Unlock the door to your dream home! As a home buyer, the decision to invest in a home is a monumental one. I understand the importance of a smooth and stress-free process. That's why being organized and in control will be the key to securing the best home deal possible. It's time to take charge and make your housing goal a reality.

Before you embark on the home buying journey, let's lay the foundation down for success. First, You want to choose an experienced Realtor and Lender to help not only start your home buying journey, but to make the process a smooth experience. Start by asking yourself how much you can afford and what you are comfortable with paying on a monthly basis. Then you will want to connect with a lender to start the pre-approval process. This not only establishes your purchasing power, but also gives you an idea of what you can afford and what you'd like to spend. With a pre-approval in hand, you can confidently search for homes within your budget.

Did you know there is a difference between a Pre-Qualification and a pre- Approval?

Many people do not know that there is a difference between a pre-qualification and pre-approval letter. Also, many people think that they have been pre-approved, but in actuality have only received a pre-qualification letter. So, lets dive into the two and find out why they are different.

A pre-qualification letter is simply when a mortgage lenders gives you this letter based on general questions about your income, debt, assets, and credit history. It is an estimate for how much you could qualify for with a mortgage. The information has not been verified or submitted to the underwriting department.

A pre-approval Letter means that you have applied for a mortgage; you have filled out the mortgage application, received your credit report, and verified your employment, assets, debts, etc. When you are pre-approved, you know exactly what the maximum loan amount will be. The lender will be able to give you your max loan amount and interest rate. This gives you more leverage with the seller when making offers on a home. Many times, the listing agent will verify that you are pre-approved with your lender to confirm that you are a strong buyer and able to close on the home you made an offer on.

Say goodbye to the sleepless nights and endless worries. With pre-approval, there's no need to question if a home is within your reach. You'll know exactly what you qualify for, your interest rate, your monthly mortgage payments, and even how much you'll have for a down payment. Get ready to turn the key to your new home. I will provide you guidance and a proactive approach to help make your home buying journey a breeze.

Lastly, I always recommend that you make a list of your must haves, wants and your negotiable. This will help narrow down your search and clarify what you are really looking for in your home. We will discuss what area you'd like to be in and other important items such as: Convenience for all family members,Proximity to work, or schools, or any places important to you, Crime rate of neighborhood (Metro has a great crime mapping tool: See Resource page), Local Transportation, and Types of home: Condo, Townhome, Single Family and New Construction Communities.