You've probably heard it - now is the time to buy a home! Inventory is up, prices and rates are down, and sellers are eager to sell. It truly is a buyer's market. So what else can you do to make sure you're getting the best deal possible on a home? Before you even start walking through houses on the market, you need to get your financials in order. You should know where your credit score stands and get pre-approved by a lender. Lenders are also competing for your business, so shop around to make sure you're getting the lowest rates. By getting pre-approved first, this helps give you a price range when shopping for a house. The next step would be to contact a licensed real estate agent. While it is possible to buy a home without an agent, the benefits of working with an agent are overwhelming. Their knowledge and experience helps make the process easier and makes sure you are represented in the transaction.

Blog inspired by article featured in The Monitor and can be seen here: http://homes.themonitor.com/news/credit-311-home-score.html