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RESOURCES
| Familiarize yourself with the mortgage process. Have mortgage questions? Need a few mortgage tips? Call one of our dedicated Realtors. |
| Begin the application process by getting prequalified and preapproved from a Mortgage Lender. Do this first. Your Agent will need your mortgage qualification, and it will significantly strengthen your offer when you find a home. |
| Get your financial picture in focus as soon as possible. Since it is an important component, be aware of your credit situation. You can get a free copy of your credit report at ConsumerInfo.com. Having your credit report in hand makes it much easier to decide which way to proceed. |
| The best time to work on your budget is before you move. Want to maximize your financial picture? Call one of our dedicated Realtors. |
3-4 Months |
2-3 Months |
5-6 Weeks |
3-4 Weeks |
- Develop a personal checklist
- Start Mortgage Pre-Approval process
- Find an Agent Begin property search
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- Compare and evaluate homes
- Choose a home Offer and purchase contract
- Home Inspection
- Closing arrangements
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- Moving arrangements
- Monitor mortgage process
- Arrange for any school transfers or registrations
- Arrange homeowners insurance
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- Start basic packing
- Make address changes
- Arrange for utilities at new home
- Purchase decorating items (e.g. draperies) for new home
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| Finally 1-2 Weeks |
- Verify mover
- Verify closing details with settlement agent
- Verify any final mortgage details
- Packing
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- Find an Agent
 that you trust. It is important to do this before you go rushing off looking for homes or you may end up with no representation. See the Agency and Buyer Agent pages for important discussions regarding "who represents who." Looking to find an Agent? Call one of our dedicated Realtors.
- Determine your housing needs and wants to determine what types of houses you should be considering.
- Familiarize yourself with the various types of housing available: Single family, townhouse, and condo.
- If you are planning on buying or building a new home, see our section devoted to building a house including house building tips, resources and how to find a contractor.
- Have general questions about buying a home? Call one of our dedicated Realtors.
- House Hunting Time! First, see the article devoted to finding the right home. Then, make a scorecard for each house to help you keep track of the properties you've seen.
 Familiarize yourself with how to set a value on a house. This can save you a great deal of time and helps to avoid disappointment.- When you find an acceptable house, write an offer. Familiarize yourself with how offers become contracts. Need examples of offers and contracts available for your state? Call one of our dedicated Realtors.
- Negotiate your best deal using the information you have acquired.
- If you haven't already done so, make a mortgage loan request.
- Arrange for home inspection. Protect yourself and do not skip this step!
- Learn about home warranties and what they cover.
- Compare and secure homeowners insurance. Since homeowners insurance is a long term expense, getting the best deal here brings savings that continue.
 Arrange for closing agent or attorney. Make all final preparations for closing. Call one of our dedicated Realtors for recomendations.- Make moving plans. If you plan to use a moving company, make comparisons and reserve time now.
- Secure final loan approval and commitment from the lending institution. If you have done your "up-front" work, this should be one of your easiest steps.
- Do a final walk through of the house.
- Final closing and settlement.
- Move to your new home and begin enjoying it--you deserve it!
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SELLING A HOME
Choosing a Realtor to Sell Your Home |
| Can a real estate agent really help me in buying and selling property? The answer is YES! Answers the most commonly asked questions about selecting the right Realtor to help you sell your home. |
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Setting Your List Price |
| Setting the list price for your home involves evaluating various market conditions and financial factors. Learn the methods professional REALTORS® use to help determine a home's list price. |
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What is Market Value? |
| What is Market Value? The meaning of "market value" confuses many people. Noted real estate investor and author J.P. Vaughan’s clear and informative article does a good job of defining this often misinterpreted term and the many factors that ultimately determine a homes sale price.[more] |
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RESOURCES
| Buyers/ Seller |
Realtor Resources |
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