Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 21

How do I find an agent to help me buy or sell my home?

It is important to work with a full time professional agent when you are buying or selling your home. It is one of the largest investment decisions you will make and you need to work with a professional to help guide you during the process. Where do you find the right agent?

Ask for referrals. Do you know someone who bought or sold a house in the past year? Ask them who they used and if they were happy with their agent. If so, give that agent a call to see if they are a good fit for you.

Stop at open houses. Go in and meet the agent at the open house. Find out if they sell full time and chat with them about working with you. You can decide if they might be a good fit for you.

Look online. Top agents have websites, blogs and use social media to promote their listings and themselves. You can get to know them by reading information about them online and review testimonials from their past clients.

Odds are if you ask enough people someone knows a great agent they can refer you to. That is the best way to find an agent. Get a referral from someone who recommends their agent.

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 20

I've decided to buy a home, what do I do FIRST?

Get pre-approved for your mortgage OR hire a real estate agent who will then help connect you with a mortgage professional to get pre-approved for a loan to purchase your home. This is the most important step. You want to know exactly what you can afford and what monthly payment you are comfortable with.

There are lots of loan options. You want to make sure you have done your homework and know what your options are. Some mortgage loans require you to put more money down than others, but the payment will be less if you can put more down. You just have to review all of the options and decide what is best for you and your current situation.

Once you are pre-approved you can shop with confidence and know exactly what price range to start looking in. You need to be pre-approved before you start looking so you can begin your search in the correct price range.

Once you have decided, or even if you are just considering looking, getting pre-approved should be your first task. Call me today and I can help you get started.