| First-time home buyers spend
three months, on average, from when they first start looking for a house until the
closing. That start may include a preliminary search through magazines, drives through
neighborhoods, and going to open houses and parade of homes showings. Some first-time
buyers start off contacting an agent and getting guidance throughout the process. You
ought to make the best use of your time, and the agent's time you''re paying for, by
making sure your finances are in order first. There isn't much point in expressing
interest in a property if you're not in a financial position to purchase it. On the other
hand, you may be surprised by how much you can afford -- meaning in many cases how much
you can afford to borrow and how much a lender is willing to loan you at a rate
you can afford. Next Page |