1.  Find the right representative

Even if you’re not quite ready to buy, your buyer’s agent can be an absolute wealth of information, and can often offer ‘scoops’ on local developments you might not have know about otherwise.  Speak to your agent first and he or she can be helping to guide you right from the start.

2.  Find out what your price range is

Online mortgage calculators are a good place to start, but as you get closer to being ready to buy, there is no substitute for a written mortgage pre-approval.  Just speaking to a lender is an extremely worthwhile venture – this is the only way to really get an in-depth picture of your overall financial picture and to discover exactly what you can reasonably afford to spend on a home (and possibly on renovating). Contact us if you need lender information contacts.

3.  Find out what your local market looks like

The internet can be incredibly valuable in doing preparatory research.  Start with your agent – he or she can direct you to valuable resources and immediately start e-mailing you real estate listings that may interest you (or at least give you a better idea of what your needs and wants are).

4.  Find out what your true needs and wants are

Compose a needs/wants list that takes into consideration your local market conditions, your price range, and the advice of your real estate agent.

5.  Find your dream home!

Once you’re ready to act, you may be surprised by how quickly you can make a decision.  Armed with your pre-approval, a little market knowledge, and your needs/wants list, call your real estate agent, hit the pavement, and when you see ‘the house’, put in an offer. Click the dream home link above and have the realtor MLS automatically send you all the homes that meet your requirements. You will have your own dedicated web portal where all the homes are sent for you to review. These will be updated on a daily basis with newly listed homes and any price changes. Doing your own search of the MLS will not update daily so you will miss any new listed and price changed homes that meet your requirement. So beat other buyers and click the Dream Home Finder

With the right team behind you, it really can be that easy!

For property insurance go to AAA Insurance Oklahoma

Your Agent
A successful purchase starts with the right representative. In fact, once you’ve selected the best agent to represent you, it is likely that he or she can recommend other professionals to join your team, taking more of the responsibility off of your shoulders. The buyer always retains the right to choose their own professionals.

Lender (Appraiser)
A bank is not just a bank. Having the right backer can be extremely important – it is your money we’re talking about after all! Make sure that your lender and financial representative is someone with whom you feel comfortable, and be wary of any lender who promises you more than you think you can reasonably afford. Your lenders may or may not require an independent appraisal but most do, and typically will make arrangements for the appraisal themselves.The buyer is responsible for the cost of appraisal if the home is to be mortgaged, but the seller is responsible for the mortgage inspection certificate.

Title/Abstract Company/Lawyer
Your home purchase is far too important a transaction to skimp on legal representation at the risk of leaving yourself open to costly future issues. All Title Companies in NE OK have an in-house lawyer who specializes in real estate law and overseas all title work for the buyer. This ensures clear title is passed to the buyer at close. The lender will require Title Insurance and it is always a good choice for the buyer to have this also. If a lender has it for their protection, why not the buyer? A combination lender & buyer policy will cost less than individual policies and the buyer is responsible for this cost.

Home Inspector
No home inspection is 100% guaranteed, but a few hundred dollars to catch a major problem now is certainly better than many thousands to correct that ‘surprise’ down the road. Ask your agent for a recommendation.

Contractor
Planning some renovations? You’re not the only one! The home renovation industry is booming, and in some markets, booking a contractor must be done months in advance (that’s a long time to go without a kitchen). Don’t let finding the right contractor slip through the cracks – planning ahead will almost certainly make your renovation smoother, and you contractor will appreciate the advance notice.