Getting Pre-Approved: Your First Step Toward Buying a Home in Cleveland

Before you start touring homes, the first and most important step is getting pre-approved for a mortgage. Having the right lender on your side can make or break your deal. In the competitive Greater Cleveland real estate market, working with a trusted local mortgage lender—one your real estate agent knows and has confidence in—can give your offer a serious advantage.

When a seller reviews offers, the listing agent looks not only at the price but also at who the lender is. Choosing a lender with a proven reputation for on-time closings, clear communication, and smooth appraisal processes helps ensure your offer stands out from the rest.

At The Stowell Group, eXp Realty, we work with several top-rated Cleveland-area lenders who are known for their reliability, competitive rates, and exceptional client service. We’ll be happy to connect you with a lender who fits your goals and helps make your home-buying process as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Submitting an Offer in the Cleveland Real Estate Market

Once you’ve found a home you love, the next step is preparing and submitting your purchase agreement—also known as the buyer’s offer or sales contract. In the Cleveland real estate market, this formal document outlines the price you’re offering, your financing terms, contingencies, and other important details that protect your interests as a buyer.

Before we submit your offer to the listing agent, I’ll take the time to review the contract with you line by line, explaining each section, clause, and contingency in clear, simple terms. You’ll understand exactly what you’re signing, including key items such as earnest money, inspection timelines, financing conditions, and closing dates.

My goal is to make sure you feel fully informed and confident in every decision before your offer is sent. Once you’re ready, I’ll handle the submission process and communicate directly with the listing agent to help position your offer as strong and competitive in today’s Cleveland market.

Guiding First-Time (and Every-Time) Home Buyers

There’s a special place in my heart for first-time home buyers. I understand that purchasing your first home is one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions you’ll ever make—and I take my role as your trusted advisor very seriously. My goal is to ensure you always feel informed, supported, and confident throughout every step of the process.

There are many things you simply don’t know that you don’t know, and that’s where I come in. I’ll always have your back, protect your best interests, and take the time to explain each detail clearly so there are no surprises along the way. I’m extremely patient and always move at your pace, never rushing your decisions.

The truth is, every real estate transaction is unique—even experienced buyers encounter new situations with each home purchase. That’s why I make it standard practice to provide clear communication and full transparency, whether this is your first home or your fourth. My commitment is to guide you with professionalism, care, and the kind of personal attention that turns a complex process into a rewarding experience.

Buying a New Home Before Selling Your Current One

It’s very common to find yourself in a situation where you’re ready to buy a new home but still need to sell your current one. Don’t worry—this is something we navigate often, and together we’ll review all your options to determine what works best for your goals and timeline.

In some cases, there are creative financing solutions that allow you to buy before you sell, especially when you’re working with the right lender. Certain programs can help you leverage your home’s equity, bridge the timing gap between closings, or make a non-contingent offer to stay competitive in today’s Cleveland market.

I’ll guide you through the process, connect you with trusted local lenders, and ensure you understand every available path so you can make a confident and well-informed move.

Understanding Contingencies in Your Offer

A contingency is a clause in your purchase agreement that protects you as the buyer by allowing you to withdraw from the contract if certain conditions aren’t met. Contingencies are designed to keep your earnest money deposit safe and ensure you don’t move forward with a purchase under unfavorable circumstances.

The three most common contingencies are:

• Loan Contingency: Ensures your purchase is dependent on securing final mortgage approval.

• Appraisal Contingency: Protects you if the home doesn’t appraise at or above the purchase price.

• Inspection (or Investigation) Contingency: Gives you the right to have the home professionally inspected and request repairs or credits if issues are found.

Removing these contingencies shifts the risk from the seller to the buyer, since backing out without them could mean forfeiting your earnest money. In today’s competitive Greater Cleveland real estate market, buyers sometimes choose to limit or shorten contingency periods to make their offers more appealing. However, it’s important to understand the risks involved before making that decision—something I’ll always discuss in detail with you before submitting your offer.

Understanding Escrow and the Closing Process

Escrow is a neutral third party that manages the financial and legal details of your real estate transaction. Their role is to hold funds and documents “in escrow” until all terms of the purchase agreement have been met by both buyer and seller. Once everything is complete, escrow facilitates the final transfer of ownership.

Your escrow officer (or closing agent, as they’re often called in Ohio) will handle important tasks such as:

• Managing your earnest money deposit

• Coordinating with the title company to ensure clear ownership

• Preparing and balancing prorations like property taxes, HOA dues, and utility adjustments

• Overseeing the signing of loan and closing documents when it’s time to finalize your purchase

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In most Cleveland-area transactions, title and escrow fees are typically shared or negotiated between the buyer and seller as part of the contract. Your agent will review these costs with you in advance so there are no surprises when it’s time to close.

Reviewing the Disclosure Package

The Disclosure Package is one of the most important sets of documents to review before submitting an offer on a home. It contains detailed information about the property’s condition, history, and any known issues that could affect your decision to purchase.

I provide every client with a personalized guide explaining how to read through these disclosures, what to look for, and which sections often carry the most impact. In addition, I personally review every disclosure package in full and send thorough notes and insights to my clients before we write any offer.

This extra step ensures you’re making an informed, confident decision—understanding the property’s condition, disclosures, and potential risks before moving forward.

My Background & Commitment

I earned my real estate license in 2012 after beginning my career in new construction sales for a national homebuilder. From the start, I built my business the right way—through relationships and referrals—by providing outstanding service and results that inspired clients to recommend me to their friends and family.

Through years of dedication and consistent performance, I grew my business to become the #1 individual agent for sales volume at my brokerage in 2018. By 2022, I achieved Mega-Producer status, closing more than $20 million in sales, and in 2023, I was honored to be recognized by RealTrends as the #3 ranked real estate agent in Ohio for sales volume.

While the accolades are meaningful, my greatest satisfaction comes from the trust my clients place in me. My passion for serving people and helping them reach their real estate goals will never change. Today, with the support of The Stowell Group, I have a dedicated team behind me—allowing us to deliver an even higher level of service, communication, and professionalism. When you work with us, you can expect nothing less than the highest standards in the real estate industry.

Trusted Local Vendors

Over the years, I’ve built strong relationships with a trusted network of local vendors and service professionals. From lenders and inspectors to contractors, stagers, and photographers, I work only with individuals and companies who share my commitment to quality and reliability.

Based on your specific needs, budget, and timeline, I’ll personally recommend the right professionals to help make your real estate experience as smooth and stress-free as possible.