FOR BUYERS

Our goal at RelocateMilitary.com is to provide our Military and their Families with Information and Knowledge when purchasing a home.  We also believe that knowledge is power....  the more you know, the easier things will be for you and your family.

The following material is intended to give you important information before you start searching for your new home and getting used to a new area.  This information will keep you from making timely and costly mistakes as well as supply you with information and knowledge to make the best decisions possible for you and your family when moving.  This is when you will need this information the most.


Donation:

       

Use the services of a Real Estate Professional shown on RelocateMilitary.com and we will Donate 10%  of our realtor's
advertising fees toward various charities and Lend a hand websites that support our Military and their Families in
time of need.

Click on Donations/Lend a Hand for more information and see what a difference one person can make!


We hope that the information that is provided below is helpful to you.  If there is any other information that you find helpful, but is not listed on this page, please let me know so I can add it and make moving the easiest thing you have ever done!

Please contact us with any comments or suggestions of your experiences.   Thank You!

 

  DIRECTORY


  • Additional Info at HUD.gov

    For any additional information on the topics listed below, please visit HUD.gov.


  • Information you need to know Prior to PCS/ETS

  • Most of the time, people have their household goods boxed and shipped by the Military.  Everyone figures they can sort through things when they get to their new destination.  If you plan on purchasing a home or putting your kids in school or daycare, the following information is very important to know.

    Documents you will need to "hand carry" for family and pets
    1. Social Security Cards for each child.
    2. Adult and Child Shot Records.
    3. Adult and Child Medical Records.
    4. Copy of most recent physical.
    5. Animal shot records/other veterinarian documentation
    Documents you will need to "hand carry" to pre-qualify for your mortgage
    1. Statement of Service (Says Name, Social Security Number, Rantk, etc)
    2. Last 2 Years Residency History
    3. Copy of Order re: PCS/ETS
    4. Current LES
    5. First Time Home Buyer: Last 3 years W-2’s and last years “complete” Tax Return
     6. Secondary Home Buyers: Last 2 years W-2’s
     7. Last 2 years Taxes (Which can be hard to obtain in the off-season of tax preparation).
     8. Last 3 months Bank Statement.
     9. Last 3 months statements that pertain to Investments, 401K, Stocks, Bonds etc.  (Anything you get dividends from).
    10. Current Mortgage Statement on Primary Residence.
    11. Mortgage Statements on any other property you may own. 
    12. Notate any Allotments
    13. Other Documents may be required!!  Ask your Mortgage Agent.
    14. Make a list of everything that your Mortgage Agent is asking you to provide.  It will make things much easier for you and for them as well.

    Important Note:
    You can not close on a loan with out the documents your Mortgage Representative is requesting from you!



  • Getting Pre-Approval Gives You a Stronger Negotiating Angle

  • Most of us have spent a great deal of time imagining our dream home; the yard full of roses encased by a white picket fence, the large kitchen with marble countertops, the master bath with it’s Jacuzzi tub surrounded by candles, etc.  (I think you get the idea.)

    After a couple hundred hours searching far and wide for this perfect treasure, you find it! It’s everything you hoped and dreamed of for so long. After scrounging up the courage to make an offer you head to the bank to obtain your loan.

    After the bank processes your application, they call. Your loan application has been denied.

    Your dream just turned into a *nightmare*! How could this have happened? What could you have done to prevent this from wrecking havoc in your life? If ONLY you had gotten pre-approval from a bank before beginning the search for your dream home.

    Getting pre-approval from a bank or other financial institution is imperative before beginning the search for a home. It is important to understand the price range you’re able to afford and specific aspects of your financial situation that may determine your eligibility. When you make an offer on any property, a pre-approval or pre-qualification letter also gives you more opportunity to negotiate the price with the seller.

    Note:
    Don't let anyone run your credit report.  The more times you run your credit report, the lower your credit score will become.  See “Factors that determine loan approval” below for more information.

    After you have interviewed some Mortgage Agents and you find the one you would like to work with, then it is o.k. to have them run your credit report (once).  That is all you will need.  Also ask them if they charge you to run your credit report.  A good Mortgage Agent will say “there is no charge”.


  • Pre-Qualification Letters

    Pre-Qualification letters are given as informal and tentative approvals for buyers. The financial institution issuing the letter would have taken information regarding the buyers’ financial situation in order to determine eligibility; however, they would have NOT verified the accuracy of the information. Since the financial institution would not perform a credit check of the buyer at this point they are in a position to withdraw their approval if additional financial (or other significant) factors are later uncovered. There is no charge to obtain a Pre-qual letter.


