When buying Lakewood Ranch real estate you need to know as much about the process a possible. You will find that being educated with the facts will pay off in the long run because even a single error made during the purchase can cost you thousands of dollars.

Here are the first two steps when buying Lakewood Ranch real estate:

1. Choose a reputable real estate agent. Choosing a reputable Lakewood Ranch real estate agent to assist you in the purchase is one of the best things you can do. As the buyer, a real estate agent does not cost you anything. The cost of the agent is paid by the seller of the property. You will find that the services of a knowledgeable and honest Lakewood Ranch real estate agent are invaluable. In fact, not having a real estate agent, or having the wrong real estate agent, may be a very costly mistake. Remember, it does not cost the buyer to have a real estate agent so don’t make the mistake of thinking you will save 3% commission by not having an agent. There is a lot involved in the purchase of any Lakewood Ranch home, it can get complicated real quick with the rules, contracts, disclosures and other trivial details. So if you have little or no real estate experience, not having a qualified real estate agent represent you can be disastrous.

2. Get pre-qualified for your loan. Once you have found a real estate agent that you are comfortable with then your second step is to select which mortgage company you will be working with. Your real estate agent may advise you in this; however, it is best to do your own research as well…this way there is no conflict of interest. This does not mean you will necessarily find better financing on your own, but it is always best to make sure. As you are shopping around for financing, make sure you take into account any fees the mortgage company may be charging, points that must be paid at closing, whether or not there are pre-payment penalties, and whether or not the interest rate is adjustable. You need to find the mortgage that has the best combination to suit your individual needs.

Once you have found the mortgage company you will work with make sure to get a pre-approved letter in hand before beginning your property search. If you are pre-qualified you will find that the entire process runs much smoother. In fact, many, if not most Lakewood Ranch real estate agents will require you to get pre-qualified prior to showing you any Lakewood Ranch homes.