First, contact us. We can get you in touch with a reputable mortgage lender that will pre-approve you for the best possible interest rate and amount you can borrow. Having that pre-approval is an important early step in finding a home.

Before you start looking for a home there are several questions that need addressed:

- Where do you want to live? Do you want to be close to schools, shopping, or work? Do you want easy access to certain roads? Do you want to live in a certain community or school district?

- What needs do you have in a house? Are you looking for a particular style? How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you want? Do you want a yard? Does it have to be fenced? Full basement? Attached or detached garage?

This may all seem overwhelming, but it is necessary information when you are trying to find a home that fits your needs and is within your budget.

The bottom line answer to this question is, you can afford a house that costs as much as the largest monthly mortgage payment you qualify for.

While we can help estimate the amount of money you can borrow to purchase a home, a good mortgage lender can calculate exactly how much you can borrow. There are numerous mortgage programs available in the marketplace. We will refer you to a reputable lender that can offer you the best mortgage program for you needs.

Working with our team to buy your home is a good idea for many reasons:

- We are highly knowledgeable with the process of buying a home and can explain things to you. It's our business.
- We can provide information on all properties listed for sale in your area.
- We can instantly e-mail you with information on new properties that meet your criteria.
- We will set up appointments for you to see homes that interest you.
- We will help you negotiate the best price and terms.
- We will be there at closing and beyond to answer any of your real estate questions and to help with any real estate transactions.

And remember, not all real estate agents are REALTORS. We, as REALTORs, subscribe to a code of ethics that far surpasses the average real estate agent.