Now that you have been pre-approved for a mortgage loan and you have found your Realtor, you may be asking what is next? First, I would like to share with you an article I found that is a good resource for proper buyer etiquette. It helps set expectations up front and will establish a good solid working relationship with your Realtor from day 1. Please click on the link shown below the quote.

Real estate agents love working with people, but there are always clients who may unintentionally cross the line. Here are a few simple protocols you can use while shopping for a home that will keep you out of hot water and on good terms with real estate agents. Especially your own agent.

Elizabeth Weintraub of https://www.thebalance.com/rules-for-working-with-agents-1798904

One other item I feel important to mention before we move on is that just because you qualify for a loan of a certain amount, does not mean you have to buy at that amount. You can choose to stay well below that number if you feel that would work best for you. For example, I am currently working with first time home buyer’s who were pre-approved for $300,000. They decided what was best for them was to stay around $230,000 and so we focused strictly on homes around $250,000 or less. Then I was able to focus in on what their dreams and desires were, and I was able to find them the exact home they love and adore. You have choices and many options to consider such as saving for retirement, buying an investment property, or saving for your kids’ college fund with the extra money.

With your pre-approval letter, price of a home you wish to stay below, and your Realtor, you can now start searching for that perfect home of your dreams. You can search for homes yourself, have your Realtor search for you or combine both methods. It is always wise to stay near to your target price, so you are not disappointed when you fall in love with a home that is out of your price range.

Once you find the homes you are interested in, it is now time to tour those homes with your Realtor. It is also a good idea to drive by those homes first, and preview the neighborhood at different times of the day and also different days of the week. That will give you a good idea of what the neighborhood is like. Once you have driven by those homes, your Realtor can then set up appointments for viewings.

Finding homes you are interested in, driving by those homes, and then touring may be an instant or ongoing process depending on the length of time it takes for you to find the home that you love, and also dependent upon if other buyers are bidding on the same home. Your Realtor will be a wealth of information and knowledge to help you navigate every step of this process, so you can enjoy the journey along the way.

Next time, we will continue this discussion as we look at what happens when you make an offer. Look for part 3 soon.

Remember to make every moment count!

**Please Note: I am a licensed Realtor in San Luis Obispo County, California with Century 21 Hometown Realty. CaDRE License # 01972834. This blog is not intended to solicit anyone who is currently working with a real estate professional. This blog represents my experience, but may not apply to all homes or locations, please check with a real estate professional who is familiar with your specific market before implementing.**