you want space, privacy, and a house with real personality, put this one on your list. […]
1008 Muse Ln is the East Austin condo where your mornings start with a balcony, a great cup of coffee, and a short walk down Webberville Road. Light pours into the open living space. The primary suite sits all by itself on the top floor. Put this one on your list. It is a freestanding […]
Updated October 2026 Yes, if the seller has a VA, FHA, or USDA loan, you can apply to take over that loan at the seller’s original interest rate instead of today’s rate. It’s called a mortgage assumption, and in 2026 it’s one of the only ways an Austin buyer can lock in a rate that’s […]
What are Austin’s short-term rental rules in 2026? Updated October 2026 Every property rented out for less than 30 consecutive days in Austin needs a City of Austin short-term rental (STR) license, and as of July 1, 2026, Airbnb and VRBO are required to delist any property that doesn’t display a valid license number. There […]
Last updated: October 2026 Walk through your home during or right after a long storm and look at every ceiling for small yellow or brown rings, darker damp spots, or bubbling paint. These small stains often show up only in heavy or wind-driven rain, and they can appear on newer roofs too, usually around the […]
5306 Wellington Dr sits on a little over a quarter acre in Windsor Park, and the backyard is the reason to come see it. The yard is fenced, private, and backs to greenspace with views of trees and a seasonal creek. Inside, you get three bedrooms, an updated kitchen, and a lot of natural light. […]
Found Our Neighborhood · A Find Your Austin Series What Is North Loop in Austin, and Who Is It a Good Fit For? North Loop is a central Austin neighborhood just north of Hyde Park, tucked between North Lamar Boulevard and Airport Boulevard south of Koenig Lane. It’s known for post-World War II bungalows and […]
912 Abbeyglen Castle Dr gives you four bedrooms on one level and a backyard with nothing behind it. That combination is harder to find in this part of Pflugerville than you would think. The house has been cared for closely over the years, and you feel it the minute you walk in. If you want […]