7 Steps to Find a Real Estate Agent for Your First Home Mortgage

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It's good to surround yourself with experts when looking for information on subjects, especially when it's something as long-term as a home mortgage loan. As a person surrounded by experts, sometimes I miss the tree for the forest. Or is the forest for the trees...either way I sometimes miss the obvious. This happened recently when one of our expert mortgage consultants Dave Brown a.k.a. The Mortgage Mythbuster from Fort Wayne, Indiana sent me an email. In it, he takes a look the frequently asked question, "How does a first time home buyer pick a real estate agent?"

I thought to myself, "Self!" (cause that's what I call myself) "That's great advice for a first time home buyer!" So I thought I'd share Dave's insight into finding a real estate agent. First of all, Dave says, "It is a simple matter of common sense!"

1. Tap into your network. Your family, friends, neighbors, business associates, and others may have recommendations. An experienced and effective agent will have great word-of-mouth. And who better to trust than your own network?
2. Do your research. Check the Internet, local newspapers and other resources to see which agents are marketing hard for their customers.
3. The vetting process. Choose a few (at least 3) experienced agents and interview them. Ask for references and contact those references for their opinions. remember, they're vying for your business. These agents should have a record of integrity with the state licensing board. They should also be members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and abide by the NAR's code of ethics.
4. Making the choice. Personality plays an important role here. Find an agent with whom you can work easily, since buying a home is a major, sometimes stressful decision. However, consider this: sometimes an easy-going-agent may not get the best deal for you. It's up to you to decide the best real estate agent for the job.
5. Know who your real estate agent represents. You want a buyer's agent, not an agent who is working for the seller.
6. Communication. Be sure to let the agent know what your needs are in terms of a home. The more information you can give that agent, the faster they will be able to locate homes to your liking.
7. Return communication. Ask that the real estate agent keep you updated on a regular basis during the search for a home. A good agent always keeps his/her customers informed.

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(tree photo: Flickr user Lee Forrest)