Steps For Buying a House | Sacramento Real Estate Voice

Baby Steps When Buying a House

January 29th, 2008 categories: Home Buyer, Real Estate Tips

Baby feet Do you have questions about the steps to buying a house or condo?

Is there anything you should be doing as a home buyer before looking at homes?

These are just a few of the burning questions that many home buyers have that call me. It can never be said enough, a home buyer MUST get pre approved for a loan BEFORE looking at homes for sale.

The Lender is the professional who knows the taxes, assessments and insurance cost included in buying a home. The Lender also knows the closing costs and lender fees associated with buying a house. All of these fees are very important and must be considered when determining how much money you can spend when buying a home.

If you are looking at homes without the pre approval from the Lender you are wasting your time and the Realtors time.

When your Realtor asks for the Lender approval paperwork its not only to check and see that you can actually buy a house for a certain amount but it also gives the Realtor the opportunity to talk to your Lender, find out what type of loan program you will be obtaining so that the Realtor can structure the offer in your favor. It is very important for the Realtor to know these things if you want them to do a good job for you. This is not the time for secrets.

The more information your Realtor has been given, the better they can help you. For some reason, there are buyers who love to keep all that a secret or tell the Realtor, I just want to see this house.

Let me be the first to explain that it is a waste of time for a Realtor to show you a house without seeing your pre-approval. The new agents who dont know any better, will be happy to show houses to home buyers until they learn the hard way, that it is truly a waste of time.

I give my all to home buyers and sellers and I expect my clients to do their part, as well. Together we make a hell of a team.

Now, lets talk about what you can do and not do when looking at homes for sale.

Sellers want home buyers to feel comfortable when looking at their homes for sale and to open built-in drawers and cabinets so that you can imagine your personal items in the spaces. This does NOT mean opening their furniture drawers.

Many times the home buyers I represent will take the opportunity to sit down at the kitchen table and have a discussion about the house for sale. It gives you, the home buyer a better sense of whether the house could be yours someday. In other words, you get a better feel for the home. And thats ok.

There are some very important things to remember when looking at homes for sale.

First of all, if you have small children its important to drive your own car so that your child remains safe and that they are in an environment that they know which makes looking at homes much more pleasurable.

There’s nothing like a small child screaming in the backseat of a Realtor’s car. Not good for the child, the parent and definitely not good for the Realtor who is DRIVING.

Nothing like a happy child when viewing homes for sale you might want to consider a babysitter since home shopping is not on their list of fun things to do.

It is extremely important to remember that the houses you, as a home buyer are viewing belong to the Seller. Some Sellers may not have children so for safety reasons, please make sure that you carry your children or hold their hands at all times when viewing the Sellers home.

You never know what poisons might be lurking

If the Seller has a fruit tree in the backyard it is NOT ok to pick the fruit. If the Sellers children have toys left out, its NOT ok to play with the toys and if there is a piano in the house, it is NOT ok to sit your child down on the piano bench and let them bang on the piano.

But, Im sure you already know that.

Common courtesy is typical when looking at houses for sale and giving an appropriate heads-up as to your arrival to view the house. Its not easy to keep an entire house tidy 24 hours, 7days a week so it is just common courtesy to notify the Seller 24 hours in advance so that they can prepare for your arrival. This is something the Home Buyer’s Realtor takes care of. So try to be on time.

Looking at homes for sale is fun and exciting when you are pre-approved and follow the golden rule of do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember, someday you too, will be a seller. Its an oldie but still works today.

So, if you need help finding a good. reputable Lender, let me know or if you already have a Lender and your approval papers, then give me a jingle and lets find your new home. I love to work with home buyers.

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If you are thinking of relocating as a home buyer or simply considering selling your house, be sure to check a FREE Sacramento MLS of homes for sale.

Other Home Buyer Articles:

When Should a First Time Home Buyer Buy a House?

First-Time Homebuyers Should Take Advantage of the Buyers Market

New Home Buyer Information You Need to Know

What Home Buyers Want in a House for 2007

What Are the Great Neighborhoods?

Property Taxes-Something for Homeowners to Consider

Homeowner Tips and Home Buyer Tips

Sacramento Home Buyers, Sellers and Homeowners Ask Realtor “ Oct. 12, 2007

Ask Real Estate Question “ Sept. 12, 2007

Ask Your Real Estate Question “ July 31, 2007

Things are A Changing in the Real Estate World

First Time Home Buyers in Sacramento-Congratulations!

First Time Homebuyers Check-off List-Part 1

First Time Homebuyers Check-Off List-Part II-Write An Offer

New Home Buyers for El Dorado County-Set Up Your Utilities

Home Buyers Moving to Placer County-Set-up Your Utilities

New Home Buyer for Sacramento-Set Up Utilities-Sacramento County

Home Buyer in Sacramento Buying in Granite Bay Speaks Up

Important Buyer Information

Are You Ready for the Freeze?

What Does a Realtor Do When I Want to See A House or Condo?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 29th, 2008 at 4:34 pm and is filed under Home Buyer, Real Estate Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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