There are two important steps preliminary to becoming a homeowner. First you must find the right home and negotiate the price and terms with the sellers. Then you come to one of the most difficult parts of the transaction--finding the perfect loan.

You should do some comparison shopping among lenders. Your real estate agent can refer you to several reputable lending institutions which should be able to complete the loan process before your proposed financial approval date. The loan officer will take your application and have you sign all the necessary papers to authorize credit and employment verifications. You and the real estate agent should get periodic progress reports to make sure that all of the details are taken care of. Such reports will help to ensure that any potential problems are discovered and addressed before they can hinder the transaction.

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