Buying with Marisa
Buying a home should feel exciting, not overwhelming
I'm Marisa Morello, a Metro Detroit realtor with eight years in the business, operating under my AreYou Closing brand and powered by eXp Realty. I've personally helped 150 families move, and my listings average nine days on market. This page is the whole buying process in plain English, from the first conversation to the day you get your keys.
8
Years in Metro Detroit
150+
Families Helped
9
Avg. Days on Market
Why Buying With Me Works
I tell you what you need to know before you know to ask
I bought my first house when I was 20 and nobody educated me. Not the agent, not the lender, nobody. I made just about every wrong decision a person can make in a transaction, and I didn't even know they were wrong until much later. That experience is the entire reason I'm in this business the way I am. I'm obsessed with making sure the person after me doesn't go through what I went through.
What that means for you is a buying process where you're never guessing. I over-communicate instead of leaving you wondering, I explain every document before you sign it, and I meet you wherever you are: first-time buyer, move-up family, or helping a parent downsize. I'm a Zillow Pro and Zillow Showcase agent, I cover professional photography and video on every listing I sell, and I run a referral program where I cover the home inspection for anyone who comes to me through a past client.
Educate first
Every step explained before it happens, in plain English.
Your side only
One job: protect your interests from the first showing to the keys.
Past closing
Most of my business is repeat and referral, because the relationships last.
The Process
My Ten Steps to Home
This is the exact process I walk every buyer through. It's the same one that's in my buyer's guide, and it's built so you always know what step we're on and what comes next.
Consultation and signing the Buyer's Agent Agreement
We start with a conversation about your goals, your budget, and your timeline. The buyer's agent agreement simply makes it official that I'm working for you, and it's required in Michigan before we can write an offer together. We go over every line before you sign.
Secure financial pre-approval
Before we look at a single house, we get your financing lined up. A pre-approval letter tells sellers you're serious, and it tells you exactly what you can afford, so you never fall in love with something that's out of reach. I can connect you with lenders I trust.
Define your dream home wants and needs
We make a real list: the non-negotiables, the nice-to-haves, and the things you'd happily trade. That list keeps every showing focused and keeps you from getting talked out of what you actually want by a grand kitchen you don't need.
Search for properties using MLS access, network connections, and off-market opportunities with personalized alerts
You get full MLS access on my side, plus my network connections and off-market opportunities that never hit the public sites. I set up personalized alerts so the right home finds you the day it lists, not the day after.
View and evaluate properties with showings
We tour homes together and I'm honest about every single one, the good and the bad. I point out the things that don't show up in photos, like how the light moves or what the basement really smells like after rain, and we evaluate each home against your list.
Craft a competitive offer
When we find the one, I build an offer that's competitive in the actual market, using current comparable sales and what I know about the seller's position. You approve every number and every term before anything goes out.
Negotiate effectively
Counteroffers, terms, and contingencies can get complicated fast. I negotiate on your side, and I'll tell you plainly when to hold firm and when to give ground, so you never feel like you won or lost by accident.
Secure financing and lock your rate
Once your offer is accepted, we move your loan through final underwriting and lock your rate, so a shift in the market doesn't undo the numbers we planned on. I stay in touch with your lender so you're never the last to know.
Conduct due diligence with home inspection and appraisal
During your inspection period, typically around 10 days, the inspector goes through the home top to bottom. I help you read the report, decide what to ask the seller for, and make sure the appraisal comes in before we move on.
Close the deal and get your keys
We walk through every closing document together, you sign, the funds move, and I hand you the keys. That's the moment I do this for. It never gets old.
The Numbers That Matter
Offer essentials, explained upfront
Earnest Money Deposit
Typically 1-3% of the purchase price, paid after your offer is accepted and held in escrow. It shows the seller you're serious, and it's applied to your purchase at closing.
Contingencies
Financing, appraisal, inspection, and the sale of your existing home. Each one protects you if something specific goes wrong, and each one is negotiable depending on how competitive the situation is.
Inspection Period
Typically around 10 days after acceptance to have the home inspected and decide what to ask for, renegotiate, or walk away from. I'll help you read the report and separate what matters from what doesn't.
Closing Costs
Typically 2-5% of your loan amount, covering title work, appraisal, and lender fees. You'll get a good-faith estimate before you commit, so there are no surprises at the table.
Down Payment Options
As low as 3.5% with an FHA loan, and 0% down with VA and USDA loans if you qualify. Conventional programs vary, and down payment assistance exists too. The right program depends on your situation.
Want the exact numbers for your situation?
Run them with me. I'll walk through your price range, your loan options, and your real closing costs in one conversation.
Start the conversationThe Neighborhoods
Metro Detroit, with real depth in Oakland and Macomb counties
My core areas are St. Clair Shores, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Troy, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Plymouth and Northville, plus downtown Detroit, because I genuinely believe in the energy and growth happening there and I like being part of it. If you're buying somewhere on this list, I know the pockets, the school situations, and the price ranges that actually apply.
Oakland County
Birmingham
Walkable downtown, top schools, four distinct markets in one small city.
Oakland County
Royal Oak
The most vibrant downtown scene in the county, and the Detroit Zoo.
Oakland County
Troy
Top-ranked schools and suburban convenience at accessible prices.
Oakland County
Rochester Hills
Trails, parks, and strong family programming.
Macomb County
St. Clair Shores
Lakefront living on Lake St. Clair, close to the city.
Wayne County
Plymouth
A charming historic downtown and a strong family community.
Wayne County
Northville
A walkable village feel with excellent schools on both sides of the county line.
Oakland County
Auburn Hills
Home base for eXp Realty and a growing community. Ask me about it.
Wayne County
Downtown Detroit
Condos and lofts in the city I love and welcome wholeheartedly.
The Buyer's Guide
Take the whole process home with you
My buyer's guide has the ten steps, the forms you'll see, the numbers you'll need, and the questions to ask along the way. It's the same guide I hand every client, and it's yours free. Download it, read it over coffee, and bring your questions.
Let's Find It
Tell me what you're looking for
Where are you thinking about? What's your timeline? What does moving actually need to fix for your family? Tell me, and I'll come back with real answers, not generic ones.
What's the best that could happen?