REAL TipS: BUYING

Get some help from HUD

If you are considering buying a house, you may want to do some research on your own first. You can find a wealth of information on the homebuying process by surfing the Web.

One of the best sites is the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This federal agency is focused on providing housing and education for those at all income levels, and its Web site is a great resource.

It includes a home-shopping checklist, a list of HUD homes for sale, environmental maps, tools for learning about a neighborhood and finding local schools, and information to help you determine how much home you can afford. That last item on the list is a big deal — one of the first pieces of advice your REALTOR® will emphasize. Getting pre-approved and knowing your limits really help move the process along. You can save yourself a lot of time if you first figure out how much home you can afford.

The HUD site also includes tips on saving money once you move into your new home, such as saving on energy bills. But perhaps the most valuable tool is the section that includes "100 questions and answers about buying a home." These questions run the gamut from getting started on your home search to finding the right loan. Once you determine if the time is right to buy a home, find a Texas REALTOR® who can assist you on getting the home of your dreams.

Texas Association of Realtors®