Jake's Lending Tip of the Week

Being a first-time home buyer is both exciting and terrifying. There are several things that you can do to help make the process less stressful, and assure that you make the right decisions when purchasing your first home.

• Get expert advice from an experienced real estate professional.
• Have a clear picture of what you are looking for in a home before you start shopping.
• Find out all costs associated with a home. For example, determine the HOA fees and utility bills.
• Know how much you can afford. Speak with a mortgage professional to figure out how much you qualify for before searching for a property. A thorough prequalification is critical.
• Run every property you are interested in by a mortgage professional so that you can have an idea on the monthly payment and amount of closing costs to expect.
• Be patient with the process. Both the search and the loan process are very complicated. Be patient and understand that buying a home takes time.