  • Pre-Approval Letters

    Pre-Approval letters are formal agreements and offer buyers’ a guarantee of loan approval for a specific amount. The financial institution issuing such a letter may or may not charge for this service. They will verify credit history, employment status, assets and liabilities to help determine the amount of credit they are able to offer. If you are a serious buyer, this is the suggested “pre” letter to obtain. Keep in mind that even with a pre-approval letter, your bank may deny the loan on the specific house you wish to purchase. As one example, banks will deny the loan for a specific property if the  appraisal is significantly less than the sale price.

  • Helpful Tip:
    The best things to do is pick a “Mortgage Professional” on this website and pre-qualify in the state you are going to be moving to.  Sometimes you can receive special benefits that only that state can offer.


  • Finding a Mortgage Agent

    Click here to find a list of all of our “Mortgage Representative” by state.

    Finding a Mortgage Agent isn’t as hard as it might seem.  Being Military you are able to belong to various Credit Unions.  You will of course have bank accounts and other company’s you work with on a regular basis.  The few I have had the most luck with are Pentagon Federal Credit Union, USAA and of course your local banks and credit unions in the area you are looking to purchase your home.  Each State has their own guide lines when purchasing a home.  Sometimes the Banks in the area you are looking to purchase your new home might have the best deal because of the loan programs they can offer for their own state.

    Note:  You can use any bank or Credit Union while still using the services of our Realtors.

    First thing's first.  Call various banks and Credit Unions.  Look for some one that is easy to talk to, listens to you and will answer all of the questions you may have.  Look for an institution that will give you the best rate possible.  Ask about all of the various loan programs that they can offer you.  When you call, make sure you compare apples to apples.

    Ex. Ask: what is your rate for a 30 year fixed, VA.

     They will tell you the current rate for that day.  Ex. 6.25%.

    They may also mention that rate is good for today with a 1% buydown.  What “Buydown” means is that that institution can offer you a lower interest rate of you buy down the loan.  The % they tell you is that amount times the purchase price.

    Ex.  If the purchase price on the home you are interested in is $200,000 and you can get an interest rate of 6.0%, 30 Yr. Fixed, VA Loan with 1% buydown, that means you would take.....  $200,000 X 1% = $2000.

    It would cost you $2000 plus your closing costs in order for you to have less of a Mortgage payment.  Have the Mortgage agent figure out how much you would be saving.  They can let you know if it would be in your best interest to do so, or not.

    If you plan on keeping the home for a long period of time, then it is a good idea to buy down your rate because you will save money in the long run.  If you are a typical Military Family, you usually don’t stay in one place longer than 2-3 years, so buying down would not be in your best interest.

    Once you find an Institution you are interested in and has the best rates for what you are looking for, you interview various Mortgage Company Representatives to find one that is friendly and will answer all of your questions re: how pre-qualifying works, what kind of closing costs to expect, what you can afford when looking for your new home and what your monthly mortgage payment will be per month.  Another thing to ask is if the Mortgage Co. Rep. has all of their documentation done early, so in case you are able to close early on your loan, there will not be a problem. 

    When you find that one person, you really like working with, they will ask you for all of the above referenced documentation so they can pre-qualify you and get you on the road to finding your new home.  They will tell you exactly what you can afford which is extremely important because if that figure is off, it can cause you a lot of heartache and frustrations.  Sometimes there is only a difference of $2,000 to have an offer be accepted by a homeowner.  But, if you were not properly pre-qualified, you might miss out!


  • Factors That Determine Loan Approval

    Find out next what factors are considered when determining your eligibility for a loan and the specific amount a bank will be willing to offer.


    What is your FICO?

    A FICO score is a credit score developed by Fair Isaac & Company to help lenders determine the risk involved in lending money to any person applying for a loan. It is widely accepted by lenders as one of the most important components helping determine eligibility as well as specific amounts, rates and terms that can be offered. FICO scores range from 300-850. The higher your score, the less risk involved in lending to you.

    There are approximately 30 factors that influence your credit rating. Some of these factors, such as your payment history, weigh more heavily on eligibility than others. Every factor’s importance varies by person and can change individually as your credit history lengthens. Also keep in mind your score can change daily as new credit is established or paid down/off.

