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It’s of paramount importance that you feel comfortable and confident with the integrity, knowledge and the skill of your realtor and mortgage professional. Ask for referrals from friends, co-workers, and family members to ensure you will work with a qualified and honest real estate professional. Don’t make the costly mistake of waiting until it’s too late to realize you are working with the wrong person.  You will always receive exceptional, honest, and professional service when you hire me to help you with your real estate needs. That is my promise to you.

Make sure that you are looking for a home in the appropriate price range for your financial situation.  Making the extra effort of getting pre-approved for your home loan can make you a stronger buyer, especially during this time where there are multiple offers on bank-owned properties.  Being approved for a loan will show your level of commitment to the seller or bank who has foreclosed on the home.

Many home buyers are under the wrong impression that they need to have a huge down payment before they buy their home. It appears that they are unaware of the programs for little (3.5% FHA) or zero down (VA Loans) that are available. An effort to save an additional $10k or so may be lost in 6 months time with home prices increasing.

A professional home inspection is similar to a physical exam of the property that is followed up by a thorough and detailed written report.  You definitely need a true home inspection professional to conduct the inspection.  It’s very important that you are present during the inspection so that you can see the process and so that you can ask as many questions as you desire.  Keep in mind, though, that the home inspection is not a guarantee of condition of the home.  Instead, the primary purpose of the home inspection is to make you aware of the true condition of the home you are buying.  Sellers of homes are not legally obligated to make any requested repairs -- although some will.  A good realtor will negotiate with the listing agent on your behalf to help you buy the best product (home) there is.  Be sure that your purchase agreement (offer) includes an inspection contingency. A home inspection will cost anywhere between $200-$700, depending on whether the purchase is for a single-family residence or multiple units.

Trusting someone’s word.

Be sure that you have everything in writing that you have agreed on with the seller.  Never leave anything for interpretation or chance.  You don’t want to rely on working things out in the future because more likely than not, you will lose every time if it is not in writing.  In some cases, something can be misunderstood even if you are working with some who has the best intentions. 

Expectations of the home buying process that are unrealistic.

Remember the importance of flexibility in your home purchase transaction.  The price of the home is only one of the elements of an acceptable offer.  It is always best to be prepared and flexible when it comes to other terms and conditions, such as the length of the escrow time-frame (normally it is 30 days), move-in date, and so forth. Currently, it is not uncommon for an escrow to take 45 days or more, so please be patient.  Ultimately, remember the need to be flexible can change depending on whether it’s a buyer’s or seller’s real estate market.