Pre-Qualification

Meet with a mortgage broker and find out how much you can afford to pay for a home.

Pre-Approval

With Pre-Approval, the buyer actually applies for a mortgage and receives a commitment in writing from a lender. This way, assuming the home you’re interested in is at or under the amount you are pre-qualified for, the seller knows immediately that you are a serious buyer for that property.

Needs and Wants

Know what you NEED such as number of bedrooms, bathrooms, accessibility, garage and more. Focus on looking at home with your needs. When you also know other items you would want, these can help you quickly make a decision if the property has these, or if you can add these at a different time or can live without.

Visualize

When viewing a home, visualize how everything will flow inside the home. Will your furniture and decorating fit within the home. Will the rooms meet your needs? Will the lighting and natural light work for you? If considering some remodeling, is it realistic with the homes structure or are there any restrictions from the city?

Planning

Know locations that will work for you and you are interested in. Research areas of importance such as schools, proximity to work, shopping, entertainment, parks, and safety. Research the area services to know your options such as internet, cell service, garbage, utilities, parking and pets. Also, know what insurance and taxes will be to allow for budgeting.

Organization

Keep the above information in a location you can easily access. Add to this notes and photos on properties you have viewed, list of properties you are interested in viewing and questions that come up,

Finding Your Home

Finding the home you want to move forward with can be very exciting. This is the time to be thorough to help save money and headaches in the future. Have the property inspected by a professional inspector, consider contingencies in your written offer, and request a second walk through to take place within 24 hours of closing.

Work with a Realtor

Buyers benefit when working with a professional realtor that represent you and not the seller, and are there for you throughout the buying process.