Top 10 Resources For Home Buyers

Home buyers need to collect information on mortgages and on the local housing market, in addition to finding a home to buy. With so much information needed in the home buying process, you may wonder where to start looking for information. Read on for the top 10 resources for home buyers.

1. Zillow.com: Zillow has a wealth of information available to buyers. You can search any home and find out Zillow's estimated price for that house. You can also browse listings for sale, see pictures and satellite views of a neighborhood, get details about recently sold homes in a certain area, or find out about mortgages and different local areas.
2. The Multiple Listing Service: The MLS is the database that realtors use to list all of the homes for sale. You can browse the MLS online for free- many real estate agent's websites offer that service, including Realtor.com. Tailor your search to your price range and specific features you are looking for. You will be able to find homes online that you want to see in person, making it faster and easier to find the home of your dreams.
3. The National Association of Realtors: The National Association of Realtors is a professional group of real estate agencies. In addition to offering you MLS listings from their website, they also have research and other data available to help you find either a home, or a real estate agent in your area.
4. Bank Rate: Bank Rate will allow you to compare mortgage loans and get quotes from multiple lenders. They also have helpful calculators so you can determine your monthly payments with various mortgage scenarios.
5. HSH Associates: This site publishes up-to-date data on national mortgage rates. Use it to determine what you can expect and how your mortgage offer compares.
6. Craigslist: Craigslist has a section for each city featuring real estate where buyers can look for homes and sellers can list homes for sale (sometimes for free). You can also find movers on Craigslist for your big moving day once you have bought a house.
7. A buyer's agent: Buyer's real estate agents exist to help home buyers. They are experts in their field and will be able to provide you with the guidance and assistance you need through every step of the purchase process.
8. Fannie Mae: Fannie Mae is a government sponsored enterprise (GSE) designed to help home buyers. They have a wealth of resources available including a step-by-step guide for first time home buyers, and information about getting government backed mortgage loans.
9. The Department of Housing and Urban Development: HUD is also a government agency designed to help homeowners. They too offer step by step guides, as well as links to other resources that can help you buy your dream home.
10. The FHA: The Federal Housing Authority is a division of HUD that backs loans to buyers. You may be able to qualify for an FHA loan that allows you to finance up to 96.5 percent of your house. The FHA is also more forgiving of past credit mistakes when considering a buyer for a loan. You can find information about their programs here.