When buying a home, there are ways to make the selection process a quicker, more effective and pleasant one.  One of the top home buying tips is to select a buyers agent that is a full time agent and a broker.  This agent can offer the following services to you:

1. Prequalification - Together with you, your buyers agent will carefully examine your current financial picture, and provide you with a reasonable price range that fits your budget.   This narrows your field so you are looking only at houses that are suitable to your specific needs and budget.
2. Call lenders - Your buyers agent will contact various lending institutions to get you the best interest rate available at the time.  Then you can pick the one you like.
3. Previewing homes - Your buyers agent will then provide you with a list of homes currently available suitable to your specific housing needs and budget.  Then they will schedule times for you, along with your buyers agent, to visit each and every home you select from this list.
4. Selection - Your buyers agent will help you select the lender, inspectors, attorney, surveyor, etc.
5. Guidance - From the preview of homes to the offer to purchase, inspections, and closing, your buyers agent will be with you making sure, to the best of their ability, that you make the "right" decision in purchasing your  dream home.

Remember

• Always select a Realtor who has the Accredited Buyers Agent designation when purchasing a home.
• Have the property surveyed.
• Always have all inspections performed on the home.
  • Don't forget radon testing.
  • Always have a septic inspection when not on city sewer.
  • Even if the lender doesn't require a particular inspection, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
• An Accredited Buyers Agent (ABR) is a full time agent (40 hours or more weekly) and is broker licensed.