Jai guides buyers through six clear stages from financing and pre-approval through closing, ensuring nothing happens without the buyer fully understanding each step. Her Journey to Homeownership guide maps the entire process before you even begin.
Jai Williams is a licensed REALTOR® with active licensure in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. She serves buyers, sellers, and relocating families across all three states and provides real estate guidance and referral connections for clients nationwide.
Stage 1: Financing and Pre-Approval
Review your credit, calculate your debt-to-income ratio, determine your down payment, and get a full pre-approval from a licensed lender. A pre-approval letter is required before most sellers will consider your offer seriously. See the first-time buyers guide for loan options in Tennessee.
Stage 2: Needs Assessment and Strategy
Determine what neighborhoods fit your lifestyle, commute, and school preferences. Knowing your priorities in advance saves significant time and prevents emotional decisions under pressure.
Stage 3: Home Search and Showings
Jai’s home search portal at jaiwilliams.axenrealty.com provides real-time MLS access across Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. At every showing Jai evaluates the property professionally, condition indicators, listing history, neighborhood trajectory, and comparable sales.
Stage 4: Offer Preparation and Negotiation
Jai prepares a comprehensive market analysis and structures the offer with the right contingencies, closing date, earnest money, and any seller concession requests. As a RENE-certified negotiation expert she negotiates every counter-offer on your behalf.
Stage 5: Inspections and Due Diligence
Jai coordinates your home inspection, reviews findings with you, and prepares a repair request or price reduction negotiation based on the inspector’s report. Your earnest money is protected through properly written contingency language.
Stage 6: Closing
Tennessee closings are usually conducted by a title company or a closing attorney acting as the settlement agent. Unlike Georgia, Tennessee does not require an attorney to conduct the closing. A typical Tennessee purchase takes 30 to 45 days from accepted offer to closing for conventional loans and 45 to 60 days for FHA and VA loans. Closing costs for buyers typically run 2 to 5 percent of the purchase price.
Sign a Buyer Representation Agreement First
Before Jai can provide full representation a written Buyer Representation Agreement is required. She reviews every term with you before you sign. This document protects your interests and ensures Jai is working exclusively on your behalf.
See the full resource guide: Tennessee Buyer Resources