Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Meet with a lender who will give you all the information you need to know about your loan and the costs involved. Paperwork required to be pre-qualified will include pay stubs, taxes from the previous year, a list of all debts, all bank accounts and their balances, and any other financial information. Any amount required as a down payment will be disclosed at this time.

Hire a good realtor. We handle everything from showing you houses to making offers even down to giving you your key to your new home. Sit down with us and see if we are a good match. If not, ask your friends and family who they have used in the past. Find someone who you can trust with your biggest investment of your life. Also make sure you get along and communicate well together because the next 30-60 days are going to be emotional and your need someone in your corner who can take care of everything for you! Remember that the Seller is paying for your Realtor!

Begin your search for your new home in the price range given to you by your lender. Narrow it down even further by choosing features in your house that are necessary, a minimum number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and general location. Also, check out school disctricts and the communities. If you ever have a question do not hesitate to ask!

When you find your dream home it is time to write an offer. What price do you offer? Well that depends on the current market. Check out what similar homes in the neghborhood in similar condition have sold for recently. You should be able to get an idea of what the value of the home is going for. Then make the offer to the seller. We will put together the purchase agreement for you and submit it to the seller.

Once the offer is accepted you have typically 17 days to investigate the home. We always recommend a home inspection where a licensed professional will examine the home and let you know if there is anything wrong with it. If there is, you can do what is called a request for repairs or credits. There are other inspections you may do. Consult with your realtor about the investigations you should do. Each home will require different inspections.

Get the house appraised! This is required by the bank before they will fund the loan. The appraisal verifies that the house is worth what you are willing to pay for it. This cost usually falls on the buyer, and is about $400.

Work out the closing details on the mortgage. Meet with the escrow company to sign all the loan and escrow documents. Once you have signed the docs they go back to the lender (sometimes for review) and then the lender funds the loan. Then funds get deposited to escrow and the home is recorded in your name the next day.