Buying a home? Save yourself time!

I know how easy it is to get caught up in the process of buying a home. It is a very emotional experience and probably the biggest financial investment you will ever make. But, before you walk through the door, take time to complete these simple steps to make the home shopping process easier and enjoyable.

Find a Professional. Take the time to find a professional that truly listens to your needs, wants and desires. Is this a person who is experienced, educated, organized and will help guide you down the path of home ownership?

Be a Smart Consumer. Before you walk through the door of any home, talk to a trusted lender and learn about some of the financing basics. If you do not have one in mind, I can provide you with a list of my preferred lenders or loan officers.

Get Pre-Approved. Once you choose a lender, get pre-approved. The process is simple and takes minimal time. This will allow you to target homes in a price range that fits your lifestyle. Even if the bank will give you a loan for $500,000, do you really want to make those payments every month? Maybe you do, that's ok too! Once you find numbers you are comfortable with, we can focus on the features that you need for living.

What do you want? Take a look at your lifestyle. What features are important to you? Is it the location, the quality of the home, the neighbors or features in the land? Be realistic, most of us can not afford everything detail we want, so make a list and place them in order of importance. If more than one of you will be involved in making the decision, have everyone sit down with their lists, then compare. The last thing you want is to find out down the road you purchased a house you do not want or does not fit your lifestyle.

Be Smart with your Credit. Once you decide to purchase a home, keep your debt to a minimum. Do not make any major purchases or apply for new credit cards until your purchase is complete. While lending guidelines vary, typically your monthly housing costs should not exceed 28 percent of your gross monthly income.

Be Pre-pared to Shop. Sometimes a home will sell quickly. Be pre-pared to view new properties quickly and make sure you are ready to make a fast decision, if necessary.

Keep Communication Open. You need instant access to your agent and immediate communication can mean the difference between purchasing the property of your choice or having to settle. I would rather have the choice.

Read on about how to make your offer count and what you should look for in your buyer's agent.

When it comes to real estate, my goals are simple. Let me put your needs first.

Looking for an Equestrian Property, Investment Property, Home or Land in Northern Snohomish County or on Camano Island? Give me a call. Jen Hudson, GRI (360) 652-1200 or jen@jenhudsonhomes.com