The Home Buying Process

Step # 1: Choosing a Realtor
So, you’re ready to buy a house. Yay! The first decision you should make is to select a professional to help you with your search. The right agent will expertly guide you through the entire process, answering all your questions and making sure you feel comfortable along the way. You’re going to spend a lot of time with this person, so pick someone you feel at ease with that has time to focus on your search. Ask around for recommendations and don’t be afraid to meet with a few people to find a good fit. Realtors are self-employed, independent professionals, so once you’ve chosen, it’s important that all parties have made a commitment to each other to see the process through.

A Couple of Side Notes on the Loan Process
Once you’ve decided you’re ready to buy, the next step is to speak to a lender and get pre-qualified. This will tell you a few critical things:
•    How much you can afford
•    How much it’s going to cost, both monthly and at closing
•    Any steps you need to take prior to buying (saving some cash, paying off a debt, raising your credit score, etc)
•    Get pre-approved. A pre-approval is one step further than a pre-qualification. Most sellers will not consider an offer without a pre-approval, so take the necessary steps to get approved. Usually this means providing additional information to your chosen loan officer.

Not all pre-approvals are created equally. Applying with multiple lenders before you’re ready to move forward can hurt your credit. Plan on chatting with me before you apply for mortgage approval.

Two loan officers my clients have really enjoyed working with are:
Carol Flanagan, with NW Mortgage Group 503.528.9800
Julee Felsman, with Equity Home Mortgage 503.288.9284