Buying a home is a big move and for those taking that step it can be a great investment. Finding and purchasing the right home for your needs takes time and well thought out financial decisions. Going about it lightly is not recommended and those tackling it half heartedly need to step back and make sure they are ready for homeownership.

Before you shop:

Be a smart consumer. Learn the financing basics. Know how to shop for a home loan that's right for you.

Get a Buyers Agent. This is so crucial to the buying process and many buyers don't even think about it. They assume they need to pay a buyers agent for their services but buyers agents cost the buyer nothing! That's right. The buyers agent gets a commission from the seller of whatever home the buyer chooses. So the buyers agent is really out for the best interest of the buyer and not any particular home or seller.

Get pre-approved. This takes very little time and lets you know the price range that fits your lifestyle. Sit down with a lender and discuss your financial situation and hoe much income and outgo you have. They will come up with a figure for you to start your search.

Know what you want. The last thing you need is to close a deal and realize you bought a house you don't want. Make a list of all the things in the home you like, don't like, can live without and can tolerate. Consider square footage, lot size, quantity of bedroom and bathrooms and location.

Keep your debt load to a minimum. Don't make major purchases or incur any additional debt until after your purchase. Pay down credit cards and don't apply for new ones. Remember, financial institutions evaluate your financial situation on your gross monthly income. Your total monthly house costs should not exceed 28 percent of your gross monthly income.  Learn more about what not to buy during the home buying process here.

Before you buy:

Submit a strong competitive offer. Our agents are skilled in submitting a tight offer that is carefully detailed to what our buyers want. We like to include a copy of the pre-approval letter to show sellers our buyers are serious about the property.

Include a substantial earnest money deposit. Sometimes offers are accepted based on the amount of the deposit.

Hire an inspector. A professional building inspector or appraiser will make sure the house of your choice is in satisfactory condition. Knowing the property well before making the final decision can literally save you thousands in the future.

Get agreements in writing. Make certain verbal agreements are written into the final contract to avoid any stressful and expensive issues later.  Our agents are professionals in knowing the details of a strong offer. Consider yourself in good hands when signing on with our agents.