Purchasing your first Arizona home is a big step, that comes with some very serious decisions. I want to be the Arizona Century 21 real estate agent who is here to help with your decisions.

My goal is to help you find a great deal on your new home in Arizona. Right now, we are in a buyer's market with lower prices in many cities such as Phoenix, Surprise, Goodyear and Avondale, plus east valley cities such as Chandler and Gilbert; plus builders are offering huge incentives on New Arizona Homes. This means with careful shopping for a home you can find a great deal whether you are a move-up buyer or a first time buyer we are seeing prices dropping and homes are being showcased with many more upgrades and in move-in condition with seller's paying closing costs.

Many first time homebuyers are intimidated by the process, not knowing where to start and continue renting much longer than they need to. However, with the help of an experienced, realtor you can break the homebuying process down into these simple steps and work towards your goal of buying that first home in Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Scottsdale, Litchfield Park, Phoenix, Avondale, Buckeye, Gilbert, Mesa , Chandler or Goodyear in Arizona.

I am including a list of tips for you to follow. Please call me with any questions you may have and I look forward to helping you negotiate a great price on your New or resale home in the Metro Phoenix area.  By following these important tips, you will find yourself moving towards your goal of a first home in Glendale, Peoria, Surprise or other cities in the Metro Phoenix area in Arizona.

1) Before You Begin, Ask Yourself One Question Will you live in your next home for at least 3-5 years? If the answer is "Yes," you should probably purchase, rather than continue renting. The most expensive aspect of real estate is buying & selling, so the longer you can live in the home the better.

However, purchasing makes sense if you can make as little as a 3 year commitment and find a home in the price range that fits your budget. Many times a New home is the right choice and having your real estate agent help you find a great deal on a New home will help you with savings in upgrades and closing costs. Before you shop for a home in Glendale, Peoria, Buckeye, Chandler, Gilbert, Phoenix, Litchfield Park or Surprise call Peggy Elias from Century 21 Northwest to represent you. Remember the seller's agent represents the seller and is trying to get top dollar for them.

2) You Don't Need a Down Payment! It always surprises me how many people want to purchase a home, but don't because they believe that a hefty down payment is required. Zero down programs are very common, and are quickly becoming the norm, rather than the exception to the rule. There are many programs available for first time buyers and sellers are often willing to help with closing costs. By financing 100% of the loan you do not have to have a huge down payment. Getting pre-approved for a home loan is often the easy part of shopping for a home.

Plus you can get additional information on the new bond programs to help first time buyers in Arizona; email and I will send you information on this. It will soon be posted to my website.

3) Get Pre-Qualified Pre-qualification is a very important step, and the step that first time home buyers dread the most. Qualifying to buy a home is pretty easy and requires relatively little work for you. I have several very good lenders that have the experience to provide you with a great loan package. Call today if you need a list of lenders for buying a home in Arizona.

Pre-qualification is what gives you buying power and allows you to make an offer on your dream home when you've found it. It is also a required step in the home buying process. You do not want to fall in love with a home, only to find out the payment is higher than you are comfortable making.

Once you know your monthly payment you can comfortably shop for a home with the peace of mind knowing you are shopping for a home that fits your budget. After your lender pre-qualifies you, ask them for a "payment table" that shows you a rough estimate of your monthly payment based on purchase price. Pick your payment, and you know the price range to shop in.

4) Once you have your price range it's time to shop for homes using the MLS. By having homes emailed to you on a daily updated basis you can window shop and put together a list of homes to view.

The Arizona Multiple Listing Service, which is a database that lists roughly 99% of the homes for sale in the Arizona market inlcuding New and resale homes for the Metro Phoenix area.  Your customized list of homes will show you what your your options are and help you to decide on whether you want a New home or resale home.

What qualities do you need in a Realtor? Knowledge of the Market, prices and negotiating skills to help you get a home at the right price, with the right location and amenities. Buying a home shouldn't be about being pressured to buy but about finding the perfect home that fits for you and your family. Peggy Elias has over a decade of experience helping buyers find their starter home in Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, Mesa, Tempe, Laveen, Gilbert, Phoenix, Buckeye, Avondale and El Mirage.

5) Make a List of "Must Haves" & "Wants" Many new home buyers mistakenly think that they will "just know" when they "walk into the one." While some buyers do fall instantly in love with a home others will shop around until they find the home that is right for them.

You'll find your search is easier, and you will be more confident in your decision, if you have a list including likes, dislikes, needs and desires in your New Arizona Home. For example, do you want a large backyard, or do you prefer a yard that will be easy to maintain?

Once you have your list of specific needs you can narrow the search by omitting homes that do not fit for you. Great examples of your "must haves" are price, location, age, number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Your "wants" are the May include things such as a fireplace, den or decorator colors, upgraded flooring, newer kitchen appliances, and a washer and dryer. With your list you will know just what homes will work for you for your first home.

6) Most home buyers already have a good idea of where they would like to live because of school districts, work, or other factors. However, neighborhoods can be pretty different, even in the same area of the city. Ask your Peggy Elias to email you a list of homes in the specific area of town you're interested in.

Drive around and get a good feel for the area and choose your favorite subdivisions.Be sure to pay attention to area amenities,  how neat the area is, what stores and restaurants are nearby and check for  to see if there are a lot of "for lease" signs - which can be an indication of a heavy rental area. Pick Your Favorite Neighborhoods You can always make changes to your house, but you can never change its location.

 7) Make Your Decision!!! Homebuyers often hesitate after they've found the right home because they're not confident about their decision, or their decision-making process. Your home is probably the largest investment of your life, and it's normal to feel butterflies in your stomach before putting your first home under contract. However, you have if you followed the steps above - then you will have your bases covered. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you with your upcoming move.

Please let me know if you have found this article helpful in making the decision to buy a home or to continue renting. Right now it's a buyer's market so don't wait and let another buyer take your Glendale, Peoria, or Surprise Arizona home! Buying your first home can seem very intimidating, but can be extremely exciting. If you think that buying a home is right for you, it probably is. Make sure and follow these important tips and you'll know you made the right decision when you find your first home.

Here is an ariticle with some tips on Building your credit score.

In addition, it's can be a good idea to speak to a lender that can help you get on track and can go over your credit report and score with you.

Here is the link:

Building Your Credit Score.