If you’re buying a home, there’s never been a better time! Today’s market is all about you, meaning more negotiating power and options than ever. To be best informed and in order to prepare to make a purchase, this list of 101 tips is definitely a must-read.

1. To begin, consider the costs and benefits of home ownership.
2. Decide whether you’d rather pay monthly rent or house payments.
3. Use online tools to calculate the estimated cost difference between renting and buying.
4. Don’t plan to buy unless you plan to stay. Home ownership makes most sense when it can be for at least a few years.
5. Understand how rent-to-own works & if it interests you.
6. Imagine the benefit of enjoying full control over your property.
7. Imagine the benefit of celebrating holidays and life events in your own home.
8. Consider the commitment involved in such a large purchase.
9. Consider the responsibilities involved in owning a home, from maintenance to upkeep.
10. Remember that home ownership generally makes a smart investment over time.
11. Know that home owners receive tax breaks.
12. Plan on receiving a $7500 tax credit if your home is purchased by July 1, 2009!

13. Know where you want to move.
14. Drive around neighborhoods that may interest you, if possible.
15. Talk to people who live in your desired areas.
16. Be creative in your research.
17. Consider commuting times, school districts, conveniences, proximity to major cities, etc.
18. Check out Buy Owner® articles on regions you’re considering:
19. Atlanta
20. Central Florida
21. Chicago
22. Dallas
23. Indianapolis
24. Louisville
25. Philadelphia
26. Milwaukee
27. New Orleans
28. South Florida
29. Treasure Coast

30. Know what kind of home you’re looking for.
31. Consider a manufactured home.
32. Consider a condo/townhome.
33. Know if you prefer old versus new properties.
34. Decide if a view is important to you.
35. Ask yourself: Do I want a lot of land, or will that be too much to keep up with?
36. Decide if luxury amenities like a gourmet kitchen, a backyard pool and/or a master suite are necessary?
37. Use this time to determine what factors are necessary and which can be sacrificed.
38. Prepare a preliminary list of must-haves.
39. Know what you can afford.

40. Check your credit score. Many people use MyFico.com.
41. Fix any errors on the report immediately.
42. You should be able to contest problems at the Web site where you obtained the report.
43. Pay your bills on time to build good credit.
44. Do not open several new credit cards, as that will hurt your score.
45. Know that closing an account does not make it disappear from your report.
46. Check your debt-to-income ratio, which is something lenders will consider.
47. Save up a down payment, usually around 20% of the purchase price.
48. Stay aware of news and trends affecting mortgage rates.
49. Expect a $7500 tax credit if you’re a first-time buyer who makes a purchase before July 1, 2009!
50. Get preapproved for a mortgage through Guaranteed Rate.

51. Search for a home online at BuyOwner.com.
52. Keep your eyes open: driving through neighborhoods, asking friends, etc.
53. Remember that the #1 resource for home-searching is the Internet.
54. Use your must-have list to establish search criteria for a home at BuyOwner.com.
55. Create your own personalized feed that will update you with new matching search results.
56. Subscribe to regional Buy Owner eMags for updated listings.
57. Read through property descriptions.
58. Watch virtual tours.
59. To understand how the Buy Owner system works, watch this video.
60. Examine extra info about schools, community and area amenities.
61. Subscribe to the Buy Owner Blog to receive regular updates on helpful information.

62. Visit homes.
63. Call Buy Owner sellers directly to schedule private showings.
64. Watch for Open House flags in the BuyOwner.com search results.
65. Bring questions to the showing.
66. Be polite and considerate when touring the home.
67. Research the HOA, if applicable.
68. Think about long-term appeal: will you still like this home in 5 years? 10?
69. Be alert to motivated sellers.
70. Pay special attention to homes that have been on the market more than three months, as the sellers are often more motivated by this point.
71. Don’t overlook overpriced homes.
72. Ask for a disclosure on the home you like.
73. If the disclosure doesn’t change your mind, it’s time to consider making an offer.

74. Determine which home is right for you.
75. Do research to know if the asking price is fair.
76. Take the current market into account.
77. Be as neutral as possible; don’t get too attached to the home.
78. Back up your offer with your research/data.
79. Consider ways to sweeten the deal.
80. Be willing to negotiate.
81. Build rapport with sellers.
82. Counteroffer.
83. Make concessions.
84. Talk to Guaranteed Rate about getting the best rate.
85. Have a home inspection done before purchasing.
86. Get the house appraised, if required by your lender.
87. Shop for home insurance.

88. Close on the deal.
89. Take a look into potential closing costs that could apply.
90. Get a Good Faith Estimate from your lender.
91. Roll the closing costs into your mortgage.
92. Or ask the seller to pay part of the mortgage costs.
93. Schedule a time for the closing that is convenient for both you and the seller.

94. Move in to your new home!
95. Hire a mover for your scheduled move-in date.
96. Alternatively, make arrangements for transportation/physical help to move your belongings from friends.
97. Make arrangements for pets (movers won’t move animals).
98. Figure out what to do with live plants (check with your mover’s guidelines)
99. Use up perishable food before moving day.
100. Label all your moving boxes very specifically.
101. Enjoy your new home – and think about new ways to save money as a home owner!