There are many emotions and thoughts that come to a person’s mind when they think about purchasing a new home, especially if it is their first home. Often people do not know where to start and turn to the internet for help. Hopefully this post will point you in the right direction.
Online Tools
Many people start their real estate search with websites such as Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and many others. These sites are great and have lots of general information. However, they are not as up to date on the current listings as local listing services that real estate agents have access to. If you are looking to find potential areas where you might want to live or just see a general overview of what is currently on the market then the previously mentioned sites would be a good first step.
Finding a Real Estate Agent
The next step and potentially the most important step is to select a real estate professional. Not all real estate agents are created equal. Real estate agents will vary in many ways including: knowledge, time, ethics, customer service, whether they work in real estate part time or full time, and many other factors. It is important to select an agent that fits your needs. The right real estate agent will be able to comfortably move you through the home buying process, provide access to a quality network of contacts to help with other needs, and find you the perfect home for you!
Loan Prequalification
Before we get a head of ourselves, one thing that needs to be done early in the home buying process is to get prequalified for a loan if you plan on financing your home purchase. Prequalification is very important. This will help you and your real estate agent determine how much you can afford to spend on a house and other important factors about the loan. The process outlines your finances – your debt, income, employment, and cash available for down payment, among other things. There are different loan types such as FHA, VA, Conventional, etc. You will need to have the prequalification process completed to submit an offer in many cases, as this will make your offer more attractive to the seller. The prequalification will also help the agent in some cases during the negotiation process when you find the home you are looking for.
One of my preferred lenders currently has a great loan program available. Please contact me for more information.
Please keep in mind that this is very basic information, and for a most complete discussion contact a professional. For more information on the home buying process or for help with your home purchase please contact me and/or visit my website at www.williammorrisrealestate.com.
Leave a Reply