[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by ft_chief

1. Check your current FICO score at MyFico.com and get a copy of your credit report at annualcreditreport.com.

Don't forget to cancel your membership at myfico after you get your score.

Or, if you know your banker well enough, you can just have him or her pull your number for you.

[Packrat1]

Yes definitely get a "pre qualify" letter from your Bank or Credit Union first. Take that with you when you go house hunting if you find something you like.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by Packrat1

Yes definitely get a "pre qualify" letter from your Bank or Credit Union first. Take that with you when you go house hunting if you find something you like.

Pre-Approved is much, much better than "Pre-Qualify." It's also harder to obtain. I wouldn't bother looking at houses without a pre-approval letter or enough cash for the transaction.

[Scott456]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

I can't answer your question about home buying sites, but I can say that it is best to get a reliable Real Estate agent [mod cut-- see forum rules re: recommending specific realtors], to help you find just what your needs are. Buying a home on your own has a lot of pitfalls that the average buyer is not aware of. Besides it costs you nothing as a buyer, and they have the resources to locate any home that is for sale, andtell you all about it, then if you want to see it, they should drive you to the site. For instance, they'd do a search based on whatever criteria, such as price, number of bedrooms, square footage, yards, pools, etc. and save you a lot of frustration. You really don't want to go to the seller's agent directly; you'd want someone representing you. It's like the old saying that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client.

hmmm...please tell me which one of the above agents will come pick you up and drive you around to see houses and keep doing so until you see a house you like. Which one of the above agents will visits all the houses you are interested in before he/she shows you, so he/she can tell you all about it?

Most of the agents will just type in your criteria into Realtor.com and generate a automatic query report every few days, and tell you to contact he/she when you see something you like. If you want to see the property, he/she will then meet you at the property, he/she may or may not preview the property before showing to you.

[eventusstultorummagister]

Originally Posted by Scott456

hmmm...please tell me which one of the above agents will come pick you up and drive you around to see houses and keep doing so until you see a house you like. Which one of the above agents will visits all the houses you are interested in before he/she shows you, so he/she can tell you all about it?

Most of the agents will just type in your criteria into Realtor.com and generate a automatic query report every few days, and tell you to contact he/she when you see something you like. If you want to see the property, he/she will then meet you at the property, he/she may or may not preview the property before showing to you.

Often they arrive late or not at all.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by eventusstultorummagister

Often they arrive late or not at all.

Or they arrive drunk. Happened recently meeting a listing agent.



It seems to me a lot of people are basing their recommendations on the experience they had the LAST TIME they bought a house. You know, back before the crash. In some cases, back before the Internet. I'd say "back before electricity" but that's a bit of a stretch. "Back before they split Ma Bell up" works, though.

[eventusstultorummagister]

Should you be buying in Vegas? - YouTube