Laura, the first step is to find out your buying power. Get pre-approved with a lender. If you don't have a lender you like to work with, ask a Realtor for a recommendation. If you don't know a trusted Realtor, ask friends, family and co-workers for a recommendation, and go from there. Once you know how much house you can afford, it'll help narrow down the field of contenders and make the process all that much easier.

I am not a realtor and don't pretend to be... however the best advice I can give you as a home inspector is to be pre-qualified... sitting with a knowledgeable mortgage broker/banker/financial advisor who can help you determine what you can afford...

of course if you are financially independent and do not need to finance... then finding the right Realtor would be the logical first step...

Talk to an agent... get basic information, including a referral to a trusted local lender. Then, get pre-approved. Then, back to the agent you go... start looking!

You would definitely want to get pre-qualified or pre-approved first. There is a difference. Either way a real estate agent would be happy to work with you, but with the pre-approval, you have submitted more paperwork than just your name, address and social security number as with a pre-qualification. Make sure you know what you want in a home before you go out. Talk to friends that have homes and ask them what would they do different if they had it all over to do again. Then find a real estate agent. This will make the process much more simple and Im not just saying that because I am one. Make sure you do your due diligence in locating an agent though. They are all not the same. Research, research, research.

Contact a lender to find out what purchase price you financially qualify for. The Lender will also determine if you qualify for conventional, FHA, or VA financing and which one will best serve your situation. The financing type you qualify for may dictate the home type and/or quality of home you should begin looking for. The lender, the financing type, and your financial situation will help the lender determine if you need the Seller to contribute towards your closing costs to reduce your out of pocket expense.

Next, find a good Realtor. If you have already located a good realtor that you want to work for you, they will likely have a few recommendations of good lenders for you to meet with.

Your lending information is extremely helpful to the Realtor you select in helping locate homes that are worth your time to look at.

I hope this helps. Good luck! It is a great time to buy!

Contact a mortgage broker who will qualify you with lender approval. All offers are supported with letter of statement from your loan officer. Realtors usually wont show property unless a potential client is approved for a loan. Know exactly what you want for a home your buyers agent is only as good as the information you provide them than wasting your time on homes that dont meet specifications of personal/professional lifestyle. It takes approx. start to finish 45 - 75 days qualified for loan, locate a property, continue thru closing process. Keep in mind you receive tax benefits for home ownership
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