Buying a House is Easy! (If you do these things...)

The last thing in the world that anyone thinks would be easy is buying a house.  Believe me, I've seen people go through some really difficult buying experiences.  And while I do everything in my power to make my things go smoothly for my buyers, there is only so much I can do.  The rest of what goes on is largely up to them.

Here are a few simple things that you can do to make buying your next house a fun and easy deal:

1. Get your financial house in order.  If you need help with this, ask for it.  Ask your REALTOR, your mortgage broker, your personal banker, and your spouse, partner or cobuyer if there is one.  There are a myriad of things that you will want to do - as well as many that you shouldn't do - when preparing to purchase a house.  The gist of it will be pay your bills on time, lower your balances, don't open or close new accounts and don't make any major purchases.  Pull your credit reports for free HERE and dispute any errors.
2. Get a PREAPPROVAL letter.  There is absolutely no point AT ALL to look at houses with a REALTOR until you have this.  Most agents will not make an offer, or entertain one, that does not have an accompanying preapproval letter.  So why tour homes, find one that you love, and then have to take two steps back before you can make an offer?  It's just like putting your shoes on before you pick out your socks.  Senseless.

3. Figure out where you want to live.  A REALTOR can't do this for you.  Seriously.  We can get you information about the communities, schools, etc. but we can't tell you if you are going to like it or not.  Nothing freaks an agent out more than having to throw darts blindfolded at a map to figure out where you are going to spend the coming years. 
4. Once you narrow down the area, really get to business.  Get in your car (or on your bike!) and explore the neighborhoods themselves.  Here's the thing - components of a house can be changed.  You can paint, retile the bathroom, relandscape the yard, etc.  You can't realistically relocate it.  So my point is, find an area that you can be happy with and THEN look for the house that you can learn to love.  Location truly is everything.  Location, location, location.  But doing your homework before you head out with a REALTOR will put you ahead of the game.
5. When you get inside the homes, learn to look past the cosmetic issues.  Don't fall in love with a house because it has a dishwasher or because of the red wall in the dining room.  Any house can have those things with a little work.  Look for a layout that works for your lifestyle, room size, storage capacity, lot characteristics, etc.  These are the things that you really can't change, and those are the ones that matter.
6. Listen to what your REALTOR is saying.  There has to be a relationship of trust, or it just won't work out well.  When you find a home that you think you would want to make an offer on, make sure that your REALTOR does the research to determine what a REASONABLE price is.  And remember that while it is our job to get you the home at the best price we can, that making an unreasonable offer in an attempt to lowball the seller can completely backfire on you.  Pay creedance your REALTORs opinion on where your offer needs to be. 
7. Look at things in context.  If you and a seller are in negotiations, and you stall out over $1-2,000 difference - get real.  You are likely not going to stay in the home for the life of the mortgage.  So in reality, you are negotiating for a monthly payment.  When you break it down to monthly payments, we are probably talking about less than $15.  Do you want to lose your dream home over $15?  Do you want to start the process all over again for one less outing to Taco Bell each month?  I hope that you wouldn't.

8. Read everything.  Read everything that your REALTOR sends you.  Everything that the mortgage broker or bank sends you.  The title company.  The home inspector.  EVERYTHING.  Don't show up to closing and learn that your monthly payment is $300 more than you thought because you didn't read the Good Faith Estimate.  This is your house and you need to be completely involved.

I'm sure I could think of 100 more things, but these are the biggies.  Do these things, and I can promise you that your experience will be easier that if you don't.  Remember what a big step this is, and give it the attention it deserves!  Good luck!