| If you are seriously in the market for buying a | | | | The rub here for you making your first time |
| home - congratulations! If this is your first time | | | | home buying trip is you must stay in control of |
| home buying journey, let me offer up three key | | | | the situation with the realtor - whatever that |
| elements you must know before you sign that | | | | situation is. If you need to look at more homes - |
| contract. I would call these very important "Must | | | | let the realtor know that. If you can't stand a |
| do's" for you: | | | | home - speak up and let them know. The |
| 1) You must know "how much" home you can | | | | realtor's motivation is to sell you a home - the |
| afford to buy. | | | | quicker the better. If they can control the |
| Whether you are buying a new home or existing | | | | situation - they can more easily sell you a home. |
| one - it really does not matter in this area - you | | | | I'm not saying the realtor is not there to help, but |
| must know how much home you can buy. | | | | I am saying they want to get you in a home |
| Remember this - the biggest mistake first time | | | | quickly. |
| home buyers make is looking at, or worse, | | | | Don't be bashful about asking the realtor for first |
| purchasing too much home. Therefore, I highly | | | | time home buying tips. See what they know - |
| recommend you get yourself "pre-qualified" with a | | | | pick their brain. If you get the feeling they really |
| mortgage professional first. If you are already | | | | have no clue about the market - move on to |
| looking at homes - that's o.k. - just meet with a | | | | another realtor - and quickly! |
| lender at your next earliest convenience. | | | | 3) Get yourself a home buying checklist. |
| Since this is your first time looking for a house, | | | | The No. 1 first time home buying tip I can give |
| you probably don't have a mortgage person | | | | you after knowing how much home you can buy, |
| selected. I highly recommend networking with | | | | and making sure you are in control of your |
| your local friends who have bought a home | | | | home-buying experience - is to get organized with |
| recently. Personal referrals in a local market are | | | | a checklist. The checklist I recommend on my |
| the best method to select a loan officer. | | | | home-buying blog is actually a freebie produced by |
| 2) You must not let your realtor control you. | | | | the Department of Housing and Urban |
| If you're buying a home, chances are you're using | | | | Development - or HUD. Get one and use it. |
| a realtor. I've worked with hundreds and hundreds | | | | Buying a home is an exciting time, and buying a |
| of realtors over the past 20+ years. | | | | first home is not only exciting, but new (and |
| Let me make two points about realtors: | | | | stressful). The more you can control your |
| - The majority of all realtors I've ever worked | | | | elements, learn as you go and not get in a hurry - |
| with have been professional and ethical. | | | | the greater your odds that the home buying |
| - Realtors make a living by selling homes. What | | | | experience will be a great - and financially smart |
| separates the pros from the amateur realtors is | | | | one - for your family. |
| their ability to get you to buy a home quickly. | | | | |