Buy a home using Indiana's premier REALTORŪ. Expert advice on buying a home in Indiana.

Use Honeycomb Properties to help you find your dream home.

Buying a home, for most people, is the largest and most stressful investment during their lifetime. I have created the following list to try and help potential homebuyers make their dream to buy the perfect home a reality.

1. Find a mortgage before you find a home- I want to repeat this about 10 more times to stress the importance. You could find your dream home which is priced at $200,000. If you can only get approved for $150,000, then you must have the $50,000 downpayment or your dream home could slip away.

2. Get your own REALTORŪ- Many times a buyer will contact the listing Real Estate Agent to submit an offer on a property. In the state of Indiana, a buyer can essentialy recieve free professional Real Estate services by choosing and using their own REALTORŪ or Real Estate Agent. In Indiana the Real Estate fees are paid by the seller and are shared by the Listing and Buyer's Agents.

3. Get a Home Inspection!- A Real Estate Agent is not an Inspector and an Inspector is not a Real Estate Agent. I am fortunate enough to have a solid construction background, but even a qualified inspector can miss a problem with the home you are looking to buy. The inspector you choose should be a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors). ASHI members are required to meet minimum standards during their inspection process. A home inspection is one of the smartest expenses a home buyer will incur.

4. Know your Mortgage before you get to the Closing Table- Lenders are required to send you a Good Faith Estimate within 3 days of applying for a mortgage, but they are just estimates and are sent out before your loan is ever approved. Do you know the difference between a Mortgage Broker vs. a Mortgage Lender? Do you know what points really are and do you understand why Mortgage Companies will sell you to buy the rate down with points? Fixed rate or adjustable rate? Unfortunately, today many homeowners are losing their homes due to increases in ARM rates. Knowing your mortgage is an critical aspect of buying a home.

5. Understand all the Costs Involved- There is a big difference between closing costs and the downpayment, and I have met many buyers that didn't know the difference. Homeowner's insurance and Taxes are another big issue to consider when deciding to buy a home.