Austin TX Realtor® Helps with Achieving the Dream of Homeownership

Austin, TX, August 06, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The home buyer tax credit encouraged many first-time buyers to get off the fence and into new homes. While it is still uncertain how the market will adjust to the expiration of the tax credit, additional tax incentives, low interest rates and affordability have made it easier for buyers to achieve the dream of homeownership, says Realtor® Scott A. Stevens, of Citywide Realty, Northwest.

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 93 percent of first-time buyers started their home search online last year. With so many options and resources available to consumers online, sometimes it’s difficult to navigate the inventory available. Whether you are just starting your home search or ready to make a purchase, there are a number of factors to keep in mind as you look for a new home. Stevens suggests just a few:

Learn your local market. The current market has made more options available to first-time buyers. While online listings can provide an indication of the properties available in your area, a buyer’s agent has access to additional properties and information about alternative buying options such as short sales and foreclosures. You can search for Austin, TX homes & real estate @ (www.buyatx.com).

Prepare financially. Getting your finances in order prior to looking for a new home can not only help you narrow your options, but it can make the entire transaction run more smoothly when it’s time to buy. Use online mortgage calculators to see how much house you can afford or get pre-approved to avoid any delays in financing.

Attend a Homebuyer Seminar. Homebuyer seminars allow buyers to learn the ins and outs of the home buying process. From financing issues to the benefits of working with a buyer’s agent, homebuyer seminars are a useful way to gain confidence in the home-buying process. Please contact Mr. Stevens @ freeflatfinder@gmail.com or www.buyatx.com for more information on when the next homebuyer and credit repair seminar is.

Create a wish list. From basic home features to school districts and neighborhoods, choosing the right home can be overwhelming. Prioritize the features and preferences that are most important to you as a buyer and narrow your options before you start looking at properties.

Ask for help. A home is one of the largest purchases a consumer will make in his or her lifetime. Working with a real estate professional such as Mr. Stevens that knows the local market and specializes in buyer representation – more importantly he is an agent who has earned the Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designation and can relieve some of the stress associated with this process.

Mr. Stevens is one of more than 40,000 members of the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, who have attained the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR®) designation. As the world's largest association of real estate professionals focusing specifically on representing the real estate buyer, REBAC is "The Voice for Buyer Representation," with more than 40,000 active real estate professional members of the organization throughout the world.

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