1.  Find a good lender. Your realtor may have some recommendations for you but if you don’t yet have a realtor, it is best to find a local.  Local lenders know the market in the area you want to buy in and they will know about any special programs that may be offered.

2.  Know where you want to live.  Narrow down the parts of town that you would like to live in. You may use criteria such as schools, taxes, drive to work, etc. By narrowing this down it makes setting up a buyer search much easier.

3.  Find a Realtor.  If you are buying the seller pays the cost of your buyer agent which is another reason you may as well have a Realtor.  Find a Realtor that is knowledgeable in your area and that has experience. You need someone you can trust to help you find your new home.

4.  Don’t rule out less than perfect homes.  Just because a home needs paint or new carpeting, don’t rule it out.  If the price is right you will still get a great deal and you can fix it up as you would like.

5.  Be ready.  Once you are out there looking, if you find a home you just love, you need to be ready to make an offer. Right now with a very low housing inventory, nice homes and good deals are going fast so the sooner you make an offer the better your chances are of getting the home.

If you are ready to start the home buying process, contact me, I can help – I have been successfully selling real estate in the 13 county metro area and Western Wisconsin for over 14 years.