The Buying Guide
Buy a home you'll love without the guesswork.
Buying a home in Corvallis, Albany, Salem, or anywhere across the Mid-Willamette Valley comes down to one thing: understanding every step before you take it. Here is how to reach out, what happens next, and the simple four-step process we use with every buyer we represent.
Prefer to talk first? Call 541-231-4535.
Free resource
Where should we send your Free Buyer's Guide?
Tell us where to send it, your budget, and your timeline, and the full Broker Duo Oregon Home Buyer Guide will be emailed straight to your inbox. No spam, no pressure, just the guide and a clear next step.
Get the Free Oregon Home Buyer's Guide
Tell us where to send it and a little about your budget and timeline, and the full Broker Duo Oregon Home Buyer Guide will be emailed straight to your inbox.
Your guide is on its way.
Thanks for telling us a little about your plans. Check your inbox for the Broker Duo Oregon Home Buyer Guide, and Christine will reach out with a clear next step.
Start here
Reaching out is the easy part.
Three ways to get in touch, and every one of them starts with a real conversation. No forms hidden behind forms, no pressure.
Call or text
Reach Christine directly at 541-231-4535. If she is with a client, leave a message and you will get a call back the same day.
Call 541-231-4535Send a message
Email christine.kites@exprealty.com or use the form at the bottom of this page. You will hear back within one business day, usually sooner.
Email ChristineSchedule a discovery call
A relaxed conversation about your goals, your timeline, and your questions. No pressure, no obligation, just a clear next step.
Take the two-minute quizHow it works
The buying process, made simple.
Here's what you can expect when you buy with us.
Discovery Call
We learn about your goals, lifestyle, and timeline.
Property Tours
In-person or virtual, we preview homes that fit your life and your must-have list.
Making an Offer
We guide negotiations with your best interest in mind.
Closing Support
From inspections to paperwork, we walk you through it all.
Find homes
Search every active home in the Valley, right now.
The regional MLS search covers Albany, Corvallis, Salem, Keizer, and the wider Mid-Willamette Valley. Bookmark your search, then tell us what you are watching so you are first to know when something new matches.
Want a guide to read first? Get the free buyer's guide
A quick quiz
Find your next move.
Answer a few quick questions and I'll point you in the right direction. No forms to fill twice, no pressure, just a clearer picture of your next step.
- Four quick questions, tailored to buyers and sellers
- Your answers go straight to Christine's inbox
- A personal reply, usually within one business day
Prefer to talk instead? Call 541-231-4535.
Step 1 of 5
Thank you. Talk soon.
Your answers are on their way to Christine. She will reply with a clear next step, usually within one business day.
For first-time buyers
A low-stress process that makes sense the whole way.
The Broker Duo Team has a reputation as one of the Valley's go-to teams for first-time buyers, and it is earned the slow way: by explaining every form, every timeline, and every decision in plain language until it makes sense.
You are never handed off to a stranger. Christine or her sister Casey, your actual agent, answers the call. Along the way you get our short list of trusted lenders, inspectors, and contractors, so you are never guessing who to call when something needs a professional eye.
- Lender introductions and pre-approval guidance
- Inspectors and contractors we trust with our own clients
- Saved searches and alerts across the Valley's MLS
- Video tours for out-of-state and busy schedules
Questions buyers ask
Straight answers, no fine print.
How much do I need to get started as a first-time buyer?
It depends on your loan program, your down payment, and what you qualify for, which is exactly why we start with a lender conversation before the house hunting. We work with a short list of trusted local lenders who explain every number up front, including closing costs and monthly payments, so there are no surprises at the finish line.
How long does it take to buy a home?
With pre-approval in hand, most of our buyers go from the first search to keys in about one to three months, and an accepted offer in the Valley typically closes in 30 to 45 days. The part you control is preparation: get pre-approval and your must-have list sorted early, and the house hunt itself is usually the fastest, most enjoyable stage. We put every date on a shared calendar so you always know exactly what happens next.
How much home can I afford?
Your budget comes from your lender, not from a guess. A trusted local lender will show you exactly what you qualify for, including the rate, the down payment range, and the monthly payment, so you tour homes that fit your real numbers instead of falling in love a little too high. We introduce every buyer to lenders we know well, on a first conversation, before the first showing.
What if I am relocating and buying from another state?
Remote buyers are a specialty for us. Video tours let you narrow your list before you speak, we coordinate showings around a tight visit, and we handle the paperwork and timeline so the distance never becomes a problem. OSU faculty, medical professionals, and families moving for new jobs do this with us every year.
How do multiple offers work, and how do I compete?
When a home has several offers, sellers weigh price, certainty, and timing together. We help you present a strong, clean offer, write a genuine letter, and choose inspection terms that protect you without scaring the seller. The goal is the home you love at a number you can live with.
Can I buy a fixer-upper and finance the repairs?
Yes. Renovation loans like the FHA 203(k) and Fannie Mae HomeStyle roll the purchase price and repair budget into one mortgage, so you finance the work as part of your payment. We walk buyers through real scenarios and connect them with lenders who run these programs every week.
What does the Broker Duo Team actually do for me?
Everything between the first search and the keys: lenders, contractors, inspectors, negotiations, and paperwork, plus honest counsel at every decision point. You get one team that knows the Valley, keeps your timeline, and answers your calls. For most buyers, that means a noticeably lower-stress process.
Ready when you are
Your search starts with a conversation, not a contract.
Tell us what you are looking for, even if it is still a rough idea. We will reply with next steps, not pressure. Or call 541-231-4535.
Tell us what you're looking for
Share a few details and Christine will reply personally, usually within one business day. No pressure, no spam, just a clear next step.
Thank you. Talk soon.
Your note is on its way to Christine. She will reply personally, usually within one business day.
The next step
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Schedule a no-obligation consultation with Christine Kites and the Broker Duo Team today and take the important first step toward achieving your real estate goals.
No pressure, no obligation. Just a clear picture of what comes next.