Tips for First Time Buyers

If you are currently in the market for your first home, you probably have lots of questions. You are about to be making an important decision for your future, a great investment of both money and time. I have a wealth of experience helping first time buyers like you make sound, informed decisions. Here are some tips that can help make your home buying process successful:

• Tip #1: Do Your Homework  The perfect home won’t find you by itself. The key step in buying a home is doing the proper research. Educate yourself on local schools, neighborhoods, and the kinds of homes available. By reading available materials and talking with experts, you can start to put together your idea of the perfect home.
• Tip #2: Start Planning  Most decisions benefit greatly from proper planning, and home buying is certainly no exception. Start a filing system with sections such as home buying, home financing, and service providers. By forming a home buying plan you can more easily focus on the most important factors and help give structure to the entire process. My website is a great resource for property information.
• Tip #3: Get PreQualified  Getting prequalified for a loan normally only requires a short phone conversation with a lender, and can greatly help your home search. Prequalification does not guarantee you a loan, but it does provide you with an estimated monthly payment and a price range to use as a guide when shopping for homes. Being prequalified can also often indicate to sellers that you are a serious, prepared buyer.
• Tip #4: Look for Value  When shopping for homes, it’s important to consider potential value. Even if you’re not planning to sell the home some time down the line, it’s a good idea to consider the future value of the home. Protect yourself against things like falling prices and gradual shifts in the nature of the neighborhood. You may not think of a new home as a means to make money, but it’s an important investment that requires caution.
• Tip #5: Decide What You’re Looking For Settle on the home features that are important to you (covered parking, hardwood floors, architectural style, etc.) and make an ordered list. Having well established guidelines will help narrow down your search and will prevent you from being shown properties that lack your key amenities. It can help you make the decision not to buy an attractive property that doesn’t really fit your needs. My website has a search feature that allows you to filter thousands of listings based on attributes that you select. If you know you want a brick house with gas heat and a garage, you can get the results you’re looking for.
• Tip #6: Relax  You don’t have to make an offer on the first home you see. Make sure to look at other listings in the area to get a feel for the marketplace. When you decide to make an offer on a house, consult with your real estate professional so that all of your questions are answered.
• Tip #7: Shop Around for Your Mortgage  Deciding on the financing for your home can be as important as choosing a home itself. The first step is deciding what kind of loan best fits you: a fixed rate mortgage, or an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). There are benefits to each form of loan, and your real estate professional can provide you with more information. Next you’ll want to begin to shop around for different lenders.
• Tip #8: Protect Yourself   Be careful when signing a contract on a home that allows you to find financing, have the home inspected, and work through any problem areas that may arise. Paying for a quality home inspection is absolutely crucial! You can save yourself thousands in repair costs by being sure of what you’re getting into.

More information for first time buyers can be found on my website, or by giving me a call. I’m confident that I can provide the kind of exceptional service that will make this process an exciting one. Don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have, I would love to be of assistance to you.

Nancy David, ASR, CNE, AHS
Professional Realtor®
RE/MAX Associates Northeast II
Phone: 281-812-6748
eMail: nancy@NancyDavidRealtor.com
www.NancyDavidRealtor.com

RE/MAX Associates Northeast
18700 W Lake Houston Parkway
Humble, TX 77346
Each office independently owned and operated.

Nancy David with RE/MAX Associates Northeast is your real estate professional specializing in Kingwood, Humble, Atascocita, Eagle Springs, Fall Creek, Summerwood and the entire northeast Houston area.  If you are considering buying or selling a home please give me a call to get the highest level of professional service … and that’s The Way Real Estate Should Be.

Be sure to bookmark my web site at www.NancyDavidRealtor.com for your ultimate real estate resource on the Kingwood, Atascocita, and Humble areas.  On my site you can search the MLS to find the perfect home, get information about new home builders, research the area and get information and view photos of the various communities, get the latest real estate news, and view many helpful items and tools regarding buying or selling a home.