Most homebuyers go through a first-time purchase feeling vaguely confused. Not because the process is hard — it's actually pretty linear — but because nobody walks them through what's coming. The mortgage lender, real-estate agent, and insurance broker each have their own version of "this is what happens next," and the versions don't line up.
At Alliance, we run a documented 7-step process. Same language, same dashboard, same team.
1. Discovery
We talk about goals, timeline, budget. This is a 30-minute conversation, not a sales pitch. Outputs: rough price range, target close month, state where you're buying, and whether you're a first-time buyer, move-up, or investor.
2. Pre-approval
Soft credit pull + baseline financial intake (income documents, liquid assets, debts). Outputs: pre-approval letter with a specific loan amount and program, valid for 90 days. This letter goes with every offer.
3. Search
Our IDX-powered search pulls from all 5 MLS feeds we're connected to. You save listings, we review them, we set up showings. If you're remote-buying, we do virtual tours.
4. Offer
We write the offer. Offer price, financing contingencies, inspection contingencies, closing date, earnest money. We negotiate. You countersign.
5. Underwriting
Now the document grind starts. Income verification, asset verification, appraisal ordered, title pulled, insurance quotes shopped. Everything flows through the Alliance portal — no "please email me your last two pay stubs again" loops.
6. Closing
Clear to close, final walkthrough, wire sent, keys received. Average timeline from offer acceptance to keys: 30-45 days for conventional, up to 60 for VA/USDA, same-day for cash.
7. Stewardship
This is the part other firms skip. We watch your loan after close: rate-drop alerts for refinance, annual valuation updates, tax-escrow-protest reminders in May, insurance renewal reviews. The relationship doesn't end at closing — it starts there.
Why this matters
Every handoff between vendors is a place for the ball to drop. The 7-step process owns every handoff. When your MLO and your REA are the same team in the same company, there's no handoff gap to exploit or break.
That's SYSTEMSs™ in practice. Read the philosophy.