# Buying a Home in Burleson TX | Mike Ritrovato, Compass > First-time buyers, veterans, and relocating families. An honest read on every house, from a retired Marine Master Sergeant and Compass REALTOR in Burleson. Canonical page: https://liveinburlesontx.com/buy # The house is the easy part. The decision is what needs a straight answer. Mike shows you the problems as well as the potential, including on the houses he thinks you should walk away from. - [Book Meeting](https://liveinburlesontx.com/contact#book) - [(760) 468-7930](tel:+17604687930) The Process ## What happens, in order. ### Fifteen minutes on the phone Where you want to live, what you can comfortably carry, and what your timeline really is. If the answer is that you should wait six months, he will say so. - 1 ### Pre-approval, not pre-qualification A real pre-approval, from a lender who does volume in the loan type you are using, so your offer is taken seriously. Run the payment first on the [mortgage calculator](https://liveinburlesontx.com/mortgage-calculator). - 2 ### Touring, with the problems pointed out One buyer looked at almost twenty homes in two days and got a professional opinion on the positives, the negatives, and what to watch for at every single address. - 3 ### Writing an offer that gets picked Price is one lever. Terms, timeline, and how the offer is presented are the rest. This is where a negotiator earns the fee. - 4 ### Inspection, appraisal, and repairs The stage where deals die. Mike works the repair negotiation rather than passing the report along with a shrug. - 5 ### Closing and the keys Final walkthrough, funding, and the part where you stop refreshing your email. - 6 Who He Works With ## Three kinds of buyers, three different playbooks. ### First-time buyers The largest group in his reviews. Expect the process explained twice if you need it, and no pressure to make an offer before you understand what you are signing. ### Veterans using the VA benefit Entitlement, funding fee exemptions, and lender overlays. He used the benefit himself and runs seminars on it. [Read the VA loan page](https://liveinburlesontx.com/va-loans). ### Relocating and PCS families Video walkthroughs, digital signing, and a search worked backward from a report date or a lease end. [Start with Burleson](https://liveinburlesontx.com/burleson). Start Looking ## Search it yourself, then send him the address. Search opens in a new tab. Send Mike an address and he will tell you what he thinks of it. ### Search Every Home Every active listing across Burleson, Fort Worth, and the wider DFW area. ### Burleson Listings Filtered to Burleson only, updated through the day from the MLS. ### What Is My Home Worth A real valuation, not an automated guess pulled from a national model. ### Recently Sold What closed nearby recently, which is the number that sets your price. ### Mortgage Calculator Run the payment before you fall in love with a house. ### Featured Homes The listings Mike is working right now. “ He introduced himself with, I know why your house didn't sell. He didn't tiptoe around the issues. He gave us straightforward, actionable advice and didn't shy away from any challenge. He even said, you probably have other agents, but I'm your only veteran. Our home sold in nine days. Ace Cassidy Sold a home, April 2025 · via Zillow Buyer Reviews ## From people who did this with him. I am a first-time home buyer with zero knowledge of how the home buying process works and zero knowledge of the market. Mike Ritrovato was the perfect agent for someone like me. In 2 days we looked at almost 20 homes and at each home we got an honest professional opinion on positives, negatives, and what to look out for at every address. Mike made a stressful process stress-less. As first time home buyers, Mike was extremely helpful in every facet throughout the entire process. Any questions we had, he gave us an instant answer, all of which proved to be 100% accurate. We looked at around 20 homes, and Mike's honesty proved to be irreplaceable. The very first home had structural concerns and was located on a very busy road that couldn't be identified from the photos. Due to our geographical separation, we needed that honest assessment. Mike and his team have been absolutely fantastic with assisting my husband and I close on our first home super quickly and efficiently! We had a previously horrible experience falling out of escrow by working with someone else who was incompetent, and Mike was the complete opposite. The only thing I wish was different is that we met him sooner. Mike is the best realtor we could have ever dreamed of. We were ignorant about all things from house hunting to having a home. He always answered our calls with our million questions and always reassured us that everything will be in our favor. He was able to negotiate with the seller and got us a really good closing deal. As a first time homebuyer, I had no idea the process that went into purchasing a home. Mike worked diligently to ensure that I was informed and educated through every step of the process. He is extremely attentive to detail, has excellent communication, and his enthusiasm shows that he truly loves his job and clients. Mike was patient and informative in the process of purchasing my home. He did an awesome job at representing me. Any and every question I had, he answered, or he promptly returned with an answer. I didn't feel pressured like I did with other real estate agents. - [Read All Reviews](https://liveinburlesontx.com/reviews) Buyer Questions ## What buyers ask on the first call. ### How much do I need saved to buy a home in Burleson? Anywhere from nothing to about six percent of the price, depending on the loan. A VA loan for an eligible borrower needs no down payment. FHA starts near 3.5 percent, conventional near 5. Closing costs sit on top. Run your own numbers on the mortgage calculator. ### Should I get pre-approved before I start looking? Yes, and before you tour anything. A pre-approval tells you the real number instead of a comfortable one, and in a multiple offer situation an offer without one is usually set aside. Mike will point you to lenders who actually close what they approve. ### What if I am a first-time buyer and do not know anything? That describes a large share of his clients. Several of their reviews open by saying they had zero knowledge of the process. The first call is an explanation, not a pitch, and nobody is asked to make an offer they are not ready for. ### Can I see homes on evenings and weekends? Yes. Multiple reviews mention showings after work and on short notice. Text the number and he will tell you what he can do that day. Free Download ## Moving to the DFW area? Start with the free relocation guide. Neighborhoods, commutes, schools, and VA loan basics from a Marine who made the same move. - [Get the Free Guide](https://liveinburlesontx.com/relocation-guide) ## Send him an address. Text him a listing you like. He will tell you what is wrong with it, which is the part the photos leave out. - [Talk To Mike](https://liveinburlesontx.com/contact) - [(760) 468-7930](tel:+17604687930) [Living In Burleson Texas](https://liveinburlesontx.com) · [Privacy Policy](https://liveinburlesontx.com/privacy) · [Accessibility](https://liveinburlesontx.com/accessibility) · Powered by [Launch Automation](https://launchautomation.ai/custom)