If you haven't heard on the news, from a neighbor, or more commonly nowadays on a Zoom call, most buyers have difficulty getting their offers accepted. Many buyers are looking, but what I have been finding out is that the accepted offers are from educated buyers that understand the home buying process. That leads us to step #1. #1 Find out how much you can afford To find out what house you can afford is the first step every buyer needs to do. In order to do this, you will need to talk to a lender. Speaking with a mortgage lender does not cost any money, and you will find that most will want to help you succeed. Just like a real estate agent, a mortgage lender only gets paid once you complete a real estate purchase. A mortgage lender can guide you in finding out your budget by asking questions about your income, credit history, and how much down payment you have for a home. With general information, the lender can give you pre-qualification. It will give a general sense of what you ...