Are you lost? Here's a roadmap to get you started in the home buying process

You want to buy a home, but you have NO idea where to start you say? Well - let me outline some of the basics for you. Later on, I will get into each topic in much more depth.. but for now, let's just lay it all out for you.

Step 1: Mortgage Preapproval
You know you want to buy, but you really have no idea how much you can actually afford? Meeting with a mortgage professional is a great start. You don't necessarily have to go into someones office for this, it can be done over the phone very easily. However, if you feel more comfortable sitting face to face with someone, you should certainly request that of them.

It's important to find a lender you feel comfortable with and trust. Most people do not fully realize the importance a good lender has in the real estate transaction from start to finish. If the lender is not honest, does not communicate well with your agent, and does not meet deadlines - you could potentially lose the house. I always suggest getting recommendations from friends/family who have been through the home buying process, who have had good experiences with a lender, and contact them first. Or if you're already working with a real estate agent, you can ask them for recommendations. Most agents have one or two lenders they like to work with, click with, trust and know that they will get the job done for them time and again.

The lender is going to take some basic information from you, ie - salary, debt, credit score and give you an idea of how much house you can truly afford. Once you have this information, you can get started on your house hunt with the knowledge of exactly what your price range is.

Step 2: Find a Realtor
This is fairly interchangeable with Step 1.

Again, now is the time to talk to friends/family and find out if they recently bought a home, had a good experience, and would recommend their agent to you.

Or you could always contact the author of a blog you just read and happened to enjoy....

Once you find an agent you feel comfortable with, they will set up a search of the MLS (multiple listing service, a database of all the homes for sale in your area) for you based on some basic search criteria .. ie - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, under 300k with garage in a few specific towns. Your agent will send you listings to view online, and when you see some that you like, he/she will take you to view them in person.

During this time you can also dedicate your Sunday's to visiting open houses. This is an easy no hassle way to start feeling out what types of homes are for sale in the areas you are looking in. Be forewarned - when you visit an open house, the agent present will want to obviously try to sell you that house, or other homes ..if you are already working with an agent, please give that person your card so that they know you are already working with someone. However, if you haven't found an agent yet - meeting them at an open house is another good way to find someone you click with and want to work with.

Step 3: Visiting Homes
After you have found your agent, and been preapproved for your mortgage - you can begin the actual house hunt! Get out there with your agent, make some appts, view some properties. Who knows, you just may find the house of your dreams sooner than you think


In the upcoming weeks we will talk a bit more in detail about the buying process, submitting an offer, the dreaded home inspection, and getting to the closing table. Stay tuned!

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Kim Rock
Licensed Realtor PA/NJ
Keller Williams Real Estate Langhorne, PA
Kimberly.Rock@comcast.net