Get pre-approved for a mortgage – One of the first things to do as you start thinking about the prospect of buying a home is to speak with a Mortgage broker. A Mortgage Broker will speak with you about your options and assist with getting a mortgage pre-approval notice created. After speaking with a Mortgage professional you will be better educated to research Tampa homes you can and cannot afford. You will also be in a better position to make a serious offer once you find your dream home.

Research Lenders – In the Real Estate market today this is a very important step often overlooked. Make sure you are working with someone reputable, preferably in the Tampa Bay area. Owning a home is a big financial responsibility and it’s vital that your broker/lender is also working hard make the transaction a smooth one.

Research the market – As the Real Estate market shifts from a sellers market to a buyers market you now have a tremendous upper hand when searching for that dream home. You can learn the market by seeing properties for sale in Tampa, St Petersburg or Clearwater by searching the MLS Listings, Realtor.com and other online sources. Understand what is currently on offer in the Tampa Bay market will expedite the house hunting process and save you a great amount of time and energy.

Work with a Tampa Bay Realtor - Realtors know the market trends, have expertise in the selling and buying process and are here to make your experience a memorable one. I will research potential homes and developments that meet your criteria so you don’t have to. Hiring a real estate agent also gives you the reassurance that the selling and buying contract will be thoroughly scrutinized and any concerns you may have will be discussed and answered. There is no need the driving around aimlessly on weekends and scanning the weekend newspapers. That’s a Realtors job and if you are finding that you are doing that, its time to look for a new Realtor. Hire a Realtor to consult with you on what you are looking for, where you would like to own and get a list of properties currently for sale.

Hire a home inspector - It is important to stress that the purchase of a home is usually the largest purchase you ever going to make. So hiring a home inspector to take a detailed look at the property before any paperwork is signed is a sensible idea. It could also save you a lot of money in the long run. You don’t want to find the home of your dreams and have it fall down around you over the next 12 months.

Keep a Level Headed Approach – Buying a home is quite an emotional process always try to keep a cool head during the entire home buying process, especially during and after a home inspection. Even if you are buying a brand new home you will discover that no home is perfect, especially older homes. It's not unusual for new owners to take care of some repairs themselves. Don't let the seller's refusal to do a small repair effect all the great things about the home you love. More often than not with a screwdriver in hand and a can of paint you can take care of a number of the home repairs yourself.

Work with a Respected Title Company – In today’s Real Estate Market there are important parties who duties directly affect and sale of a home and mistakes can easily happen. The Real Estate contract is a complicated transaction and even the slightly error could leads to hefty consequences. Get referrals from fellow Tampa Bay homeowners to find good people to work with.

These are just a small number of recommendations to keep in mind when buying real estate in the Tampa Bay area. I would be happy to represent you in the purchase of your next home or condo in Tampa, St Petersburg or Clearwater.