Whether you’re buying your first home or your fifth, once the decision is made, you may not know what the next step is or where to begin. Of course, being the biased Realtor that I am, I suggest you start with contacting your real estate professional-(that would be me….hopefully). The initial process goes like this: Whenever I meet new clients for the first time, we sit down and talk informally about the home buying process as it’s pertains to the current market. Today more than ever, it’s important to understand pricing trends, recent changes in real estate laws and what to expect during the escrow process. I view my role at this stage as an educator, offering scenarios and options so my clients are able to make informed decisions. That’s the key in the process…it’s your decision, but you must have the information and understanding to feel comfortable with making those decisions. After that first meeting, the next step is to talk with a Lender to receive your pre-approval. When I first started in this business, buyers were pre-qualified. This is different from a pre-approval. A pre-qualification is based off a conversation and is more along the lines of “based on what you’re telling me, you should
