ü      Know what you can afford to spend.  Get pre-approved for your mortgage BEFORE you start looking.

ü      Don’t spend time looking at homes you can not afford.  Only look at homes in your price range. That will reduce the temptation to over-extend your budget!  You don’t want to become “house-poor”.

ü      Realize the neighborhood you choose is at least as important as the house.  Make sure you are comfortable there.  While houses can be modified, finding the community that is a good fit for your family is vital.

ü      Think about resale value.  When you spot a home you like, consider how it will look to future buyers.  For instance, proximity to a busy street can turn some buyers off.

ü      ALWAYS use a Realtor!  You get our services for free!  If you see a For-Sale-By-Owner ask your agent to contact them, most of the time the seller is willing to work with us. 

ü      Investigate ongoing maintenance costs and other factors such as taxes, insurance and utilities.  Taxes will go up and this will make your payment go up.  While it is not a dramatic increase, examples can be $5-30 a month, it can go up.  I’ve seen payments increase $28 a month one year and actually go down $15 the next!

ü      Have the house inspected, and carefully review the report.  Come up with a negotiation strategy, remembering that the seller is obligated to fix a leaking roof but not a hole in the carpet!

ü      Once the offer is in, DO NOT go buy that new car you’ve been wanting!  Wait to after the closing to buy any big ticket items, especially if you are using credit to finance!  Lenders will pull your credit to make sure you have not done this and if they find anything they will pull out of the deal!

ü      Don’t fixate on list price.  The true value of a home might not be reflected in its listed price.  A property’s listed price simply reflects what they hope to get.  If you think the house is worth less, make an offer!  Use your agent’s comparatives to help you with this, they can show you what homes have sold for in the area and this is information will help you come up with a price to go in at.

ü      Accept imperfections.  Lots of buyers demand spacious well-maintained homes in upscale neighborhoods.  There are few bargains that meet that description.

If you have any questions about the 10 tips just ask!  I want you to be fully informed about the process!

- "If you plan from the beginning to approach the home buying process intelligently and with confidence," Adams said, "you are more likely to emerge at the end of the day with a house you'll be proud to call home, and the knowledge that you made the right decision."