How to navigate buying your first home in Atlanta GA

When my good friend announced she was finally ready to buy her first home, she had the look of someone about to go skydiving: a mix of giddy excitement and sheer terror. She didn’t just want me as her agent because we were friends, but because I had 20 years of experience, a mountain of five-star reviews, and a knack for making the home-buying process less “stress-induced eye twitch” and more “celebratory champagne toast.”

Over lunch, she confessed the final straw had landed: her landlord was raising the rent. Again. She was done funding someone else’s vacation home and ready to invest in her own. Like many first-time buyers, she dreamed of a warm, cozy space near her daughter’s school, the kind of place where you can walk to the playground and the neighbors nod politely. But she also dreaded the less magical parts of the process: bidding wars, baffling contracts written in ancient real-estate-ese, and the mysterious world of “inspection repairs.”

I assured her we would tackle this like pros, or at least like two determined women armed with caffeine and Google Maps. Step one was my round of “let’s get real” questions:

What’s your ideal timeline for buying?
How far from your daughter’s school do you want to be?
What neighborhood would you like to live in?
What price range do you feel comfortable with?
What’s your one non-negotiable must-have?
What is your deal-breaker?

Her wish list was clear: three bedrooms, two baths, walkable to school, and close vicinity to a park or green space.

Within days, I spotted a house that had been lingering on the market for over a month — in a great neighborhood, ticking every box.

We made an offer and they accepted– but then some unexpected things turned up in the home inspection that caught us off guard.

Cue my negotiation superpowers. We volleyed counteroffers back and forth and I never gave in.

THE RESULTS:

Seller agreed to replace some of the unacceptable features of the home.
Seller agreed to an offer that was below the listing price.
Seller agreed to pay closing costs.
Seller agreed to my buyer’s desired closing date.
Buyer got her wish list– plus one extra bedroom and more living space!

Closing day came fast. She clutched those keys grinning from ear to ear. And as we stood in her brand-new living room, she knew it had all happened because she had the best Atlanta real estate agent by her side.

See what my client had to say about working with Vanessa Reilly:

Finding our new home was easy and even fun with Vanessa! She was a pleasure to work with – always kind, professional and efficient. From the beginning, she was quick in getting back to us, and made the buying process clear and stress-free (as much as it can be as a first time buyer). When looking at houses, she presented us properties tailored to our main wishes and parameters (without overloading us), she immediately saw important details we were not able to see ourselves, and made our final decision-making easy. And well, when it was time to enter the bidding war, she was spot on with the pricing and other items of our winning offer to get our amazing new home! Vanessa helps you find your dream home, and interestingly you might end up like us: looking forward to meeting her and seeing homes together. Great personality, very professional and successful. We recommend her warmly!

-Huelya