BUYER’ S GUIDE

What to know before you get ready to buy a house

“Before you begin your real estate search, get with a mortgage banker and get pre-approved for financing. It will help you narrow your search, and will also make your offer stronger when it’s time for your Realtor to submit to a seller.”

—JANET JONES, THE JANET JONES COMPANY

“With limited inventory, it can be a challenging real estate market. So when you find a home you like, don’t wait—make an offer. Do you want to miss out on a home because you didn’t think it was a good deal to pay $5,000 more for a home you loved, then settle for a ‘good deal’ on a home you kind of like? If this is the home that you are going to live your life in, buy a home you love. Life is too short to live somewhere you don’t love.”

—RAY ELLEN, PIXEL PROPERTIES

“Seek out an experienced, aggressive lender to get you pre-approved and guide you through the mortgage process. We train all of our agents to refer buyers to a reputable lender for pre-approval before they set an appointment to tour a home. In order to serve a buyer to the best of our ability, we must know their budget and type of loan, as well as the wish list of characteristics in a home.”

—CYNTHIA MEADOWS, SOUTHERN REALTY GROUP

“Talk to a lender and set your budget, which will help eliminate potential heartbreak down the road. Then start looking! See what’s available in your price range, then make a list of wants and needs; that list changes throughout the process, but it’s good to have a general idea of what’s most important to you, whether that’s a fenced-in backyard for a dog or a certain school district.”

—STACI MEDLOCK, RE/MAX ELITE