Choosing a home to buy is a very important decision. For most individuals or families, they will be living in this home for many years. So how do you pick the home that you can afford now that will offer the most value? How do you know what features are important? And, how do you keep track of the different homes as you decide which will best meet your needs?

ABEK Real Estate has worked with buyers just like you! Whether you are a first time buyer or simply looking to move to a different home, ABEK Real Estate believes these suggestions will help you during the process--a process that should be exciting and hassle free!

So where do you begin? The first thing to do is to select a real estate professional. When you are buying a home, you want to know what properties are available, be able to see them, and when you make your final choice, you want someone to represent you and protect your interests. Whether it is helping you generate the offer, reviewing the contract from the seller, ordering inspections and appraisals, helping you find a mortgage provider, or representing you at the closing, ABEK Real Estate is dedicated to helping you find the home you want, at the best price, and with the fewest problems.

Once you select a real estate professional, the next step is to get pre-qualified for a loan. The purpose of this process is to actually pre-apply for a loan. The loan officer will explain the various types of loans currently available and let you know which loans would best fit your situation. You will need to provide an employment history, credit history, and information regarding funds available for a down payment. By being pre-qualified, you will have the peace of mind you want knowing the price range in which you need to be looking, you will then make sure you are looking at the right homes, and you will be one step ahead of other buyers. Should you decide that you want to make an offer on a home, you will be more credible with the sellers if they know you are already pre-qualified for a loan.

ABEK Real Estate's next suggestion is to complete a worksheet that identifies what you want in a home or property. ABEK Real Estate recommends you complete this form before you begin looking. It will help you to remain more objective as you "fall in love" with various properties. Simply sit down and write down the features you want. We recommend that each person fill out a separate list. Then you can sit down and see which items match. You can then put all of them into one list and prioritize each item. Don't limit yourself! Once you have your list, you can begin to look at limiting factors such as price or funds available for a down payment. This will help you as you begin to narrow down your selection of homes.

Next you will want to determine the properties that meet your needs. ABEK Real Estate will talk with you regarding the price range, features, and location that are most appealing to you. They will then provide you with information regarding available properties with an overview of each of the areas. Finally, ABEK Real Estate will arrange for you to visit the properties you have selected to give you a chance to walk through the home, see where your furniture might go, and get a feel for the neighborhood.

As you look at homes, you should write down comments about each property. This will help you to remember the features you liked or did not like about each one.

This list for each home would include the property address, price, type of architecture, information regarding the living room, dining room, and kitchen, the number of bedrooms, and bathrooms, as well as a description of additional rooms, the floor plan and any other additional features you want to remember.

You will also want to make note of information on the landscaping of the lot, type of utilities, whether or not the location is suitable and meets your needs, and other comments such as proximity to schools, work, shopping, parks, etc.

So spend some time thinking about your dream home. What would it look like? Where would it be located? What would it look like inside? What would the neighborhood be like? What type of home would it be (e.g., single family, duplex, townhome, condo)? Creating this picture in your mind will help you know when you have found the right home - a home for which you are pre-qualified to buy and that will be the home where you begin to create new memories.

Once you have decided on a home, you will be asked to sign a purchase contract. This is a written document that spells out the details that the seller and buyer have agreed to. It will include the location, price, amount of down payment, date of possession, list of what is included or excluded in the sale, and any other provisions provided for by the seller or the buyer. Your real estate professional will be available to help you understand the contents of the document and the ramifications of the items included in the contract.

Once the contract is signed and accepted, numerous activities begin which result in the closing of the transaction. This includes formal loan application and approval, an appraisal, a survey, title commitment and insurance, and property inspections.

All of these activities are designed to protect you and your investment. At the closing, final payment will be made to the seller, all documents will be signed by the appropriate parties, and you will receive the keys to your new home!

And, by selecting ABEK Real Estate to help with the buying process, you are assured that you purchased your home at the best price and with the fewest hassles.

Discover for yourself how ABEK Real Estate can help make your dream of owning a home become a reality, and how they can make it an enjoyable experience for you and your family.

Call ABEK Real Estate today at (985) 646-2111 or toll-free at (877) 754-3355 for a free, no obligation consultation. Or, if you prefer, you can send an email to info@abek.com . You can also visit their Internet site at www.abek.com .