Going it alone is not really an option when buying a home…make sure you have the right people on your team.

There are a lot of moving parts to a home sale transaction. From financing and insurance to inspections and moving companies, there are a lot of important details that need your attention. That’s why it’s so important to have a proven team of professionals working with you on your transaction.

I’m not going to talk about the value of using a real estate agent here. There’s plenty of information out there on that topic (like here, here, here and even here). I will point out a few people it’s easy to overlook, however, because they’re not in the types of businesses you encounter every day. Unless, of course, you’re in the business of buying and selling houses everyday, like real estate agents are (see what I did there?).

So, here are a few people you’ll want to know when buying a home:

Mortgage Lenders
You won’t often find them sitting in your local bank branch. These are people with specialized knowledge in the types of home financing products that may be best suited for your specific situation. Whether you’re looking at a conventional, FHA, USDA or VA loan, these folks will have the knowledge and expertise to steer you in the right direction. They should also have knowledge of specialized programs that may be available to some home buyers, such as first time buyers, and others. [Read more…]