Buyer Guide
FINDING YOUR NEW HOME WITH SUSAN GREGORY
Susan Gregory
615-207-5600
susang@onwardre.com
homesaroundnashvilletn.com
For over 29 years, Susan Gregory, a Nashville native, has been a top-producing real estate agent in Middle Tennessee, selling thousands of homes and exceeding $100 million in yearly sales. Beyond her impressive track record, Susan is known for her personal approach, treating clients like friends, prioritizing clear communication, and working tirelessly to find the right property for buyers or secure top dollar for sellers.
Unlike many agents who delegate clients to a team, Susan remains hands-on, offering her expertise directly to both buyers and sellers. When you ask for Susan Gregory, you get Susan and her years of expertise. Clients value her deep local knowledge, attention to detail, and expert negotiation skills. For Susan, success is about more than numbers—it’s about happy clients. Her loyal customer base includes repeat buyers, sellers, and partnerships with builders and new construction communities.
Susan credits her success to extensive marketing, advertising, and a servant’s heart, believing that when you do everything possible for your clients, the right match will come. Recognized as a top residential agent by sales volume for many years, Susan has also ranked among the top 1.5% of 1.6 million Realtors in the U.S. from 2017 to 2024. She’s excited to continue delivering exceptional results in 2025!
TESTIMONIALS
S.Spergl
"Susan is, without a doubt, the most exceptional Real Estate Professional I've had the pleasure of working with. Her unparalleled expertise, coupled with outstanding communication skills, makes her a true standout in her field. I've had the privilege of listing and purchasing homes with Susan, and she consistently exceeds expectations. Her dedication to delivering exceptional results is evident in everything she does.
What truly impressed me was the team she assembled to list my home. The expertise they brought to the table – from design and marketing to pricing and process – was invaluable. It was clear that I was a top priority for Susan, and her attention to detail made all the difference.
In short, Susan Gregory is the gold standard in Real Estate Professionals. Her exceptional service, expertise, and commitment to excellence make her the ultimate partner for any Real Estate transaction!"
G Srivastava
"We cannot recommend Susan highly enough! Our journey to buying a new home was initially rocky with another agent, but Susan stepped in and turned everything around when we approached her. She expertly navigated the complexities of building a home, working seamlessly with our builder and architect, and provided invaluable insights and input throughout the process.
When we faced challenges closing on our new home due to our previous home not selling, Susan connected us with a different lender, making the process smooth and stress-free. Her meticulous attention to detail and proactive approach led to instant showings when we switched to her for selling our old home.
Susan's extensive knowledge of space functionality and her many years of experience dealing with buyers, sellers, and builders were evident throughout our journey. She is extremely transparent with communication, ensuring we were always informed and comfortable with every decision.
Susan's team was incredibly responsive and handled difficult situations with grace, including dealing with a particularly challenging buyer. Their dedication and professionalism were evident every step of the way. Thanks to Susan and her amazing team, we are now happily settled in our custom-built dream home. If you're looking for a real estate agent who goes above and beyond, look no further than Susan!"
C.Tucker
"Susan helped us both buy and sell numerous homes - all around Nashville. Every time she was extremely knowledgeable about the area, the market, the growth, etc. Each time she gave us as much guidance and information as we requested. She never pushed her thoughts on us but rather armed us with all information needed to make the right decision. Her contribution to our many successes is invaluable! Never once did we have a hiccup in our transactions (because she was always shepherding the process) but we knew if we did have an issue, she would go to bat for us and resolve it immediately! On top of her professionalism and knowledge, she is one of the most personable, honest, courteous, patient and sincere people we ever met in Nashville. She has amazing integrity and over the years, we grew to consider her a dear friend. One note of caution though, once you work with Susan - you will be spoiled forever! She's that good! We recommend her for the buy, sell or both without reservation whatsoever!"
