Top 10 Things to do while Looking for Real Estate in Boston.

1) Find an attorney before you start the house search. Your attorney can help you select a qualified buyer agent as well as loan officer. Having an attorney lined up also can save a lot of stress once an offer is accepted because of the tight deadlines.

2) Find a qualified buyer’s agent. In almost all cases the buyer’s agent will be paid from the Seller's proceeds from the sale, not directly from the buyer. If you go direct to a seller’s agent the seller would still be paying the same amount money, and you would not be getting your own personal representation. 

3) Research home inspectors before you have your offer accepted. Having a few home inspectors ready to go is ideal, in case is one is too busy to conduct your inspection within the deadline.

4) Check the online reviews and state licenses before you hire a real estate agent, attorney or a home inspector. All can be looked up easily.

5) Get pre-approved by a qualified lender. In some cases the offer decision can come down to which mortgage company you use. Make sure you have a dependable company that can help in these bidding wars. Also, go over the programs the each lender offers. Not every mortgage provider offers the same programs. Talk to a couple to make sure you have what you need.

6) Have your real estate agent review all of the offer paperwork before your present your first offer. There is a lot of moving parts. It’s best if you have seen what an offer looks like before you write your first offer. Read it over a few times and only sign if and when you understand everything.

7) Go with your gut on the home search. I truly believe that you know when you walk in if it is the home for you. If it doesn’t feel right, move on to the next one.

8) Be open to the areas you are interested in living in. In this market you may not be able to find the exact area in which you started your search. Be open to looking at new places. The best way to learn is to go to new areas to eat and shop. Also, go at night and go when your work commute starts. Make sure it works for you.

9) Ask questions. This is probably the biggest purchase of your life. Make sure you are comfortable at every step.

10) Have fun! There really is nothing better than a home search whether it be your first home or 10th Home. Have a good time with it and don’t get stressed. Not every offer will work out, but at the end of the day your work will be rewarded.