Myth No. 1: The first step is looking for a house

It has become VERY easy to shop for houses online. Click, search, compare – we’ve become so used to online shopping that it’s become the first stop for many people.

But a house is not the same thing as buying home electronics. You can’t find something you can throw on your credit card and keep going. If you’re shopping for $250,00 homes, do you know that the payment on that is? Do you know what the payment on this PARTICULAR house would be? Do you know what loan options (and what effects that has on your payment) you qualify for? Having a sales price, and a mortage interest calculator aren’t the same thing as knowing what you can afford.

Even if you  you’re just browsing, and don’t think that you’re ready to speak with anyone just yet, you run the risk of setting your heart on something, only to have it broken.

If you’ve made the decision to look at homes, you’re ready to know your facts too. This doesn’t mean pushy salespeople, or an expensive and painful process. Talk to your mortgage professional (we hope that it’s us) and learn what’s possible, AND what might fit. Then talk to a great Realtor about what you want, and what you need.

You don’t have to buy anything today. You don’t have to be ready to buy something today. Just start finding out what you don’t know now, so that when you are ready, you’ll actually be ready.