I still remember buying my first home and the feeling I had in knowing it was mine. You wanted to make it look the best you could, decorate it with all the things you loved, and personalize it to reflect your personality. Besides that sense of pride in ownership, it was also a good investment. By taking good care of your home, paying the taxes and mortgage payment, your investment value would grow, and in return, be worth more than when you purchased it.

Today, I am helping others in buying their own home and I get to re-experience those great feelings over and over again. It is exciting to be a part of this process for my customers and see those same emotions on their face. There are many things different in the process of getting a mortgage, but that end feeling of home ownership is the same. That is what I like most in my job.

If you are just thinking of buying a home, here are a few suggestions:

• Check your credit score. You will want to have it in the range of 660 or above. If you need suggestions on how to raise your credit score, stop in and chat with me.
• Save a little each month into a savings account. Not only will this help you build up a down payment, but it will also help you budget with cash flow and get used to a possible higher mortgage payment.
• Don’t go out and make a big purchase prior to house shopping. Sometimes a purchase of a new vehicle will cause problems in qualifying for a house payment or limit you to a lower price range of home.
• Employment strength is also important. Hopping from job to job allows for gaps of income and makes it harder to qualify for a mortgage.
• Stop in and get more information. Sometimes there are special loan programs that can help you out financially. Information is free and we will take the time to answer all your questions.

Buying a home is one of the largest investments that most people will make in their lifetime. Enjoy your experience as much as you enjoy your new home. One of my favorite quotes is “It’s not about the destination. It’s about the journey to get there.”

– Sue Buch, VP Real Estate Lending