1. Financing. Finding a lender and a mortgage product that matches your budget is key to the home buying process. As a first step, consult with a lending professional to determine what you can afford to spend on a purchase. If you qualify for loan, your lending professional will provide you with a letter of pre-approval stating the maximum amount you are likely to receive from a financial institution.

2. Choosing a Realtor®. By choosing a Realtor® that you are comfortable with, you ensure that your needs as a prospective homebuyer are being met. Realtors® take the burdensome “legwork” associated with finding a home out of your hands. They also assume responsibility for much of the paperwork involved in the home buying process.

3. Finding a Home. Real estate agents use a variety of tools when helping home buyers find the right home. Realtors® can create a Web-based search that will notify you in real time when a home matching your criteria becomes available. In addition, Realtors® use office sales meetings and neighborhood-specific realty associations to find homes that fit your needs.