Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

Here are some tips I’ve learned hanging out with Earl the Realtor® that are really useful when you go to buy that great home.

1. Everyone thinks he or she knows how to buy a home, because everyone lives in one. The truth is how Uncle Fred bought his bungalow thirty years ago is irrelevant information.

2. There is a ton of paperwork involved.

3. In the past, buyers often found the home of their dreams, then tried to find a mortgage lender. Today, savvy buyers line up a lender first, then go house hunting knowing how much they qualified to borrow.

4. There are enough players in the transaction to field a football team. Real estate agents, lawyers, appraisers, inspectors, buyers, sellers, relatives, friends, and at least one decorator waiting to take the ball and run with it.

5. Get your taxes done early if you want to buy a home in the beginning of the year.

6. The actual closing on the property is often tense when it shouldn’t be. Know that everything usually comes together at the last minute. This is normal; but, if you are an organized control freak, it will drive you nuts.

7. Don’t change jobs, start your own business, buy a fancy car, or borrow extensively on your credit cards for three to four months before starting the mortgage process. Your ability to purchase a home is tied to your credit rating.

8. Finally, ask questions all the time. Real estate agents and mortgage brokers take so much of the process for granted that they forget you bought your last home ages ago and may not be aware of current practices.