    All factors can be grouped into 5 main categories:


    Payment History – Do you make your payments on time? Since this determines (on average) 35% of your score, it is certainly in your best interest to make any and all payments on time! Your payment history includes credit cards, car payments, mortgages, student loans and other loan types. Other public records on file, such as a bankruptcy, will be calculated in this group as well. If you have been late on payments bits of additional info, such as how recently these payments were made and how much time elapsed between the due date and pay date, will also factor into your score.

    Outstanding Debt – Most people over the age of 18 have debt. The question is how much? All outstanding balances for credit cards, car loans, mortgages, etc. will determine (on average) about 30% of your score. How many of these accounts have balances? For example, if you can possible pay down significantly or pay off credit card debt, you’ll be in much better shape during loan approval. Eliminating some avenues of credit can demonstrate your willingness and ability to responsibly pay back new loans.

    Credit History – How long have you been establishing your credit? Specifically, how long have your current accounts been opened and how long as it been since you used each of them? This usually determines approximately 15% of your score. If no credit history exists, you should begin by establishing credit accounts and be sure to keep them spotless. The less history that exists, the less the loan amount you’ll likely be able to obtain.

    Pursuit of New Credit – Each time you apply for credit, there is an inquiry into your current credit score. How many inquiries into your credit score are there and how recent were they made? If you recently applied for a VISA card, Nordstrom account and car loan, you may want to hold off applying for a home loan for a few months. Each inquiry may slightly reduce your FICO score and may portray you as someone overindulging in credit. This usually accounts for approximately 10% of your total score.

    Types of Credit in Use – How many types of accounts are reported for ATM cards, car loans, credit cards, travel accounts, or any other type of account where payments are being made? This will usually determine approximately 10% of your final score as well.

    Once your bank is aware of your FICO score they may or may not choose to share this information with you. Assuming they do share your score with you, it is important to remember the higher the score, the more likely you are to obtain a loan. Also, a higher score directly translates to lower interest rates. Over time with home loans, lower interest rates can play a significant role in the total amount you end of SAVING! See two examples of home loans below and the amount of money you can potentially save while boasting a great FICO score.


    Example of a 30 Year Fixed Rate Loan for $150,000
    FICO Score Rate Monthly Payment Payment Over 30 Yrs
    760-850 5.71 $871 $313,560
    700-759 5.93 $892 $321,120
    680-699 6.1 $909 $327,240
    660-679 6.32 $930 $334,800
    640-659 6.75 $973 $350,280
    620-639 7.29 $1028 $370,080

    As you can see, over a long period of time you would save much money if you have a good credit rating upon loan application. For this particular loan, you have the potential to save $56,520 over 30 years. That’s money that could potentially be invested into your retirement, used for vacations, a new car or two, etc. etc. It pays to keep your credit score as high as you are able. For larger loans, the savings potential climbs substantially!


    Example of a 30 Year Fixed Rate Loan for $500,000
    FICO Score Rate Monthly Payment Payment Over 30 Yrs
    760-850 5.71 $2,905 $1,045,800
    700-759 5.93 $2,975 $1,071,000
    680-699 6.1 $3,030 $1,090,800
    660-679 6.32 $930 $1,116,360
    640-659 6.75 $973 $1,167,480
    620-639 7.29 $1028 $1,232,640

    In this situation, over 30 years, you have the potential to save a whopping $186,840!!! It pays to be dependable! With the money you could save on this loan the possibilities are endless.


    Now, a great FICO score will not be the only determining factor in loan approval. There are additional factors that figure into the approval process as well.

    Some examples include:


    Income – Your current income will also be a significant determining factor in loan approval. Pay stubs for the previous two months as well as W-2 forms for the previous year will be requested to help determine your ability to repay the loan amount.

    Employment History – Your employment history can tell a lender much about your stability. If you’re constantly switching jobs it could raise a red flag. However, as their may be other factors influencing your employment length (such as a spouse in the military), lenders may choose to ignore this factor.

    Down Payment – Do you have a down payment? How much? Being able to provide a down payment can be extremely useful in the loan approval process. It means the amount borrowed will be less than the total cost to purchase the home. In some cases, depending on the amount of the down payment, your monthly payments can significantly drop.

    The important thing to remember is that no matter what your FICO score, employment history or income levels are there are things you can do to help improve your chances of obtaining loan approval. Get referrals to local credit counselors or financial advisors to help optimize your resources fully.


  • Loan Programs your Mortgage Representative should discuss with you

    There are many kinds of financing options available to homebuyers.  Find the Loan Program that is right for you! 

