Tips for those looking for a home

1. Do your homework. Talk to a Mortgage Representative about various lending programs, rates and terms in the marketplace. Pre qualify for a maximum mortgage amount before you go looking for a home. Don't be afraid of asking questions, the Mortgage Representative is there to assist you.
2. Determine which items are truly needed in your home, (4 bedrooms vs 3 bedrooms; parking facilities; fireplace; multiple bathrooms, etc.), and list in order of importance.
3. Location, location, location of your new home. Determine how far you would like your daily commute to and from work to be.  How close are the schools from home, and how are they ranked within the state guidelines?
4. Learn the makeup of the neighborhood.  Are there other families similar to yours, (possibly with children about the same ages of your children), or are the neighbors "empty nesters?"
5. How many years are you expecting to remain in the home, and how many years do you expect to remain in the work force?
6. Is there room to grow? Are you anticipating enlarging your family?
7. What home resale values do you want to achieve?
8. What ever house you select, always obtain a home inspection from a reputable company. Appraisals are NOT home inspections. This should reveal necessary repairs which may otherwise not be noticeable, (new roof, water damage, etc.).
9. Generally speaking, the following items are needed to determine your qualifications for a mortgage: 1 month's pay stubs; two years' W-2s; three months' bank statements; list of all outstanding debts with names, account numbers and outstanding balances; name, address and telephone number of your landlord for the past two years. Your Mortgage Representative can tailor the specific documentation to your particular mortgage application.
10. Maintain a listing, (diary), of all homes which you've previewed, and list them in the order of acceptability to your needs and requirements.