A more-educated home buyer is a less-stressed home buyer!

Use the links and articles here to learn more about the home buyer process. And check back often, as we include additional articles and links for your information

Why Use a Realtor®?
All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTOR®. They proudly display the REALTOR "®" logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again. Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $100,000.

If you had a $100,000 income tax problem, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a CPA? If you had a $100,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Considering the small upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a deal in real estate without the professional assistance of a REALTOR®.

If you're still not convinced of the value of a REALTOR®, click here for a dozen more reasons to use one.

What's Happening and What's Next for Virginia's Real Estate Markets  PDF icon

10 Deadly Mistakes Buyers Make: 
 Protect yourself from these common pitfalls

  1. Making an offer on a home without being prequalified

  2. Not having a home inspection

  3. Limiting your search to open houses, ads or the Internet

  4. Choosing a Real Estate agent who is not committed to forming a strong business relationship with you

  5. Thinking there is only one perfect house out there

  6. Not considering long-term needs

  7. Not examining insurance issues

  8. Not buying a home protection plan

  9. Not knowing total costs involved

  10. Not following through on due diligence

Where to Get Foreclosure Help
 With all the dubious assistance programs and outright scams preying on home owners facing foreclosure, it can be difficult to find legitimate help.

The following list of programs are either operated by the U. S. government or have its seal of approval.
To find a counselor, contact the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at 800-569-4287 or 877-483-1515 or visit their website.  

Call 888-995-HOPE, the Homeowner's HOPE Hotline to reach a nonprofit, HUD-approved counselor through HOPE NOW, a cooperative effort of mortgage counselors and lenders to assist homeowners.

Go to the Help for America's Homeowners website for information on federal mortgage modification and refinancing programs.

Link to these sites for more help:

Consumer information site for banking-related questions

OCC Customer Assistance Group

Federal Trade Commission

NeighborWorks® America

HOPE NOW  

 Source: Controller of the Currency

Home Buyer Education Resources

 Housing Opportunities Made Equal

NeighborWorks® Resource Group

Southside Community Development & Housing Corporation