If you are thinking of buying a home these are the steps you need to take.
              1.) Get pre-approved from a mortgage lender.  Just because you have never applied before, or have had bad credit before, or have no money- does not mean you can not buy a house.  Need to learn a little about mortgages click here.  Gather up your last two years w-2 or tax returns  and go and see a mortgage broker.  Email me if you have questions on who to go to.  Ready to find out from a mortgage lender on how much you can afford or what the payment would be - use the mortgage finder without being hassled daily.

Now the mortgage person has pre-approved you and told you what they could lend to you.
           2.)   Sit down and figure out how much you can really afford on a payment.  Just because the mortgage person said they would let you have a mortgage payment of $1500 a month doesn't mean you can live good with that payment.  What will be the taxes on my new home?  Can you afford the taxes on it? What are you paying now in rent?  What will you have left to live on after your car payment and house payment, taxes, and insurance?  Can you eat or go out with that amount?  One way to see if you can live on that amount is to put that much away each month for six months.  If you want a payment of $1500 a month and your rent is only $1100 right now, put $400 away each month.  And do not touch it for anything.  After all it is your house payment and it is gone because you have to make your house payment on time.  

Now you know what you can really afford to spend on a payment and how much house you can buy.
           3.)  a.) Think about what you want in a house.  Be realistic.  Separate them into have to have, and desires.  IE.  have to have 3 bedroom, desire a pool.
                         b.)  What cities do you want to live in?  Have kids need a good school system?  Want to be close to your family, your friends, your work?  Think about it. 
Where can you go for more information on the school system, Meap scores, crime statistics, history, shopping, hospitals, restaurants, churches, parks and recreation?  Click on the cities listed below for the best information  Brighton/Brighton Township - Canton - Commerce Township - Dearborn/Dearborn Heights -  Farmington/Farmington Hills -  Garden City - Livonia - Milford - Northville(City & Township)- -Novi -  Plymouth - Redford - Southfield - South Lyon/Lyon Township  - Taylor - Wayne - Westland

Now you know how much of a house you can buy, and you have some ideas of what you want and where you want to live.
            4.)  Surf the internet to get a feel of what you want and where you want to see if it is even possible.  A $145,000 brick ranch in Northville is not realistic but there are cities that have some. Use this icon to search for your houses on your own  or use the dream home finder to get listings without an agent calling you.
 
Now you have some ideas and some houses you want to see. Now you call me (248)310-6239 or email me to see houses
             5.)   We spend some time talking and emailing each other back and forth.  I learn what you want and we get narrow down a list of homes that I have sent you.  Between your ideas, my experience we work to get you into a home that you want and can afford.  We then spend some mornings, afternoons, or weekends looking at the insides of homes together.  We sometimes have to look at some twice.  
      You should look at houses with the people that you are going to be living in the house with.  Too many people looking at a house causes confusion, it is exactly like too many cooks in a kitchen.  A word of caution: I have seen a friend or family member talk somebody out of a house because " I do not think it was you, or I bought one like this and I have lived to regret it"  I had one lady email me afterwards and say " I should have never let my mother-in-law talk me out of that house. I just loved it".  Everybody is different this is your house and it should suit your needs and likes.
       What you should be looking for?
       Take a copy of the listing with you.  Write your likes and dislikes down as you exit the house so you know which homes are keepers and which ones are no goes. 
       I'm not saying not to have somebody look at the house.  What I am saying is to look at the homes, narrow the list down to 3 - 6  homes, and then take a friend or family member with you if you want to.  They will give a second opinion, but remember this is your house.   
              Here are some things to consider while looking at the houses:
                           What adds value to a home?
                           What detracts from the value of a home?                           .
                          The house needs a little work.  Can you do the work?  Will you gain equity in the house by fixing it up?  What would be the costs if a contractor does the work?                          

You have decided you like one house the best.
             6.)    Now I research what other homes that are similar to it have sold for, so you can make a decision on what price to offer and what you want as a target purchase price. We write up a purchase agreement to offer the seller a certain amount of money.  I negotiate to get you the house at a price you can afford.  Sometimes it goes smoothly and sometimes negotiations are tough. 

We have gotten you a signed contract between you and the seller to purchase the home. 
             7.)    You hire a inspector of your choice to inspect the home.  Just having "Uncle Bob" or "Cousin Billy" is not the best thing to do.  Home inspectors constantly amaze on what they find.  I have been a do it yourselfer for years and have been thru many homes as a real estate and mortgage professional but inspectors are great.  For the $300 - $500 it can save you grief in the long run.  I have had curved basement walls pointed out to me, mold in strange places that people would not normally look in.

Watch our Big Lake Video

Island Lake Sales

Learn more about Judah Lake & Big Silver Lake

 Search Clark Lake Livingston County Michigan

$1,695.00

38872 Country Circle

Farmington Hills, MI

Beds: 2 • Baths: 1 full/1 partial

$629,900

6060 Rosewood Parkway

White Lake Township, MI

Beds: 5 • Baths: 3 full/1 partial

$415,000

33870 Cotswold Street

Farmington Hills, MI

Beds: 3 • Baths: 1 full/1 partial

$875,000

18270 Cascade Drive

Northville, MI

Beds: 4 • Baths: 4 full/1 partial

$1,695.00

614 Napa Valley Drive

Milford Township, MI

Beds: 2 • Baths: 2 full/1 partial