A real estate agent is a huge asset to you as you go through the home-buying process. This is one of the biggest decisions of your life and you need a skilled professional guiding you through the process.

Your agent will be working with your best interests in mind and can help guide you through all the stages of home buying.

Nows your time to be realistic. Review your credit and any sources of income. This will help you really work through if you’re ready to move forward with a home purchase. And DON’T FORGET - your realtor is your biggest asset. Ask questions, get opinions & be honest.

When determining your mortgage, don't forget other factors like: downpayment, legal fees, taxes, home inspection costs, appraiser costs, and renovation costs.

Just like finding the perfect agent, you will want to find the perfect lender. Do your due diligence & shop around. Your agent should have plenty of resources for you to investigate. Always remember to go where you feel the most comfortable!

Obtaining a pre-approval on your mortgage will help you in many ways. First it will help you determine your budget, and help you stay within your means. Second it shows the seller that you are serious about purchasing a home, and that you have the funds necessary to complete the purchase.

Although you are pre-approved for a loan, does not mean that you will be guaranteed this amount in your final mortgage. You will still have to be approved for a mortgage after you have submitted an offer.

It is important not to make any significant purchases or alter your credit score in any way during this time.

Be sure to make a list of your must haves, wants, and don't cares. As you go through the viewings, make sure you check off all your must haves.

Once you find a house you love, you can make an official offer to the seller.

Once you find a house you love, you can make an official offer to the seller.

Don't be afraid to make an offer!

Be sure to know what you are buying and ensure that you feel the price is fair at the end of the day.

Make sure that you allow for an inspection to be completed prior to the closing of the sale. It is important to know as much about your home as possible.

If anything serious comes out of the inspection, you have an option to back out of the agreement, or gives you more negotiating powe

This is where appraisals (if you’re using a lender) are completed, final loan approvals are given and we make our way to scheduling the official signing for closing day!

Congratulations the Home is now YOURS!

Closing is the final step for you to become the legal owner of your home. You will take a final walk-through just before closing to assure that negotiated work has been completed and everything is in working order.

The closing process itself requires a lot of paperwork and patience. Be prepared with your government issued photo ID, cashier's check and any other documents required by the title company or loan officer.