| The first step to Home Ownership is to meet with a | | | | the path to home ownership can take you in a |
| local Real Estate Agent. A good agent will listen to | | | | direction you might never have considered. I've worked |
| your needs and concerns, will put you in contact with | | | | with buyers who insisted they only wanted to look at |
| local lenders, will help you seek out the properties that | | | | capes but then discovered they really liked the raised |
| will suit your needs and your budget and will guide you | | | | ranch. Also, when you're looking at properties, it's |
| through the entire process from searching for your | | | | sometimes hard to see past the obvious. Maybe you |
| dream home to making it yours at closing. Your agent | | | | find a house that meets all your wants and needs, but |
| will protect your interests along the way. Find an agent | | | | it's painted in a garish combination of colors. Try to see |
| that you're comfortable with, someone who will listen | | | | past that and imagine what it would look like painted in |
| and someone who will communicate with you in a | | | | your color choices. |
| fashion that works for you. Remember this...the seller | | | | Once you've found your dream home, the next step in |
| has their own agent working for them make sure you | | | | the process to home ownership is to make an offer. |
| have your own agent working for you! Don't worry | | | | At this point in time, you've got a pretty good idea of |
| about compensating your agent, in most cases your | | | | what your local housing market looks like and with the |
| agent is paid from the seller's proceeds of the sale. | | | | help of your agent you should be able to nail down a |
| The second step to Home Ownership would be to get | | | | reasonable market value for the house you're ready |
| together with a local lender. I stress the word local | | | | to buy. Take into consideration if it is a foreclosure |
| here because the local lenders have a really good idea | | | | property or a short sale listing but keep this in |
| of what your local real estate market looks like and | | | | mind...under no circumstances can you assume that |
| they can often times point you in the direction of local | | | | you are the only buyer for the property and that the |
| first time home buyer programs and mortgage loan | | | | seller will accept any offer you make. If this is truly |
| products specific to your area. Meeting with your local | | | | your dream home and home ownership is your goal |
| mortgage lender early in the process to home | | | | then your offer needs to be within a close range of |
| ownership allows you to shop within your means and | | | | current market value for the property. |
| positions you to be ready to make an offer the minute | | | | If your offer is accepted, the next stages of the home |
| you've found your dream home. | | | | ownership process can get pretty tedious. Negotiating |
| Once you've chosen your REALTOR® and you've | | | | the contract, conducting inspections, requesting repairs, |
| secured your mortgage pre-approval, it's time to begin | | | | obtaining repairs and securing your mortgage financing |
| the search that will end in home ownership. You'll need | | | | will all be done in a matter of weeks to months |
| a list and your list needs to be broken down into | | | | depending on the condition of the property you've |
| "wants" and "needs". Be honest with yourself and your | | | | decided to purchase. Try not to worry, the path to |
| agent about what these wants and needs are and | | | | home ownership is a path that many have traveled |
| together you'll work towards your goal of home | | | | before you and your REALTOR® is well equipped |
| ownership. | | | | to hold your hand and help you along the way. |
| Don't get discouraged if you don't find your dream | | | | Your path to home ownership can be a daunting |
| home in the first week or even in the first month. | | | | journey. But, remember this most important tip. During |
| Every home buyer is different and so is every house. | | | | your journey, communication is the key to success! |
| It may take some time to find the right combination of | | | | The better your communications with your agent the |
| your wants and needs. Home ownership is a huge | | | | more successful and rewarding your journey to home |
| investment and responsibility and it's important that you | | | | ownership will be! Be certain that you choose an agent |
| don't settle for just anything. There may be times | | | | that you can work well with and who is working for |
| when you are convinced that the house you're looking | | | | YOU! Decide early on how you and your agent will |
| for doesn't exist when the truth is it just might not be | | | | communicate and your path to home ownership will be |
| on the market yet. | | | | successful and rewarding! |
| Don't be afraid to look "outside the box". Sometimes | | | | |