Most people start at the wrong place in the process of buying a home. They start by looking at houses. They look online, they go to open houses, they even meet agents and tour homes. They do all of this without really knowing what they are financially capable of buying. It's a little like going to the mall with nothing particular in mind, not knowing how much cash you have in your pocket, your account or how much credit is available on your cards!
The first step in the home buying process is to understand your financial capabilities That's why, at GreatNest, we start all of our home buyers with a comprehensive, no cost buyer 
consultation. Working with a mortgage officer, we look at income and debt to determine how much a lender will lend and then consider what's available for down payment and closing expenses to set a target price range.
But it's more than that.
Our goal is to find not just a way for you to buy; we want to find the best way for you to buy. There are dozens of mortgage programs available, each with its ideal borrower. We get to know what you are trying to accomplish then help you pick a mortgage that makes sense for you. There are special programs from various sources that come and go from time to time - things like down payment assistance and lower initial interest rates - and we bring them to bear if it makes sense.
What you qualify for in a mortgage is driven by a number of factors, but one of the most important is your credit FICO score. That very important number is driven by your credit history: how you've handled credit cards and car loans, mortgages and lines of credit in the past. The higher the FICO score, the better the terms a lender will offer. So we look at your credit history and see if there is an easy adjustment that can be made that will increase your score and your ability to get a great mortgage. Sometimes something as simple as paying off a small debt or contesting a negative entry is enough to raise your score substantially.
Our goal in this initial buyer consultation is to come away with a Real Estate Plan: a strategy for getting your into not just your next home, but the one after that and the one after that. A home is not just a place you live; for most it is their most powerful financial vehicle. The buyer consultation helps us find the perfect home for you and your family while enhancing your financial position at the same time.
The Vincent Group at GreatNest a full-service real estate company serving buyers and sellers in Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, Summerfield, Oak Ridge, Jamestown, and other Piedmont Triad areas. Please get in touch with our experienced real estate professionals by calling (336) 790-5210 or by emailing Steve Vincent. Visit our website at greatnest.com.