Happy New Year, everyone!  It has been quite a while (at least for me) since I last blogged, so I had to start out with that statement, just for good measure.  

If you are a first time homebuyer, you may not have any idea about where to start the process.  (You've never done it before, so how are you supposed to know??)  Unless you have an experienced family member or friend, you will need a lot of support from the very beginning.  That's where a trusted Realtor® comes in handy!  Since I can (and would be more than happy to!) fill that role for you, I thought I would share a few pointers and guidelines with you.  This will be Part 1 of a series of Frequently Asked Questions for first time home buyers (or really, just home buyers in general).  Enjoy!

The first real step in the home buying process is to find a Realtor® you can trust!  I could be a little biased, but this may be the most important step in the process.  Your agent will guide you through the entire process, so you need a trustworthy person on your side.   How in the world do you go about doing this?  Ask friends, family or co-workers who they have used in the past, and ask how the experience was.  If they recommend them, then that's likely going to be your best candidate.  Get in touch with them and set up a time for a consultation.

If that doesn't work, do some research.  A few pointers on finding a best fit:

- Scout out some agents on HAR that are familiar with the area you want to live in.  

- Check their ratings and customer feedback (if available), and read their bios.  

- Set up a few interviews if you want, and meet with them face-to-face.  (Note: Do they respond to   you within a reasonable amount of time?)  After an in person meeting, you should get an idea of     whether or not you will work well together.

Once you have found your agent, have a consultation with that person to evaluate your needs.   When your Realtor® can understand your needs, they can be better equipped to help you find a       fantastic home.  Make a list of your "must-haves" along with "deal breakers."  This list may naturally form over time, but it's good to have an idea of what you are looking for in the beginning.  

Hopefully this information is helpful!  As always, feel free to let me know if you have questions.  Next week we will focus on the pre-approval process!  It's not quite as scary as you may think ;-)

Make it a great week, everyone!