Whether you are buying a new home, browsing homes for sale, or just looking for information on how to buy a home, then you have found the ultimate home buying guide. This section is full of search options, free home buyer resources, and the professional advantages of choosing me.  If you're curious as to why a REALTOR® is helpful in purchasing a home, click on YourDream Home  to find out more.

You can click the Request More Information if you'd like me to get started right away, just complete the form and I'll contact you.   

If you'd prefer to start by collecting some information on your own, then this section will help you get started.  Please take a moment to look at the short video, 9 Steps to Ownership.  The video touches on everything from getting the proper financing to closing. 

In order to obtain financing, it's important to understand what Your Buying Power is.  Important factors such as How much cash is available for a down payment, Am I ready to write a check for the earnest money, How much additional cash will be available to pay for closing costs and What is the maximum monthly mortgage payment that I can afford are all questions that need to be answered before you start your search.  You should document your assets prior to visiting with a lender.  Please print out this MORTGAGE APPLICATION CHECKLIST so that you'll have all of the information needed to get a speedy approval. 

When you ask a lender to "pre-approve" you for a mortgage, the loan officer will ask for some important information such as social security numbers, pay stubs, and two years worth of tax returns.  Additional information such as bank records will allow the lender to get a good picture of your financial ability.  It's important to get pre-approved prior to beginning your home search because it will give you and your REALTOR® the guidelines to find a home that will match your ability to pay.  The loan officer will look at your FICO Score to determine whether or not you are able to meet the future obligations of a mortgage. You should know your FICO Score and monitor it on a regualar basis. 

Once you're approved, it's critical to STAY APPROVED.  Lenders will ask for updated paystubs, verify employment and run your credit just prior to closing, often called a "bring to date."  If you purchase big ticket items on credit (such as a boat or a car), have large dollar fluctuations in your bank accounts, close bank accounts, or if you change jobs this will cause a red flag and might jeopardized your home purchase.  If any of these occur it's important to notify your lender immediately.

Once you've entered into a real estate contract, there will most likely be certain contingencies in the contract to protect both the buyer and seller if certain conditions aren't met.  You need to know and understand your contingency obligations or you could be in danger of losing your deposit.  One contingency is the home inspection.  A Home Inspector is a licensed individual who is able to talk on environmental and structural issues of a property.  You may consider purchasing a Home Warranty which is an insurance policy to cover any mechanical components that either can not be tested or are noted to be nearing the end of their life. 

The other contingency that is most often considered is the mortgage contingency.  You've already gotten pre-approved but remember the lender will need to make certain that both your and the property itself are good lending risks.  An appraial is done to make sure the house is not over-valued.  The lender will require title insurance to protect their interest in the loan, you should consider additional title insurance to protect your equity in the property.  In Connecticut, real estate closings are conducted by Attorneys but they are often referred to as Closing Agents or Escrow Agents.  The Attorney will also calculate any closing costs such as taxes and utulities paid in advance by the Seller, bank fees and attorney fees associated with the transaction and other costs.  It's important that you understand these costs before sitting at the closing table.

Moving Hints provides everything from finding a moving company to voter registration. You'll find a house moving checklist so that you can stay organized while looking for a home to buy as well as information on money saving tips, how to hire movers and packing tips.