Five Things Every Buyer Needs to Do

Thinking of buying a home this year?  Not quite sure what to do to make that happen?  Here are the 5 things you need to do before you begin seriously looking at homes.  Believe me, being prepared will save you time, money and frustration and ensure you can successfully purchase a home and still have money left at the end of the month.

1. Interview a couple lenders.  Don't just fill out an application online; that can actually cost you points on your credit score.  Meet with a couple lenders so you can make sure you will have control over your home loan decisions.  This is a 30+ year committment; make it a good one.
2. Fill out a budget worksheet and be very honest about your spending habits.  You are the only one looking at the numbers; don't lie to yourself
3. Drive around different communities that interest you.  See if the stuff in the neighborhood yards match your personality and expected lifestyle.  Realtors cannot, by law, tell you where the best schools are or where kids live.  You get to pre-research that.
4. Interview 2 or 3 Realtors.  Open houses are great for this - and we won't even know if we're being interviewed so don't tell us and you will see which personality will best suit you.
5. Pull the following together: For the lender - tax and income info, expense info including car payments, student loan payments.  Don't lie, they can see it all on your credit report. For the Realtor, bring your preapproval letter from the lender, a list of must haves and want to haves, and an open mind. 

That's it.  Put on your walking shoes, sign that Buyer's Agency (we'll talk about that later) and have fun shopping for your new home!