Wednesday, October 10, 2007

The Home Buying Process-Important First Steps

The home buying process is something that most of the population experiences only a few times within the course of a lifetime-with good reason. Not only is this a time full of anticipation it is also, in many cases, filled with angst. Worries about credit history, job security, savings, budgeting, down payments, closing costs, and so many other things all bring stress into a sometimes already stressful situation. There are things you can do that will greatly reduce the amount of stress involved throughout the entire home buying process if you are of a mind to do so.

There are certain actions you can take that will make the entire home buying process far less stressful and much more enjoyable to you as the buyer of a new home. One of the first things you should do, before you even begin looking at homes is get a grip on your credit situation. The state of your credit will ultimately determine how much you will pay for your home. The better your credit, the less interest you will have to pay over the course of your loan. Also realize that while many lenders will take a risk on those with less than stellar credit, they still have certain standards that they must maintain.

Before you begin the home buying process, order a copy of your credit report from all the major reporting agencies. Go over your report with a fine-toothed comb and check for any errors or anything that might not be one hundred percent accurate. If you find discrepancies, be sure to take the appropriate steps to report the errors. Also be on guard for instances of possible identity theft. Identity theft is a growing crime and can have a profound impact on your ability to receive credit as well as the interest rates that are available to you, which will also impact



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