As first time home buyers, we recognize the sacrifices you make in an effort to save enough money to not only make a down payment on a home, but meet the total amount necessary to actually close on your desired home loan.

You worked hard to get here and so should your agent! Finding you the perfect home is our business and We love our business!

Your decision to buy a home is both a sound financial decision and a commendable achievement. As your real estate agent...

• We will lead you through every single step of the exciting home buying process.

• We will help you define your "wish list" of features you want in your home, your neighborhood and your ideal school district.

• We will walk you through the mind-boggling financial details associated with buying a home, including the various mortgages and home buying programs available to you.

• We will monitor all new listings and alert you to new houses as soon as they are put on the market.

• We will eliminate the stress involved with buying a home by putting years of real estate experience to work for you.

Here are 10 tips to keep in mind for First-Time Home Buyers...

• Know what you can afford to spend. Calculators found on our site as well as these: Bankrate.com and E-Loan.com can help.
• Find out if you qualify for home-buying help. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, for example, has programs to help teachers, firefighters and others buy affordable homes. Federal Housing Administration loan programs offer lower down payments to help first-time buyers. Go to HUD's Web Site for details.
• Get pre-qualified for a loan. First, get a copy of your credit history (free copies are available through AnnualCreditReport.com), then find a reputable lender.
• Make a list of must-haves in a new home and another of would-like-to-haves. Prioritize both lists and be realistic.
• Don’t spend a lot of time looking at homes you can’t afford. This reduces the temptation to overextend your budget.
• Realize the neighborhood you choose is at least as important as the house. Make sure you are comfortable there. You can fix a house; a neighborhood is what it is.
• Think about resale value. When you spot a home you like, consider how it will look to future buyers. For instance, proximity to a busy street can turn off some buyers.
• Find out and calculate on-going maintenance costs and other factors like taxes, insurance and utilities.
• Have the house inspected and carefully review the report. Come up with a negotiation strategy, remembering that the seller is obligated to fix a leaking roof but not a hole in the carpet.
• Examine the pre-closing statement provided by your agent or lender and ensure that you have enough cash to swing the deal when you go to settlement.

 There are also these local first time home buyer programs:

> Provide detailed listing information not available to the general public.
> Negotiate the deal to save you money.
> Guide you through the avalanche of paperwork.
> Commit my time and energy to finding you the right home.