Buying Real Estate

Buyer's Guide to the Real Estate Process

1. Discuss the essentials of the property you plan to buy: location, size, price, and features. Choose a Realtor with whom you are comfortable. Your Realtor can sell you any property: other offices', for sale by owners, bank-owned properties, and open houses.

2. As you work exclusively through your Realtor, he or she will grow to know your needs and preferences and will be able to quickly identify properties matching them. Working with one person saves you time and makes the buying process more pleasurable.

When choosing a Realtor, consider the following:

• Is s/he full time?
• Is s/he a member of the Board of Realtors?
• What professional designations, such as the GRI or CRS, does the agent hold (only two percent of all Realtors have earned the CRS)?
• How much experience does s/he have? Can s/he provide you with references?
• Are you comfortable with him/her?

3. Obtain the names of three good mortgage officers from your Realtor and confer with one of your choosing to be preapproved. This will prevent your spending large amounts of time looking at properties above or below your actual price range... and will strengthen your offer when you find the property you would like to purchase.

4. Call your Realtor to set up an appointment to begin the buying process. Communicating your requirements in the beginning will save time and avoid your being shown properties bearing no resemblance to what you want.