Hi Marcus, I think it is a little early to "hire" an agent. You could start searching around and get a feel for the type of agent you want representing you. As others have said, your first priority would be to find out what you are qualified for. The reason I say it's a little too early is because say a Realtor sends you your dream home, then you are not able to actually purchase it because you still have 6 months left on your lease...However it can take awhile for some houses and some mortgages to close. If you are interested in short sales, this may be the way to go, actually because they take forever to close. In that case, then yes, get a Realtor and get pre approved now..Good luck in your search

Good Evening,

I would say a lot has to do with how much you know about what you want and where you want it. I have a good example to explain what I mean. I am currently working with a buyer who I started working with when they had about 5 months left on their lease> When we started it was any kind of house anywhere in RI. Now they now have 2 1/2 months left and we are just now able to narrow down and know right away if they think they may like it or not.

Another factor that plays into the timeline, is how much time you have to dedicate to finding a home. If you are able to go out 5 nights a week and look at houses, then you may be able to shrink the time it takes....but if you are like most and really can only go out on weekends, then it may take a little while.

I hope some of that helps, if you would like to learn anything else, don't hesitate to shoot me an email from the information in my profile.

Happy Hunting,
Chris

It is not too early. You should interview a few to find the right fit. Also, if you are considering a purchase of a foreclosed property or a short sale, the earlier the better as these can sometimes take longer to get approved.

I would start now AND I would definately sit down with a lender and check to make sure you are qualified. The last thing you want to happen is to wait till the last minute to get qualified and not know that there is something that may take a month or two to clear up...

good luck

Marcus,
My advice would be to start interviewing agents sooner rather than later. If you are using the right agent they should be able to guide through your entire purchase,help you to find the right lender before you start looking,help you find your dream home,negogiate the purchase price,work through difficult inspections and most of all smoothly guide you to the closing table. Feel free to call me with questions.

Hi Marcus,
As soon as you are even considering buying a home you should sit down with a realtor to learn the current market conditions, the steps to getting pre-approved for a mortgage and to be educated on the benefits of working with a good buyer agent. I would be more than happy to meet with you at your convenience to go over these important factors. Call me if you would like to schedule an appointment or if you just have further questions. I can be reached on my cell at 401-639-4927 or by e-mail anytime lbrosnahan@kw.com

It's never too soon if yoou choose the right realtor. They can help yoou to get prequalified with a reputable lender and make sure what you may have in mind is within your comfort zone payment wise. You want to make sure you get a head start so you know the market and are able to take advantage of a great deal when the time is right. A good realtor can educate you so you are comfortable making a quick decision .....ieven in this market, the best deals don't last long! Good luck to you..and let me know if I can help.
Mary Ann Wagner