It is understandable to be nervous about buying your first home in Chicago. Your home purchase is most likely the single largest investment you will make in your lifetime. With an unpredictable economy and record foreclosures, the commitment to purchase can be downright overwhelming. In recent years, lax lending standards eliminated some of the obstacles, however, lenders today are once again very selective. The good news is that for those who qualify for a mortgage, buyers with a steady income, strong credit and savings, now is a great time to purchase a home.

The Straub Group wants to help you make smart decisions and avoid the common pitfalls:

1.  Meet with a mortgage lender. Find out how much you can afford, and stay within your budget.

2.  Choose a buyer's agent to represent and assist you during the entire purchase process. Free to you, the buyer, since commissions are split and paid from seller's broker. The Straub Group at Jameson Real Estate is reliable, savvy and experienced.

3. Do your homework. Research your potential new home and neighborhood as thoroughly as possible. A lot of that work can be done from your computer. Over 84% of buyers use the Internet to help them find a home, according to the National Association of Realtors. Do not be part of that other 16%.

4. Visit the neighborhood and walk around.

5. Avoid making any large purchases that might weaken your credit before closing. Lenders frequently conduct a final credit check before funding their loan, and if you have acquire new debt, you may no longer qualify for the loan you will need. We have seen home purchases fail at the last moment because an enthusiastic buyer has purchased that new shiny car to go in the new garage, days before the loan was to fund. Wait until after your home purchase is closed, and recorded.

6. Hire a good home inspector. A reliable home inspector will help you make sure that the home is in reasonably good shape. Buyers should accompany inspectors when they examine a home and ask many questions.

7. Homebuying should be viewed as a long-term investment. Do not expect the kind of price appreciation that occurred in the early 2000s. Buy a home you can live in happily for many years. Begin your FREE home search.