| You have finally reached the point where you | | | | across one that you keep thinking about and one |
| have decided it is time to stop paying rent and | | | | that you wish to go back and visit again. If the |
| are ready to purchase your first home. You have | | | | home keeps drawing you back it may just be the |
| done your research and have been steadily saving | | | | right one for you. |
| so that you can afford a good down payment | | | | Visit your chosen home at different times of the |
| and in return receive smaller monthly or weekly | | | | day if possible, so you can see if the lights are |
| payments on your mortgage. | | | | working effectively, where the sun is on your |
| You have visited your bank and have been | | | | home and on your future gardens. |
| pre-approved for a mortgage and are now ready | | | | Once you are certain that this is the home for |
| to shop for your first home. | | | | you, then your real estate agent will prepare the |
| Now is the time to choose a real estate agent. It | | | | necessary paperwork to present an offer, they |
| is always good to ask friends and family who | | | | will also advise you of how close the offer should |
| they have used in the past and have had a | | | | be to the original asking price. Here you want to |
| pleasant experience with. You want an agent that | | | | take into consideration, things such as the |
| has your best interests at heart and is not just | | | | condition of the carpets and fixtures, if they will |
| out to sell any home to you. | | | | have to be replaced immediately or not. Once |
| Once you have chosen your agent you want to | | | | your offer is presented to the sellers, you have |
| make several appointments to view different | | | | to wait for them to either accept of refuse your |
| types of homes in the locations that are desirable | | | | bid, they will possibly come back with a |
| to you. When thinking about location, consider the | | | | counteroffer, stating that they want an X amount |
| roads that you will have to take on your | | | | of dollars and you and your agent will continue to |
| commute to work. Are you within reach of | | | | bargain in this manner until your offer is accepted |
| stores, malls, hospitals and schools? If you are | | | | and a closing date set. |
| planning on a family in the future these are | | | | Once everything is in order all you have to do is |
| important considerations to keep in mind. | | | | wait for the closing date and the keys to your |
| After looking at the various homes with the | | | | very first home are in your hands. |
| different types of backyards, you will come | | | | |