    Here are some of the most common financing options:


    Fixed Rate Mortgage
    The interest rate on a fixed rate mortgage stays the same throughout the term of the loan, usually 15 or 30 years.  This means the principal interest portion of your payment remains the same. Payments are stable but initial rates tend to be higher than adjustable rate loans and often cannot be assumed by a subsequent buyer.

    Balloon Mortgage
    A balloon mortgage is a loan that must be paid off after a certain period. The advantage they offer is an interest rate that is lower than a mortgage that is made for 30 years.

    Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM)
    This interest rate is linked to a financial index, such as a Treasury security or a cost of funds, so your monthly payments can vary up or down over the life of the loan, usually 25 to 30 years. Interest rates can change monthly, annually, or every 3 or 5 years. Some ARM's have a cap on the interest rate increase, to protect the borrower.


  • Adjustable-rate mortgage terms:

    Adjustment period: The length of time between interest rate changes. An example would be an one year ARM-interest changes annually.

    Cap: The limit on how much an interest rate or monthly payment can change at each adjustment or over the life of the loan.

    Conversion Clause: A provision in some loans that enables you to change an ARM to a fixed rate loan, usually after the first adjustment period. This may require additional fees.

    Index: A measure of interest rate changes used to determine changes in the loan's interest rate over the term of the loan.

    Margin: The number of percentage points a lender adds to the index rate to calculate the ARM's interest rate at each adjustment.

    VA Loan
    The VA does not lend money; it guarantees a portion of the loan so that lenders who originate the loan feel comfortable with their risk. Qualified veterans can obtain loans up to $203,000 with no down payment. VA-guaranteed loans can be combined with second mortgages and are assumable upon qualifying by any future buyer.

    VA LOAN LIMITS:
    $ 625,500 – Alaska and Hawaii
    $ 417,000 – 48 U.S. States

    FHA Loan
    FHA does not lend money or make a loan; rather, it insures loans. The down payment can be as low as 2.25%. Either buyer or seller may pay discount points. FHA charges a 2.25% up front Mortgage Insurance Premium (or as little as 2% for a first time home buyer) that can be financed in the mortgage amount or paid in cash (no premium is required for condominiums). The borrower must also pay an annual Mortgage Insurance Premium or .5%, which is collected monthly.

    Seller Assisted Second Mortgage
    The seller of the house lends the buyer enough to make up the difference between the purchase price and the down payment plus first-mortgage balance (a commercial lender may also make this kind of loan). The terms including the interest rate are based on buyer/seller agreement. It is often a short-term (5 to 15 year) loan; sometimes "interest only" payments until the term date when the balance is due in full. A buyer can then refinance the home.

    Assumable Mortgage
    Buyer "takes over" or assumes the mortgage obligation of the seller (with concurrence of the lender). The interest rate doesn't change and is sometimes lower than current rates. Often the loan fees are less as well.

    Mortgage Affordability Chart (from USAA)

    This chart shows what loan amount you could afford at the various interest rates. It does not include taxes or insurance. Figures are based on principal and interest payments only. To use the chart, find the monthly mortgage payment you can afford, then look under the interest rate columns.

    For example, a $900 monthly payment might enable you to qualify for a $135,277 mortgage loan at 7 percent interest, but only a $111,854 loan if your interest rate were 9 percent. The amounts listed are approximate and based on a 30-year fixed-rate loan.

