The Best Place to Find Your Home

Things You Absolutely Should Not Do

1. Top Mistakes You Can Make When Shopping For A Home
DO NOT

Trash talk the property in front of the owners
Giveaway your negotiation power by speaking in the house (always assume you are being recorded)
Post your real estate thoughts on social media sites (these can easily be viewed)
Fail to realize it is possible to find what you want the very first day you go out looking(this happens more than you think...)
Sleep on it (in a hot market, if you sleep on it, you might not get to sleep in it)
Wait to find the absolute PERFECT house (you will always be limited by income, zoning, legislation and/or property taxes, and inventory at the time)
Violate the 80/10/10 Rule:if you find a house that has 80% of what you are looking for, 10% of things you can change,and10% of things you can live with, it’s a keeper
Go window shopping and allow people to pull your credit report
Have unreasonable expectations
Believe what you see on HGTV and reality television (the majority of that stuff is scripted)
Consider a short-sale property if you want to be in control of the process or need to move immediately
Look for a home before being FULLY approved for a loan
Get advice from a buying committee that has not purchased in the last year(the rules change almost daily)
Neglect to purchase a home warranty
Neglect to get a home inspection

2. Top Mistakes You Can Make When Shopping and Applying for a Mortgage
Do Not

Quit or change your job
Change your name
Buy any big-ticket items
Make David Copperfield deposits (all funds need to be traceable)
Order Direct TV, Cable, Telephone or any utility that will pull a credit report unless you want to write a letter of explanation about the credit report to the mortgage company
Forget to obtain or request a gift letter and bank statement for funds
Withhold information from the lender about child support, alimony, wage garnishments or any other payroll reduction
Fail to recognize the clock starts ticking from the time the loan officer gets the contract, (not from the date the contract was written)
Delay paperwork because you are irritated by the frequency and number of requests from the mortgage company
Co-sign for anything—not even a candy bar
Find a lender on the Internet that offers a 000000.1 interest rate and is from outside of the area
Sign mortgage documents with a name other than what is listed on your driver’s license (use Jr. and Sr. if required)
Be oblivious to mortgage fraud (if it can't be written on the front page of the contract because its being done "under the table", it is probably fraudulent)

3. Top Mistakes You Can Make When Working With A Real Estate Agent
Do Not

Talk to sellers directly rather than consult with your agent (loose lips sink ships)
Not tell your agent if you are allergic to animals
Not tell your agent what is most important to you
Call other agents you see on "For Sale" signs
Attend open houses and new construction without your agent
Call at the very last minute to cancel appointments

4. Top Mistakes You Can Make Before and During The Closing Transaction
Do Not