Buying Tips

1. Check your credit report – Since you most likely will need to get a mortgage to buy a house, you need to make sure your credit history is as clean as possible. A few months before you start house hunting, get copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct, and fix any problems you discover.

2. Get Pre-Approved not Pre-Qualified – Shop around and compare various mortgage lenders to find one that will work well with you and your situation. We can give you recommendations to mortgage brokers and lenders.

3. Create a top 10 list of hopes, wants and needs – What features do you need in a new home versus what you want.

4. Choose the neighborhood – Consider neighborhood factors like schools, distance to shopping and transportation, general appearance and relative affordability.

5. Get a quality home inspection – A good home inspector will be able to point out potential problems that could require costly repairs in the future.

Interested in learning more about Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington, Rockridge, Oakland or other East Bay Real Estate areas? Contact us for a free consultation.