Buying a Home – Step 2 – Assembling the Team
July 6, 2009 by Kristin LaVanway · Leave a Comment
So, you have completed Step 1 – Planning to Buy a House. You have defined the big reason for making the purchase, you have made of the wants and needs for the new home and you have reviewed your finances to see what your budget will allow. You are now ready to move onto Step 2 in the Home Buying roadmap…preparing to buy a home by assembling a team of professionals.
This step is critical to giving you every advantage in today’s market. There are two key players on your team: a great Realtor and a great Lender. By making the right selection when choosing these professionals, the rest of the deal will fall nicely into place.
There are many Realtors out there. So how do you choose the right one? Make sure you work with a Realtor who views real estate as a profession rather than a hobby or side job. This is a market filled with challenges so you need to work with someone who is in tune with what is going on. Choose a Realtor you trust. Buying a home is a huge undertaking that will affect your family for years to come, so choose someone who will be your trusted advocate throught the process.
Choosing the right lender is equally important. Getting a mortgage is not a trivial matter in this climate. Even well-qualified buyers with money in the bank hit obstacles along the way. You need to work with a lender who will go to bat for you when those obstacles occur. It is critical that your relationship with your lender goes beyond a toll free number or a website application. You should be able to pick the phone and reach your lender anytime there is a problem.
Once you have chosen your team, commit to working with them throughout the transaction. Some buyers try to work with several Realtors and end up with poor representation as a result. Your Realtor can help you with any transaction, be it resale, new home or For Sale By Owner. Let them be your champion and you will always end up in a better position.
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I am a Realtor in Gilbert, AZ, working with clients throughout the Phoenix Metro area. I am lucky to love what I do and appreciate the difference I can make in people's lives.
In a previous life, I was a rocket scientist - really! - but decided to step away from corporate America to be a Mom to my four boys. Found it hard to do bake sales, so I ran a small independent programming business instead.
Flash forward...I am now a single mom and I face many, many challenges everyday. I am living through the hardships that many are facing in this economy. These experiences have motivated me to help other people in my shoes.
I have recently been certified as a distressed property expert (CDPE) to allow me to better serve those who may be struggling with their finances and may be looking at a possible foreclosure. My goal is to help these folks evaluate all their options and choose the best course of action.
