If you know what to expect – and you have a trusted team of real estate and mortgage-lending professionals to guide you – finding and financing your first home can be an exiting and rewarding experience.Here’s what you need to know:

Obtain Mortgage Pre approval Before you Begin House Hunting

• Learn how much home you can afford
• Strengthen your bargaining position with sellers

Choose a Real Estate Agent

• Ask mortgage lenders to recommend agents they work with
• Select a reputable professional who’ll listen to your needs and make you feel comfortable
• Ask agents for references from former clients

Find the Right Home

• Determine the needs of you and your family
• Create a wish list of desirable features
• Take notes as you preview homes

Make an Offer

• Your real estate agent presents your offer to the seller, who will accept, counter or reject it
• When the price is settled, you and the seller sign a Purchase Agreement, defining the terms of the sale

Have the Home Inspected

• Hire a professional home inspector after the offer has been accepted to provide an in-depth look at the basic systems of the house, to reveal any safety hazards and give you a chance to reconsider the deal

The Home will be Appraised

• An appraisal, required by your mortgage lender, is a formal, written estimate of the home’s current market value

Obtain Title Insurance (where applicable)

• This guarantees that the property you are purchasing is free of liens or confusion in rights of ownership
• The policy insures against any losses to the property that result from defects in the title or deed

Close on the Property

• Ownership of the property is transferred
• A closing agent coordinates and distributes all the paperwork and funds

And you become the proud owner of your new home!

Whatever your home financing needs, we’re ready to help with a broad rnge of programs, money-saving options and personalized service.