Know Your Rights as a Home Buyer
Before you start; there are many laws that protect you from scams, unnecessary expenses, and discrimination in the process of home buying. Know your rights!

Find out How Much Mortgage You Can Afford
You can save yourself a lot of wheel-spinning if you take a minute to figure out how much mortgage you can afford. Generally, a lender will want your monthly mortgage payment to total no more than 29% of your monthly gross income (your monthly income before taxes and other paycheck deductions are taken out.) You also need to consider current loan interest rates. The lower the interest rate, the more expensive the home you'll be able to afford. Follow our tips and use these simple calculators to see how much you can afford in a mortgage payment.

Create Your Wish list
Make a wish list that focuses on the features you want in a home 2 bedrooms or 3 1 bath or 2 Garage or no garage Knowing what you're looking for will help you focus your search. This will also help your real estate agent to find you the most ideal property that will fit your needs.

Find a Real Estate Broker
At Diplomat Realty; we treat each client like you are our only client.   Purchasing real estate is one of the biggest decisions and investments in your life.  Diplomat Realty agents guide you through the entire process, insuring that you are fully informed from beginning to end.  We strive to make purchasing real estate as comfortable, transparent, and stress free as possible.  If you are looking for a property in Chicago or the surrounding suburban communities, you have come to the right place.  We sell properties throughout Chicagoland.  Contact us today for your free guide on buying or selling real estate, or for a free consultation. 

Mortgages and Home Buying Programs
Many different kinds of mortgages are available to you. Read about them, and make sure you understand the pros and cons of each. Your real estate broker can help you. HUD offers some special home buying programs. Also, many local governments offer special home buying programs to help low-income homebuyers. Shop around - you may be surprised at all your options!