Help Achieving The Dream Of Homeownership (NAPSA)—Tax incentives, low interest rates and affordability may be making things easier for many prospective homebuyers. With so many options and resources available to consumers however, sometimesit’s difficult to navigate the inventory available. Whether you are just starting your home search or ready to make a purchase, there are a numberoffactors to keep in mindas you look for a new home. Here arejust a few: Learn the market. More options are available to first-time buyers. According to the National Association of Realtors, 93 percent of first-time buyers started their home search online last year. While online listings can provide an indication of the properties available in the area in which you want to buy a home, a buyer’s agent has access to additional properties and information about alternative buying options such as short sales and foreclosures. Prepare financially. Getting your finances in orderprior to looking for a new home can not only help you narrow your options, it can make the entire transaction run more smoothly when it’s time to buy. Use online mortgage calculators to see how much house you can afford or get preapproved to avoid any delays in financing. Attend a home buyer seminar. Home buyer seminars let buyers learn the ins and outs of the home buyingprocess. From financing issues to the benefits of working with a buyer’s agent, home buyer seminars can be a useful way to gain confidence in the home buyingprocess. * Create a wish list. From basic home features to school districts and neighborhoods, choosing the right home can seem over- A home is oneof the largest purchases a consumer will make in his or herlifetime. whelming. Prioritize the features and preferences that are most important to you as a buyer and narrow your options before you start looking at properties. Get help. Working with a real estate professional who knows the market and specializes in buyer representation—such as an agent who has earned the Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) designation can relieve some of the stress associated with the home-buying process. Administered by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC), the ABR designation is awarded to real estate agents who have undertaken special training to help them guide buyers through the intricate process of the home purchase. The expertise of realtors who have earnedthe designation is further demonstrated in the professional experiential requirement all candidates must meet. Learn more. To find an ABR-designated agent nearby and for a free copy of the REBAC-published “Home Buyer’s Toolkit,” visit www.REBAC.netorcall (800) 648-6224.
