Buying a House - Final Thoughts

I thought I would sum up what I’ve learned over the course of the whole house buying process:

• Although I am sure it is possible to do, I would personally not recommend buying your first house without an agent.  They are payed by the seller (the sellers agent and your agent will split the commission) and can be extremely helpful.
• I cannot stress enough how important it is to find an agent you that you like and is knowledgeable.  You will be spending alot of time dealing with this person so you should be comfortable around them.
• A good home inspector is worth their weight in gold.  They can save you from buying something that you are totally unprepared for.
• You may fall in love with a house, but remember it is also an investment so treat it as such.  Don’t let emotions cloud your judgment to the point you do something that will burn you in the future.
• Have a budget and stick to it.  You need to know where your money is going during this whole process.  There are going to be alot of things that pop up so it is easy to overextend your budget.
• Make sure you understand the terms of your loan.  This is the biggest investment you are going to make so you should do your research.
• You may want to get a real estate lawyer (some states require this).  This would be a person that solely works for you and has no financial stake in the deal.  You usually can find one that works for a flat fee.
• Don’t move in broke.  I know it is easier said then done, but you are gone to need alot of stuff.  Things you never even think of coming from an apartment.  Like a rake.  And furniture.