It's that time! You have finally decided that it is the right time in your life to purchase a home for yourself and/or family! Do you know the key steps in the buying process that will help you save your time and help lessen the stress in the buying process? I have compiled a list of key "to-do's"! Below are the steps in the buying process that are listed in order!

1- Call a trusted lender to get pre-qualified for a home loan! A lender will give you a pre-qualification letter that is requested to be submitted with all offers on homes. This is a must to do first to help save you time. Most realtors will not show you homes before you are pre-qualified because they do not want you to fall in love with a home to only find out that you can not purchase the home because you are unable to get pre-qualified.

Here is a list of recommended lenders that can help you get pre-qualified fast and easily!

John Fricke, Mortgage Specialist
People's Mortgage
801-889-4004
jfricke@peoplesmortgage.com

Keith Sargent, Mortgage Specialist
SecurityNational Mortgage
801-573-4775 or 801-838-9838
keith@keithsargent.com

Marty Qualls, Mortgage Specialist
Primary Residential Mortgage
801-540-5108
marty@martyqualls.net


2- Find a trusted realtor to work with! View realtor client reviews first to learn about realtor work ethic. We recommend the Locate Utah Homes Team. The Locate Utah Homes Team has several realtors that work as a team to help their clients purchase and sell homes. Read their reviews.

Locate Utah Homes Team
www.LocateUtahHomes.com
801-414-4335


3- Search for homes & view homes in person with a trusted realtor.  We recommend you search for homes by visiting www.LocateUtahHomes.com. This website contains all active Utah home listings that are on the MLS listing system. You will find all Utah Homes on this website that are for sale. Once you visit this site, you will no longer need to go from website to website for your search for a home because this site has every home for sale in Utah on it. This site also has many great features like: including all information on the homes and includes all available photos, view homes with google maps, save homes to your favorites to keep your favorite homes in a safe place, receive updates when the home price changes, view home addresses, search by certain cities, compare homes in the neighborhood, plus so much more.


4- Make offers on homes that you like.  Once you see a home that you like, your chosen and trusted realtor can help you make an offer on homes for you.


5- Get the offers accepted. After your offer gets accepted, you will then close on the home, receive keys to your new home and move into your new home.

Please contact us if you have any questions on any of these key steps to the home buying process. We would love to answer any questions you have and we'd love to help you accomplish these key steps to get you on your way to purchasing a new home!

The real estate market is changing!  Home sales are rising, properties are selling faster and home prices are going up!

I read and appreciated Shawn Janke's (President of Northern Wasatch Association of Realtors) article in today's Standard Examiner Homefinder section. In his article, Shawn provides tips for homebuyers to follow so that they will have success in today's real estate market.

I have taken the 5 Tips in the article and added my own personal experience and comments to help homebuyer's be successful in today's market.  :)

Tip 1: Get Pre-Approved for a mortgage-I have written many blog posts that tells of the value of a FULL credit approval letter.  A FULL credit approval is backed by a full application, credit report and an automated underwriting decision (AUS).  I provide a FULL credit approval letter to my clients at NO CHARGE and this puts their real estate offer at a significant advantage when submitting an offer!

Tip 2: Do your research-With market knowledge and the competitiveness of the buyer's for the home you want, the homebuyer can then gauge how quickly they will need to move on a listed property.  Budgeting for future payments, types of loan programs available to meet financing needs and payment size are things that I review in detail with all of my clients.

Tip 3: Be ready to compete with other buyers-I see larger earnest money deposits recommended by Realtors I work with because it gives the seller and the listing agent a loud and clear message: "I am a serious buyer!".  I have even seen NONREFUNDABLE earnest money offers drive down the sales price too.  Gutsy to put in a non refundable earnest money offer, but it works to get a lower price in some competitive situations!

Tip 4:U Be ready to act quickly-as mentioned in Tip #2, as your do your research and work with a professional Realtor, you will recognize what is a good deal.  When you know it is a good deal, be ready to make and offer right away!  Make sure that your Realtor knows your search criteria and when they notify you of a home coming on the market that meets your criteria, look at it immediately and if the home meets your needs, make the offer!

Tip 5: Try finding homes before they're listed-make sure you mention to your Realtor to let you know if they know of any homes that are about to come on the market.  Sometimes, Realtors get tips from other Realtors they network with or who are in their Real Estate office/company and this can turn out to be a great way to find your perfect home!

Today's Real Estate market is a wonderful opportunity!  With great mortgage rates, depressed prices (which are now beginning to climb) and motivated sellers, having your homebuyer tool kit (the 5 tips!) with you will give you the best chance of success!  I look forward to helping you with your mortgage questions and needs.

Written by Marty Qualls -  http://martyqualls.blogspot.com/