TESTIMONIALS
Mark Z
"Susan Gregory and her team are fantastic. Susan G is the top realtor in Williamson County for many years for good reason. She knows the market, neighborhoods, builders, lenders etc better than anyone. She is the #1 go to person for our real estate needs and works her butt off to earn the business. In fact, we have bought and sold (and built) over 5 homes with Susan G and her team representing us. I would highly recommend Susan G and her team."
J. Depriest
"Susan Gregory, has represented us in several transactions. She is very organized and extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of the transaction. She is always available to address any questions or concerns. She will work through all obstacles for a stress free purchase or sell. We highly recommend Susan, without hesitation."
R. Hise
"FIVE STAR all the way!! The ultimate real estate professional! Susan Gregory and her team deliver professionalism, knowledge, strategy, and the superior real estate experience!!!"
T. Baldridge
Susan and her team did an amazing job with our home sale! Highly recommend!
E. Gawthorpe
Selling a house involves much more than simply putting up a For Sale Sign! Sugan Gregory's Parks Realty TEAM includes incredible agents and marketing assistance. Holly, Jennifer and Rachel helped with market awareness and how to highlight our home's best features. Susan's Team is the hardest working Real Estate Professionals that we have had the pleasure of working with for 3 home transactions. They can close a deal even when interest rates are near 7%!
R. Arnold
Susan and I have worked together for about 10 years now. She is the perfect realtor. Takes endless amounts of notes, always dedicated to doing whatever it takes to get a sale, or to help find the perfect home/project for me. I am blessed to have her work with me.
J. Kasick
Susan is an exceptional realtor who truly goes above and beyond to help her clients find their dream home. She takes the time to understand the needs of her clients. She responds quickly, works tirelessly, and helps navigate the complexities of buying or selling your home. I highly recommend her
TESTIMONIALS
D.Brown
Susan and her team sold my house quickly and with tremendous efficiency. They negotiated on my behalf and balanced all parties needs wonderfully. She tapped into resources to address some last minute surprises to keep the deal moving. You can not go wrong with her team. Real champions for their clients. (Thank you Holly too !!!)
To Nashville's future. And yours.
For those invested in the Nashville community and want a piece of it to call their own, Onward is more than a brokerage we are a locally owned community of real estate agents deeply committed to making Middle Tennessee a great place to live for all of us. Through our collaborative approach and personalized support, we deliver unmatched training and deeply rooted market expertise to help our agents thrive.
Because when our agents succeed, our clients and community do, too.
Because it's more than a house.
It's a place we call home.
Real estate is local and so are we. Our leadership team has worked in Middle Tennessee for more than 50 years — and we're not going anywhere. When you work with Onward, you'll get deeply rooted local expertise that knows how to navigate the local market so you can make the best investment.
Invested in Nashville Expert Agent Community
At Onward, you don't just get an agent — you get access to an expert community of Realtors. We've built the most collaborative real estate brokerage in Nashville, so you can tap into a team of experienced agents dedicated to helping you achieve your goals.
Trusted, Quality Agents
We don't care about being the biggest real estate brokerage in Nashville. We want to be the best. That's why we don't select just anyone to be on our team. We hand-pick quality agents who fit our culture and meet our service standards. The result is a team you can count on to help you find your next home or make your next move.
Home Buying Timeline
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2 3 4 5
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PREPARATION
ᐧ ᐧ CONSULTATION BUDGET FACTORS
FINANCING & PRE-APPROVAL
HOME SEARCH
ᐧ ᐧ SEARCH SETUP PRE-SCREENING PROPERTY TOURS
OFFER
ᐧ OFFER SUBMISSION NEGOTIATION OF TERMS CONTRACT
ᐧ ESCROW & TITLE FINANCING & APPRAISAL DISCLOSURES REVIEW INSPECTIONS NEGOTIATIONS OR CREDITS
CLOSING
ᐧ ᐧ CLOSING PREPARATION FINAL WALK-THROUGH SIGNING & FUNDING CELEBRATE!
Preparation
Together, we will discuss your needs, preferences, lifestyle, goals, and price range. Discoveries made during this phase will impact our timeline and determine our search parameters.
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Consultation
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Alignonyourdesiredhomelocation,timeline, andessentialfeatures.
