How to Buy a Home From Start to Finish

Step 1 is to find yourself an Accredited Buyer’s Representative.  Someone who has the ABR Designation.  You want a Realtor who has taken extra education to represent you well when you buy a home.

Step 2 is to Get pre-approved for a loan with a lender.  Have your Realtor give you a list of his recommended lenders, so you can be sure that you use a lender who will make the process easy.  If you are moving in from another state or another town that is not close to Chattanooga, that lender is probably not the best lender for you with their lack of local appraiser contacts in the area.  You lender can tell you the best loan options for your situation with various types of down-payment terms (you don’t always have to have 20% down to buy a home).

Step 3 is to pick the are of town where you want to live. You want an area that meets your budget, that is safe, and that has decent schools (if you will need good schools now or in the future). Your Realtor can help you know what areas of town would meet you price range and your specific needs.

Step 4 is having your Realtor start sending you homes in the areas where you want to live. When you are receiving homes directly from the MLS, you are receiving homes in minutes from when they were put on the market, whereas Zillow or one of those 3rd party sites will typically have some lag time between when it is listed and when it is sent to you. That can lead to the loss of that potential home.

Call Nathan Walldorf to buy a home in the Chattanooga area. 423-544-7700