I Want to Buy a Home...Now What? Pt. 2

Today's post comes courtesy of Mortgage Loan Officer Melissa Imo-Moffitt. It is part 2 in a series about homebuying.

Step 2: Find a good Real Estate Agent

I have had the pleasure of working with some really good real estate agents. But, how can you recognize the better agents? They know their clients and work for their best interests.

Many people do not know that when you buy a house the seller pays your Real Estate Agent’s commission. Yes, that’s right, you don’t pay for your agent, so go out and get one! Arm yourself with a personal advocate who works for you. A good agents will sit down with you and get to know you. He/she should ask about your family, where you want to live, what your wants and needs are and how much you want to spend. A good agent will also walk you through the homebuying process. A good agent will never allow you to sign a contract without explaining what you are signing. When it’s time to make an offer on a home, a good agent will research comparable sales to make sure you are not overpaying and will complete the legal documents that you have to sign. A good agent will negotiate a purchase price, any seller credits and home warranties. A good agent will also review the inspection with you and will go back to the seller if there are things that must be fixed.

So, where do you find a good agent? Ask your family, your friends and your loan officer. If someone has had a really good experience, it will be clear! And if their experience was not on par with their expectations, they will let you know as well. So go out, find an agent and interview them. Ask where they specialize and what the process is like. If you click and the agent is very knowledgable, you have found yourself a professional who will help you purchase your dream home. Of course, one of the first questions you’ll be asked is if you have been pro-approved and to that you can say yes! “I am pre-approved with my credit union and my loan officer would love to send you a  copy of my pre-approval letter!”

Happy hunting!

Up next, appraisals and inspections.