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Reviewthepre-approvalprocessandfinancing options.
• Discussthevariousservices,purchasingprocess, andanticipatedoutcomes.
Executetheexclusivebuyerbrokerservices agreement
Budget Factors
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Earnest Money: Typically 1% of purchase price
Inspection Fees: Between $500–$1,000
Appraisal Fee: Approximately $500
Additional Closing Costs: Around 3% of purchase price, including title insurance, lender fees, and homeowners insurance
Mortgage Qualification: Loansare determinedbyCreditReports,Assets,Income, andPropertyValue.
Rates: Reviewcurrentmortgageratesand discussfluctuationsandrate-lockingoptions.
Debt-to-Income Ratio: Between33–38%
› › Down Payment: 3.5–5.0%required.Additional loanprogramsareavailableforlargerdown payments.
PITI:Between25–28%ofyourgrossmonthly income:PrincipalonLoan,InterestonLoan, PropertyTaxes,andHomeownersInsurance.
Financing & Pre-Approval
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• Evaluatevariousmortgagesourcesand products. Getconnectedwithmortgagelenderto obtainpre-approval.
Social Security number
Two most recent pay stubs
Last year’s tax return
Two most recent bank statements
Last year’s W2
› › › Suggest a local mortgage lender who can greatly improve the outcome of your home purchase.
Provide guidance on the latest market conditions and trends that may impact your purchasing ability, and establish realistic expectations according to your financial limitations.
Advocate for you and your interests throughout the entire home buying process.
Home Search
Finding the "perfect home" is often more expensive than any budget can accommodate. Our goal is to get as close to that ideal as possible, and we frequently find that buyers are very satisfied with a home that fulfills about 85% of their wants and needs. Keep this in mind when viewing homes and identifying which factors are most important to you.
Search Setup
• Createsearchcriteriabasedonthekey featuresofyouridealhome:
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› Location - Consider school systems, work commute, neighborhood amenities, etc
Size and Property Type
Property Condition
Features and Amenities
Price
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• Identifywhichhomefeaturesyoucan compromiseonandwhicharemust-haves. Lookforpotentialhomesonline (Onwardre.com,MLS,Zillow,etc.)
Property Pre-Screening
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• • Off-marketandcoming-soonlistingsare filteredthroughOnward’sexclusiveagent network.
Privatebrokeropenhousesareattended,and newlistingsarepreviewed. Thelistingagentiscontactedtogather informationaboutpropertydetails. Explorethehome,neighborhood,andother importantfeatures.
Property Tours
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• Privateshowingsarearrangedwiththelisting agent. Attendshowingsandopenhouses. Observationsandpotentialconcernsare notedduringtheviewing.
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Set up home search alerts on MLS (automatic notifications for listings that meet your specifications).
Look for exclusive upcoming listings and investigate new developments and off-market options.
Arrange and join all property viewings.
Respond to your queries regarding homes that catch your interest.
Reach out to the listing agent for information on property specifics and seller needs.
Analyze all feedback from viewings and modify search criteria as necessary.
Keep an eye on the market for any changes.
Offer a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) on properties you are seriously considering to assist you in crafting a competitive offer.
Offer
As soon as you discover a property you wish to make an offer on, we will explore various strategies that can provide you with the greatest edge in securing a successful bid.
• Theofferiscraftedbasedonthepropertyand yourneeds,including:
› › › › Price Timeline Earnest Money Contingencies - Financial, Appraisal, Inspection, Home Sale
• Awrittenofferissubmittedintheformof aTennesseeAssociationofRealtors® (TAR)PurchaseandSaleAgreement.
Negotiation of Terms
• • Yourofferisdeliveredtothelistingagentand canbeaccepted,declined,ormetwitha counterofferfromtheseller.
Thetermsofthecontractarediscussedand negotiatedifnecessary.
› › › › › › Maintain prompt communication between you and the listing agent.
Offer guidance on crafting the most appealing offer based on current market and property conditions while considering your needs.
