Benefits of using a Real Estate Professional include:

1. Real Estate Professionals can help you negotiate things like price, financing, terms, date of possession, and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment. The purchase agreement should also provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required, as well as be there to help while you are busy at work or play.
2. As soon as you are reasonably sure the property is right for you, the process of obtaining financing begins. Your agent can help you in understanding different financing options and in identifying qualified lenders.
3. The Real Estate Professional can also help you in the closing, by helping to guide you through the process and making sure everything flows together smoothly.

1. Have a contract for the home you want to purchase.
2. Bring your original statements for the past two months from each bank, credit union, or other financial institution where you have an account.
3. Prepare a list of all loan account numbers and addresses (car loans, personal loans, student loans, other loans, etc.). Include loans you may have co-signed.
4. Have your employment history ready. Names and addresses of employers. W-2 forms for the past two years. Tax returns for the past two years. Most recent pay stubs.
5. Have your Residence history prepared (name and address of current landlord, or mortgage company, list of where you have lived for the past two years).
6. Miscellaneous information may include divorce decree, court orders, bankruptcy discharge papers, etc.

1. Finding your property. Real Estate Professionals have access to information on properties that may be for sale that are not advertised. They use a Multiple Listing Service or MLS provided to them by the professional associations they are members of. This system lists thousands of properties that are for sale in your area. Your dream home could be just around the corner, and you wouldn't know it.
2. Real Estate Professionals can assist you with local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, etc.
3. Real Estate Professionals can provide you with information to help you decide if you will be able to resell the home when you want.
4. Real Estate Professionals can help you to evaluate the property. Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few.
5. Your Real Estate Professional can help you negotiate the price you will pay for your home by providing you with Comparative Market Analysis to let you evaluate if you are paying a fair price for the home you want to buy.
6. Your agent can assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written reports.

1. Helping you with the offer to purchase
2. Assisting with Lead Based Paint inspections and laws
3. Assisting with Radon requirements and testing and laws
4. Formulating the Offer to Purchase
5. Scheduling Inspections (Home, Termite, HVAC, Lead Based Paint, Radon, etc.)
6. Negotiate repairs if needed
7. Mortgage Application
8. VA Eligibility issues
9. Loan Approval
10. Final Inspection before closing