The 6 People You Need On Your Team When Buying A Home Roger Odoardi Reading Time: 3 minutesThis is a guest post by Miami Real Estate Blog They say it takes a village to raise a child; that when people come together and contribute their individual knowledge and strengths to raising the child, the end result is a positive, happy, well-adjusted adult. The same can be said about buying a house. A successful and profitable real estate purchase can be traced back to the team of people who came together to make it happen. From the very first step to the day you move in, having a solid and professional team behind you can mean the difference between a house buying experience that is quick, stress free and profitable, and one that isn’t. Here are the six people you need on your team for a successful home buying experience: Mark the Mortgage Broker – Mortgage brokers are essential in the home buying process because they work independently from certain products and lenders, and are solely focused on finding a loan program that works for your specific situation. Mortgage brokers can help you navigate the overwhelming process of obtaining grants and walk you through the mountains of paperwork necessary to qualify for assistance. They can also help you understand the different types of mortgages (adjustable vs. conventional) and provide tools, tips and resources to help you get started on your home buying journey. Lucy the Lender – Lenders are vital in the home buying process because, unless you’re buying the home with cold hard cash, you’re going to need someone to spot you the money. You want to work with a lender who can offer you a mortgage with the right features, and without a crazy interest rate. The options for lenders are endless, but Mark the Mortgage Broker can point you in the right direction and get you that New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Florida, North Carolina, Colorado, Texas, Georgia or South Carolina you’ve always wanted. Andy the Accountant – Thank goodness for math nerds! The accountant is responsible for making sure all of the numbers add up, and will help you structure your finances so that you’re making smart money choices. Taxes, documentation and interest rates are what an accountant does best; so leave the crunching of the numbers up to Andy. Alice the Attorney – Alice is Andy’s distant cousin, and her job is to make sure all of the I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed when it comes to the details and legalities of buying a home. Your attorney will make sure everything is done the right way and can help to make sure all the documents you’re signing are in your best interest and protect you in case something goes wrong. Your attorney can also walk you through the purchase agreement and answer any questions you may have about the fine print and legal jargon that comes with buying a home. Ingrid the Inspector – Before you sign on the dotted line and commit to buying a property, a thorough and professional inspection is required. The home could have unseen issues that could create a problem down the road, and Ingrid’s job is to look out for those. Plumbing issues, pest issues, the condition of the roof, walls, windows and doors are all carefully inspected before you buy the home. If there are issues, you can use this info to re-negotiate the price of the house, or make a decision if you want to move forward with the purchase or not. Ronald the Real Estate Agent – A real estate agent has access to a wide variety of resources and connections that can help you find the home of your dreams. A good real estate agent is important to have on your team because they work tirelessly to find a home based on your budget, style and preferences. A professional real estate agent will listen carefully to your criteria and might even be able to find you a home that is not listed to the public. Having their experience, knowledge and resources on your team is an integral part in buying a house. Ronald will be able to answer all of your questions, like “how long does it take to close on a house?” and “which neighborhoods are closest to the local high school?” They have a wealth of knowledge that is vital to finding the right home. When your mom lectured you that “You are who you hang out with,” she was right. Surrounding yourself with knowledgeable, passionate, educated and experienced professionals will help you grow as a homebuyer and make the process as stress free as possible. Trying to do it all on your own, or not taking the time to create a solid team could cost you a lot of time and money, and possibly even your dream home. With a strong team behind you, you can navigate the crazy home buying process and end up in the home you’ve always wanted. Roger Odoardi Roger is an owner and licensed Loan Officer at Blue Water Mortgage. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business and has been a leader in the mortgage industry for over 20 years. Roger has personally originated over 2500 residential loans and is considered to be in the top 1% of NH Loan Officers by leading national lender United Wholesale Mortgage.