I know you are thinking … WHAT????? Michael, you are in Real Estate….. Have you lost your mind????? Bear with me… Read on……
You should never buy real estate without doing the following things first ……..
NEVER EVEN CONSIDER BUYING REAL ESTATE unless you have been pre-approved for a mortgage. That should always be your first step. There is no point in even looking for your dream home unless you know that when your offer is accepted, you’ll be able to finalize your purchase. Shopping for a home without a pre-approval is only window shopping…you won’t be able to make an offer without a pre-approval…so start there FIRST. (we can help with that by clicking here and filling out our short pre-qualification form)
NEVER EVEN CONSIDER BUYING REAL ESTATE unless you have enlisted the services of a Realtor (licensed by the National Association of Realtors). A Realtor is your guide and your advocate through the buying process. They are there to protect you, to guide you and to make sure that the transaction is legal and in your best interest. If you shop on your own, you may be setting yourself up to be solicited by the sellers agent or agency, whose primary focus will be on the sale, not in your best interests. So, be smart. Get someone on your side who is a professional and is working in your interests and your interests alone. (we can help with that..if you need a referral to a great agent, please leave a comment or contact us through our contact page)
NEVER EVEN CONSIDER BUYING REAL ESTATE unless you continue to collect your supporting documentation. When your Realtor brings you to your dream home you’ll immediately make an offer. When that offer is accepted your team will kick into high gear to make the transaction happen. The first thing that your mortgage provider is going to ask you for is your updated paystubs and updated bank statements. Didn’t you give them this stuff before??? Yes. But they’ll need it again (“most recent” is the underwriters favorite phrase). So do yourself a favor and continue to save all your bank statements and paystubs during the time you’re shopping for your new home…you are going to need them!
NEVER EVEN CONSIDER BUYING REAL ESTATE if you are a Veteran without looking into your VA benefits. Most of our veterans qualify for 100% financing on their home purchase, which means you can buy with no money down. Please be sure to contact your local VA mortgage specialist by clicking here, filling out the contact form and be sure to have your DD-214 available.
NEVER EVEN CONSIDER BUYING REAL ESTATE if you are a first time home buyer without getting a free consultation or without attending a first time home buyer seminar. At a first time home buyer seminar you will learn the benefits of renting vs owning, the tax benefits of purchasing a home and you will find out your credit score, how much you can get approved for and what your monthly payments would be and down payment requirements… A lot of times it is much less than you think. To find out more about what you can learn and when the next First Time Home Buyer Seminar is in your area CLICK HERE and inquire about our upcoming events.
Buying a home can be a very stressful transaction…but getting a mortgage in The Lehigh Valley doesn’t have to be. Be an informed consumer:
- Get a Pre-Approval before you do anything else (click “apply now” above)
- Get a professional Realtor on your side (we can refer you to a local professional full time realtor if you need one)
- Continue to save all of your documents as you look for a home (you’ll need them)
Buying a home is probably your greatest investment. The home will be your greatest asset, and the mortgage will probably be your biggest debt. This is a big decision. Don’t do it alone! Be informed and get a team on your side before you even think of buying Real Estate.
Michael Mann
Work Hard Play Hard Weekly 