  • Interest Rates
    Monthly Payment 4.00% 4.50% 5.00% 5.50% 6.00% 6.50% 7.00% 7.50% 8.00% 8.50% 9.00%
    $300 62,837 59,208 55,885 52,836 50,036 47,463 45,092 42,905 40,885 39,016 37,285
    $400 83,783 78,944 74,513 70,449 66,717 63,284 60,123 57,207 54,513 52,021 49,713
    $500 104,729 98,680 93,141 88,061 83,396 79,105 75,154 71,509 68,142 65,027 62,141
    $600 125,675 118,416 111,769 105,673 100,075 94,926 90,185 85,811 81,770 78,032 74,569
    $700 146,621 138,152 130,398 123,285 116,754 110,748 105,215 100,112 95,398 91,038 86,997
    $800 167,567 157,887 149,026 140,897 133,433 126,569 120,246 114,414 109,027 104,043 99,425
    $900 188,513 177,623 167,654 158,509 150,113 142,390 135,277 128,716 122,655 117,048 111,854
    $1,000 209,459 197,359 186,282 176,121 166,791 158,211 150,308 143,018 136,283 130,054 124,282
    $1,100 230,405 217,095 204,910 193,734 183,471 174,032 165,338 157,319 149,912 143,059 136,710
    $1,200 251,351 236,831 223,539 211,346 200,150 189,853 180,369 171,621 163,540 156,064 149,138
    $1,300 272,297 256,567 242,167 228,958 216,829 205,674 195,400 185,923 177,169 169,070 161,566
    $1,400 293,243 276,303 260,795 246,570 233,508 221,495 210,431 200,225 190,797 182,075 173,995
    $1,500 314,189 296,039 279,423 264,182 250,188 237,316 225,461 214,526 204,425 195,080 186,423
    $1,600 335,135 315,775 298,051 281,794 266,867 253,137 240,492 228,828 218,054 208,086 198,851
    $1,700 356,081 335,511 316,680 299,406 283,546 268,958 255,523 243,130 231,682 221,091 211,279
    $1,800 377,027 355,247 335,308 317,019 300,225 284,779 270,554 257,432 245,310 234,097 223,707
    $1,900 397,972 374,983 353,936 334,630 316,904 300,601 285,584 271,733 258,939 247,102 236,136
    $2,000 418,918 394,719 372,564 352,243 333,583 316,422 300,615 286,035 272,567 260,107 248,564
    $2,100 439,864 414,455 391,193 369,855 350,263 332,243 315,646 300,337 286,195 273,113 260,992
    $2,200 460,810 434,191 409,820 387,467 366,942 348,064 330,677 314,639 299,824 286,118 273,420
    $2,300 481,756 453,926 428,449 405,079 383,621 363,885 345,707 328,941 313,452 299,123 285,848
    $2,400 502,702 473,662 447,077 422,691 400,300 379,706 360,738 343,242 327,080 312,129 298,276
    $2,500 523,648 493,398 465,705 440,304 416,979 395,527 375,769 357,544 340,709 325,134 310,705
    $2,600 544,594 513,134 484,333 457,916 433,659 411,348 390,800 371,846 354,337 338,139 323,133
    $2,700 565,540 532,870 502,962 475,527 450,338 427,169 405,830 386,148 367,965 351,145 335,561
    $2,800 586,486 552,606 521,590 493,140 467,017 442,990 420,861 400,449 381,594 364,150 347,989
    $2,900 607,432 572,342 540,218 510,752 483,696 458,811 435,892 414,751 395,222 377,156 360,417
    $3,000 628,378 592,078 558,847 528,364 500,375 474,632 450,923 429,053 408,850 390,161 372,846



  • Closing Costs For Buyers:

    Most closing costs average 7% of the cost of the property at the time of closing.  The Title Company will not allow personal checks but they will accept cashiers checks when you pay for your closing costs on the day of closing.

    Look on our website for a qualified and friendly Title Company Representative.  They will assist you with all of your needs and questions in a knowledgeable manner.  Make sure you find a Professional that you get along well with.  It makes things go so much easier.


  • Why You Need a Real Estate Professional

    The integration of real estate into the internet has revolutionized the way in which home buyers think. It has become easier for buyers to find a home on the internet in the past few years. Today, buyers often ask the question, “Why do I need an agent?”

    Home buying is not something someone typically does often. It’s not an every day event or even a yearly event. It can be emotional and stressful, especially when you don’t know real estate and understand the laws, rules and regulations involved in transactions. You’ll need someone with knowledge to spell out the details of the transaction. Remember, this is one of the biggest purchasing decisions you will likely make. It is not something to take lightly.

    REALTORS® Know Real Estate

    REALTORS® deal with real estate issues and concerns on a daily basis. They have been educated extensively on the laws and regulations that influence the market. By law agents are required to get continued education to renew their license ensuring they are always up-to-date on the latest real estate news and laws. Further, as Professionals, they have access to tools and an endless array of contacts in the industry to help YOU find the perfect home.


    The good news for buyers’ is that lenders will never lend more money than a home is worth. So, you can rest easy knowing that you will never overpay. But there are other problems that can haunt you if you’re not careful. For example, REALTORS® are trained to ensure all necessary disclosures are given completely and in a timely manner. There are many disclosures differing within each state. Some disclosures may include: natural hazards, mello-roos and bonds, smoke detector, lead-based paint, mold, wildfire zones, inundation zones, and Megan’s Law. Do you know all the required disclosures for your state? It can be difficult to keep up with the ever growing list of disclosures! Laws change regularly and if you’re not involved in the real estate market on a regular basis you may fall short of providing yourself ideal representation.

