HOW DO I GET STARTED BUYING A HOUSE??  And the answer is…. speak with a LENDER.. first…. right away!  Before your wheels turn or you look at a house.. call a local lender.  We have so many resources for you… Dinah Riordan with First HOME MORTGAGE (410) 758- 6632, driordan@gofirsthome.com, Nic Gills with Southern Trust (443) 521 5918 or his website, ngills@southerntrust.com, David Thomas or Linda Thomas at Movement Mortgage (410) 688-5386, Tolbert Rowe, Bay Capital Mortgage (410) 310-3520 are just a few of our trusted lenders.  Why call them first?  They can direct you as to a price range to shoot for, tell you if there is anything “lurking” in your credit report that needs attention,   You will have a head start on what programs are the best for you.. what kind of financial help is out there for you!  How much closing cost assistance can you ask for from the Seller.  The lender is KEY to the entire process.  And unless you are a trust fund baby (we wish we were)… you need that LENDER… 

WHAT YOU DON’T WANT TO DO….Do not go on line to Lending Tree.com or an on line website to see what you qualify for…  They will send out your PERSONAL INFORMATION to multiple mortgage brokers who will all PULL YOUR CREDIT which will damage your credit score.  Don’t do it.. trust us.. DON’T DO IT!   Plus your cell phone (which you have to give) will be called unmercifully.. over and over again!

SO YOUR HOMEWORK IS COMPLETE AND YOUR CONTRACT IS ACCEPTED…  hopefully with the help of a knowledgeable Doug Ashley REALTOR, LLC  Agent… now what!   The most important thing you need to know, is communication..   Communicate with your chosen lender, he/she will guide you, as your agent will.   Give that lender all the documentation that ask for.. no matter how many times they ask for it.. And it will be more than once.. REPETITIVE, REDUNDANT and totally REQUIRED.   No need to get frustrated.. it’s just the way it works..   BTW.. your agent will guide you through inspections, how to ask for repairs or a credit.  He/She will be working hand in hand with inspectors, lender, appraisers, settlement companies, attorneys.   We will get you the information you need to make informed decisions with hopefully no surprises!  

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST….. Don’t make any purchases that will affect your credit.. (Car… appliances… furniture, etc)  Your lender has based your loan approval on your debt to income ratio (DTI) and they will check your credit the day of settlement, or the day before.   SO… we don’t want to be in the position of.. ooops.. the day of you don’t qualify!     Call us (410) 810-0010 www.dougashleyrealtors.com