Do you have a home already?

If so it is wise in this market to make sure you get it sold before you begin looking for a new home. It may seem to be better to look around first but even if you find one it most likely will be gone when you have sold yours and you would have to start all over anyway. You won't know how much money you have to put into your new home until your home is sold and the money is in the bank. Also if you find one that you like and it is a good deal you may need to move quickly before someone else buys it.

Are you renting?

The first thing you will want to do is see when you are able to move. Check to see if you can terminate the lease early should you find a home earlier than expected. Otherwise start looking for your new home approximately three months before your lease is up.

What about financing?

The next step is to look at your finances and see what the limits are on the price of the new home. It doesn't do any good to be looking at houses that are out of your price range and it will make it tougher to accept one that is if you develop an expectation you can't afford.

Were do I obtain financing?

The best advice is to look around and see what opportunities are available. The financing companies may be running a special that you will find hard to pass up and you won't know they are available unless you seek them out. I would suggest that you talk to at least three financing companies and compare what each has to offer you.

Where do I look to find a home?

This will depend on what you are looking for and where you want to live. Some people search the internet for a home until they find something they want. There is nothing wrong with this but keep in mind that the pictures don't show you what the neighbor hood looks like and you don't know how far you will have to drive to get to where you want to. I suggest that you first decide what part of town you want to live in and what type of neighbor hood is acceptable to you. Get out and drive areas that you like and find an area that you want to live in first. This will limit the number of houses you will have to preview and there is nothing worse than finding a house you love but don't want to live where it is locate. Once you find an area you want to live in then use the internet to find what houses are available.

Do I need a Realtor?

No you don't. If you find a house that you want to purchase, the listing Realtor will be glad to sell it to you. Just remember that he/she has more interest in selling that house than in representing you. It is better to have a Realtor that is looking out for your interests and guess what? That Realtor most likely will not cost you a dime! The fee he/she gets is included in the cost of the house you purchase and their fee has already been agreed to in the Mutable Listing Service (MLS). Some people feel that they can save money by using the Listing Realtor and negotiate for themselves, but this is not true. It just means that the Listing Realtor will not have to split the commission with your Realtor and you will have to sign a contract with him/her anyway in which case they will be representing both you and the seller. When this happens you will not have the benefit of a Realtor who has been there from the beginning to represent your best interests. The Realtor is required by law to represent the interests of both parties equally but if they have been working with the Listing Seller for months and have only known you for 10 minutes, who will be better represented? Is it best for you to have a Realtor you are familiar with or one who knows what your likes and dislikes so they can better represent you?

How do I find a Realtor?

There are a number of ways to do this. You can look to see if someone you already know is a Realtor and ask them to help you. You can call one of the Brokers that advertise in the area and ask for one of their Realtors. You can even give me a call (507-398-2534) and I will sit down with you and show you how I will help you find and purchase your next home.