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Getting Ready
Buying a home will probably rank as one of the biggest personal investments one can make. Being organized and in control will contribute significantly to getting the best home deal possible with the least amount of stress. It’s important to anticipate the steps required to successfully achieve your housing goal and to build a plan of action that gets you there. Before you can build a plan of action, take the time to lay the groundwork for your decision-making process. The best advice we can give is to engage a Realtor® to help guide you through the process which is more complex now than ever. Hopefully we are the firm to help you, but either way, we strongly encourage you to use a professional Realtor®.
Next, ask yourself how much you can afford to pay for a home. If you’re not sure on the price range, find a lender and get pre-approved. Pre-approval will let you know how much you can afford, allowing you to look for homes in your price range. Getting pre-approved also helps you to alleviate some of the anxieties that come with home buying. You know exactly what you qualify for and at what rate, you know how large your monthly mortgage payments will be, and you know how much you will have for a down payment. Once you are pre-approved, you avoid the frustration of finding homes that you think are perfect, but are not in your price range. Always use good judgement. Many times buyers are pre-approved for more than they can really afford so be truthful with yourself and make a smart buying decision that you can enjoy for years to come without being "house poor".
Second, ask yourself where you want to live and what the best location for you and/or your family is. Things to consider:
* convenience for all family members
* proximity to work, school
* crime rate of neighborhood
* local transportation
* types of homes in neighborhood, for example condos, town homes, co-ops, newly constructed homes etc.
Your Realtor® can help you with every one of these details!