Homeownership | Buying A Home | Home Finance | Home Improvement

One of the first items on your long list of tasks on yor road to homeownership is your home loan pre-appoval. Without knowing how much loan amount you qualify for there is no sense in looking at any houses.

So you need to count all the pennies in your piggy bank and then find out how much a responsible lender will loan to you. If possible, get a letter from a lender that shows you are pre-approved for whatever the amount is. This will give you an important edge in negotiations.

Next, find a real estate agent to represent you in finding the right home at the right price. Thanks to the internet, competition among realtors for your business is stiff and you will want to make the most out of it. Let REALTORS® compete for your business! Whether you're buying or selling, find the right REALTOR® for you.


All you need to do is pick one that you are most comfortable with.

One of the best places to look is the website of zipRealty.

First, you enter all the desired features and areas where you want to look for a home. Then you can check out all sorts of valuable information about the homes offered. Pictures, virtual tours, area maps, "comps" (how much did nearby homes sell for recently), schools, maps, even satellite images, and much more.

Should you later retain one of their real estate agents they will even give you 20% of their commission. Considering how much the agents receive this might be a welcome boost to your finances.