Most people aren’t in a position to pay cash for a house! So, unless your last name is Rockefeller, here are some financing basics.

•Get your credit on solid ground! It’s a good idea to take a look at your credit report a few months before you being your home search. Examine your credit report for errors. Is there something on the report that you paid off two years ago? Get your documentation together, and get it removed from your credit report. If you fix your credit problems before you prequalify for a mortgage, the process will be easier. You may even qualify for a better interest rate or loan amount. You may be closer to living like a Rockefeller than you thought!

•Get your spending in check! From the time you start applying for a mortgage through the time you close, you need to reel in the spending. Put the brakes on any large purchases on credit. You can live like a Rock Star after you close.

•Work with a local professional! There are countless financing options on the internet, but you will be best served with a local lending professional who can advise you on all of your options, and stick with you through the closing process.

•Protect Your Investment! Make sure that you have a local insurance professional who will make sure that your home and all of its contents are properly insured and protected. When the unexpected happens, you will appreciate having a relationship with a local Insurance Agent.