Buyer's First Step: Talk to a Lender

Anyone considering buying a home wonders what to do first.  In today's competitive real estate market, buyers need to be fully prepared when they start looking for a home to buy. Preparation, as with anything, is especially critical in real estate.

Of course, one of the most important things a buyer can do to get prepared to buy - their first step - is to meet with a lender and get pre-qualified for a mortgage/loan. Better yet, get pre-APPROVED, but either is fine.

Talking with a lender BEFORE looking for a home is beneficial to buyers in four ways:

1. They learn IF they even qualify at all to buy.
2. They learn HOW MUCH they can afford to pay each month for a mortgage payment.
3. They learn WHAT STEPS THEY MUST TAKE to ensure they can actually obtain a loan.
4. They learn THE PRICE RANGE of the property they must focus on (buyers don't want to look at $300,000 homes if all they can qualify for is under $200,000).

A competent, professional Realtor will ensure their buyers are working with a successful, experience lender before they start looking at homes. This ensure the buyers are in the best position possible to buy the best home that they can afford.

Feel free to call me at (916) 241-8000 if you would like me to recommend an excellent Sacramento-area lender to speak with.

Comments

[Kate DuBois]

Thanks for the clear points about what to look for in a reputable agent and lender and how helpful it is to talk to lender rather than agent first. As a first-time potential real estate investor, your points mirror what I've learned.