- Find out what you can afford to pay – meet with your bank or mortgage broker
- Apply for a mortgage and get pre-approved by your lender. This lets the seller know that you’re a serious buyer. Costs for pre-approval are usually nominal and many lenders allow you to pay those costs at closing.
- Visualize the home with your belongings. Will your furniture fit, is there enough natural light?
- You should consider hiring a real estate agent – someone who will represent you, not the seller.
- Think with your head, not your heart. There are many homes to choose from so don’t rush to make a decision that you may regret later.
- Keep the following items handy to assist you in your home search:
- Maps of the areas where you’re focusing your search
- Paper and pen for taking notes while you’re looking at properties
- Camera to help differentiate one property from another. This is especially helpful if you’re viewing more than a few properties in one outing.
- Information provided to you by your agent or flyers you’ve picked up at individual properties
- Look at potential properties from a seller’s point of view, considering both positive and negative features.
- Remember the following essentials:
- Use a professional inspector to inspect the property
- Schedule a second walk-through to be held within 24 hours of closing
- Make certain no changes have been made that were not agreed to in the offer
- Include mortgage and inspection contingencies in your written offer
Using a licensed real estate agent will help you easily navigate through this process. Please contact us if you need a qualified real estate agent and we will help find you an agent that best meets your needs.