Welcome to Homes For Sale in Missoula MT. I gave the website this name because I know there are a lot people searching for this term and I wanted to make it easy to find. I am not a realtor or a mortgage loan officer. I am actually an impartial consumer that has been through the house buying process several times.
I would like to share some of my experiences and hopefully after reading this you will be more prepared to start your property search. So if this is your first home buying experience in Missoula or you just want to get some good advice then this website is for you.
You see, finding the perfect home can be an exciting experience or it can be a complete nightmare.
When I went searching for my first house I made the mistake of not arranging finances first. In the past this was not as important because almost anybody could qualify for a home loan with no money down. You probably know that this has changed dramatically in the past few years. Not only is it more difficult to get financing, but many realtors wont even show property without a certified Pre-Approval letter.
In my case I had found several houses I really liked only to find out later that my income history was too short to qualify for the loan amount. I ended up getting a cosigner and everything worked out, but I could have saved myself a lot of headaches. So go get pre-approved before starting your search.
Ok, so now financing is taken care of and you know how much you can afford. The next thing you should do before searching or even speaking with a real estate agent is make a list of areas you want to live in (or not live in) and features that you would most like to see. An example would be attached garage, 3 bedrooms and a fenced yard. This will narrow your search and save you and your realtor a ton of time.
Now its time to speak with a real estate agent. There are many good reasons to use an agent to find a home. They get paid by the seller not the buyer therefore there is no cost to you. They also have a database called the Multiple Listing Service that they can access to print or email pictures and information for you on almost every house for sale in Missoula MT.
Keep in mind that not all agents are the same. There are good ones and not so good ones. I once made the mistake of working with the first realtor I came accross. This was a bad move because they didn’t return phone calls and I just didn’t feel like they had my best interest in mind. You may want to check with The National Association of Realtors or the Montana Association of Realtors to see a list of agents in Missoula MT.
You need to find someone that you really connect with. I recommend you meet with at least 3 agents before making a decision. And in this market experience counts, your realtor needs to know the “ins and outs” of negotiations, dealing with inspectors, appraisers, etc.
Thanks for visiting Homes For Sale in Missoula MT. Hopefully this information has been helpful and will aid you in finding the perfect house.