How Can You Buy a Home…the Easy Way?

By Avoiding These Painful, Frustrating Mistakes...

By Steve Fischer – Moline, IL www.own40down.com

Buying your home can be a hair-raising experience…a roller coaster of emotions! You need to find the right loan, find the right place, and then move in. A home purchase is the largest investment you’ll ever make. And the emotions involved in something so expensive (and personal) can cloud your judgment.

    Here’s where it helps to do a little research before you invest in your nest egg. It makes sense for you to become as informed as possible before you buy your home…

    So, where do you start? By avoiding common mistakes most homebuyers make. There are 11 mistakes usually made. Here are a couple crucial ones…

Mistake #1 – Not knowing how much home you can afford…

    When you ask yourself how much you want to spend on a house, first calculate the maximum price you can afford. Then consider closing and carrying costs. This helps you avoid being pushed dangerously close to your financial limit. You should calculate a reasonable price range and look for a suitable home that’s priced as close as possible to the lower end of your range. This gives you a safety margin for unexpected costs (and those inevitable surprises that pop up after you move in.) Your number should be based on your specific and unique circumstances.

    Seek out a mortgage professional to help you figure out your price range at no charge. Be sure to honestly discuss your income level and living expenses. And take into account these future considerations… children, add-ons, amenities, fix-ups, etc. Your dream home is certainly worth a sacrifice…but don’t mortgage your entire future!

Mistake #2 – Not getting pre-approved first…

    Knowing your price range is the first step in the home buying process… but it doesn’t provide you with the advantages of being pre-approved for a loan. Once you’re qualified, you can shop with the confidence of a cash buyer. This puts you in the position to close quickly on a house. It also gives you an edge over other interested parties. You may even be able to negotiate a better price!

    Don’t make the mistake of not finding out how much you can get. You could lose out on your “dream home” by failing to qualify for a loan.

TIP: Seek out a qualified mortgage professional who will pre-approve your loan for little or no expense.

    Want to know about the other 9 mistakes most homebuyers make? Enter your first name and email address below and I’ll send it out to you right away!

Steve Fischer is a Licensed Mortgage Banker in both Iowa and Illinois. For more valuable home buying tips, call 1-800-882-1834, Ext. 2112 for your free copy of the report, “7 Steps to Stop Paying Rent.” You’ll also get the bonus report “The 11 Most Frustrating Mistakes Home Buyers Make… And How To Avoid Them.”