    Other potential problems that buyers’ may encounter in the buying process involve homeowner association rules and regulations. For example, you’re a dog lover and have three but you just purchased a condo that doesn’t allow pets. What can you do? Nothing! You can sell the condo but that’s about it. You’re legally bound by your agreement with the association and you’re unlikely to change their rules as a new member.

    Be smart: Know that as much as you think you know… there is always more to know. Trust that you’ll likely forget something in the process. Hiring a real estate agent will save you the trouble in your attempt to research every problem you may run into during the home buying process. You’ll not only save yourself time researching but help your family avoid potential risks.

    Further, real estate professionals are trained and experienced in helping people find homes to suit their needs and their budget. While you may want to move to a certain area, you may not have the budget to do so. Or it could be the other way around. Perhaps you don’t realize you can afford to buy in a particular area. Hiring a REALTOR® to help you determine your ability to buy in certain areas will save you valuable time. Once you’ve been pre-approved for a loan your agent can begin the task of finding the perfect home for you. They will tailor your search criteria based upon different factors including, but not limited to:

    1. Price range you’ve been pre-approved for
    2. Number of bedrooms desired
    3. Number of bathrooms desired
    4. Areas and communities of interest to you
    5. Special features such as pool, yard, garage, main floor bedroom, etc.


    Your REALTOR® will then sift through all the results of homes matching your criteria to find the best homes to show. If there are many homes matching your criteria and in your price range, it can be grueling to look through them all yourself.

    Once you’ve decided to hire an agent to assist you in the buying process, you’ll need to find an agent that will be able to understand YOUR needs. Not every agent will be the right agent for you.

  • Choosing a REALTOR®

    You’ve decided to enlist the help of a professional to help you find and buy a home. Here are some tips to help you find a real estate agent.

    Find at least three real estate agent’s to interview:

    Simply go to our local information page and view all the Realtors that are available in the area you will be moving to.  Pick three or four Realtors to interview.  Most of the Realtors that are listed on this website either donate their time in the Housing Offices or they work with military on a regular basis.  So needless to say, they are comfortable working with military and understand you and your families needs.

    All of the Realtors you see on our website are all REALTORS®,?  Why is this so important?  REALTORS® generally work full time, are committed financially to their business and have been extensively trained to serve your needs. They are also members of the National Association of REALTORS®.

    Interview the top agents you’ve found. You should be prepared to ask relevant questions to help you determine if the agent will be a good match for you.

    Don’t conduct your interview as a question/answer interview. Have a real conversation. You need to get a feel for the agent’s personality as well.

    Agents that answer your questions stating yes or no are probably not someone you want to deal with. Find an agent that will happily answer your questions extensively so you understand the details of your relationship from the beginning. This will help you avoid any problems down the road.

    If you have special needs such as relocation, first time home buying, or any others, tell the agent and ask if they have any experience and training with buyers like you.

    Ask if the Realtor has children or works a lot with families with small children.

        Ex.  If you have small kids it is a good idea to find an agent that has kids or enjoys kids and doesn’t mind stopping at McDonalds and eating in their car.

    A good REALTOR® will return your call with in the same day.  Make sure the agent gives you one good phone number that you’ll be able to reach them with at all times.  This is why interviewing each REALTOR® is so important.  You want someone that will be able to meet all of your needs.

    Our agents will be able to inform you of new listings matching your criteria the same day they hit the market.  In hot markets homes sell quickly.

    Experience can certainly play an important role in helping you find and buy the perfect home. An agent capable of handling difficult transactions can be the key to closing the deal.

    Remember, the most important decision you will make in the sale of your home is the REALTOR® you choose to work with. Be sure to find someone you feel comfortable with. If you don't feel you can ask questions or go to your REALTOR®, you have the wrong person. Your REALTOR® should show you research to back up any recommendations. This includes information about recent sales, current listings, and recently expired listings in your neighborhood.

    Choose a local REALTOR®. He or she will know your area better than an outsider.  It is likely that any amount you might save by having a friend or relative from outside the area serve as your REALTOR will be lost in their lack of knowledge about your specific local market.

    Look for a REALTOR®  who tells you what he or she knows from experience in the market, and not what they think you want to hear. Flattery does not make a good business arrangement.    

    Compare the agents you interviewed to make the final decision of whom to hire. What do you like and not like about each? Make a list and discuss it with family and friends that have been through the process. They may have valuable tips to help you make the right decision.