Assemble the offer package, including a cover letter, pre-approval letter, agency documents, and other essential paperwork.
Present all documentation for the seller and listing agent's evaluation.
Assess counteroffers or addendums, if necessary.
Verify contract acceptance and examine the documents.
Contract
As soon as we have established an agreement with a seller, I will share a schedule and keep everyone informed about the process leading to the closing. I will assist you in understanding the contract terms and any last-minute discussions to ensure a smooth closing.
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Escrow & Title
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Aschedulebasedonthecontractdateisput intoaction.
Inspection
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EarnestMoneyDepositismade.
• ThePurchaseandSaleAgreementisaccepted andendorsedbyallparties,turningitintoa legallybindingcontract.
Atitlereportforthepropertyiscommenced, andanysignificanttermsareexamined.
Financing and Appraisal
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• Financingisinitiatedbythelender. Anappraisalisrequestedandarranged. Theappraiserevaluatestheproperty's conditionandmarketvalue.
Theappraisalreportisexamined,andany inconsistenciesareaddressed. Alowerappraisalisnegotiatedwiththelisting agent,seller,andlender,ifneeded. Reviewandsignthedocumentsforappraisal andremovaloffinancecontingencies. Confirmationoffinancingandappraisal approvalisobtainedfromthelender.
Disclosures
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• • Disclosuresandreportsarethoroughly reviewedwithyou. Ifnecessary,furtherwrittendisclosuresor inspectionswillberequested. Alldocumentsaresigned. Copieswillbegiventotherespectiveparties ofthetransaction.
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• Inspectionsarearranged,anddetailsare sharedwithallinvolvedparties. Theinspectors'commentsorissuesare examined,andanynecessaryfollow-up actionsorfurtherinspectionsareaddressed. Acopyoftheinspectionreportwillbe providedtoyou.
Negotiations or Credits
• • Thereport'sresultsareexaminedalongwith possiblefutureactions,suchasdiscussions regardingrepairsorcredits,ifnecessary. Addendumsandtheremovalofcontingencies areprepared,assessed,andauthorized.
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Suggest a title company, a local lender (if necessary), and nearby service providers for inspections, home enhancements, and repairs.
Compile appraisal comparables and share insights and significant property characteristics with the appraiser.
Arrange and participate in inspections.
Address any concerns, inquiries, or clarifications with the listing agent.
Draft repair proposals, if required.
Make certain that all inspections and repair requests are finalized within the due diligence timeline specified in the contract.
Ensure that all essential documents are signed and all contractual obligations are promptly fulfilled in preparation for closing.
Closing
Once all necessary investigations for the transaction have been finalized and the loan evaluation is in progress, we will prepare for a few concluding steps. We will verify the state of the property and examine the final paperwork before you settle into your new home!
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Closing Preparations
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• Submitanyextrapaperworkaskedfor bythelenderortitlecompany.
Obtainhomeownersinsuranceforyour newresidence.
Scheduleutilityservicestobeactivated onthedayyoutakepossession. Organizefinancingforthebuyer's closingexpenses,ensuringmeasures areinplacetopreventwirefraud.
Final Walk-Through
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• Afinalwalk-throughappointmentis scheduledtoexaminethehomeonelast timebeforeclosing.
Verifythattheproperty sconditionmeets expectationsandallagreed-uponrepairs havebeenmade.
Addressanyconcernsabouttheproperty beforeclosing,ifneeded.
Signing & Funding
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• Signthefinalloandocumentsandclosing disclosurefromthelender. Sendtherequiredclosingfundsviawire transfer.
Purchasetitleinsurancetoprotectagainst lossesfromtitleissuesthatcouldimpact ownership.
Closingdocumentsaresignedandthedeed istransferredtoyou.
Celebrate!
Accompany you during the final walk-through of the property.
› › › › › Ensure all paperwork is signed and prepared for a timely closing.
Develop a plan with the listing agent to address any questions or concerns during the final walk-through.
Attend the closing to answer any final questions.
Provide ongoing support by offering moving checklists and staying in touch with updates on property values.
