Why EeE Loves Working With Sal Bua to Buy His First House

It is great having Sal Bua with me throughout the process of buying a new house. He is young and doesn't intimidate you. He doesn't make you feel like you don't know anything about buying a house — which, honestly, when I started this process, I didn't know everything about it so I really appreciate how Sal makes himself available to the client at all times.

One of my biggest worries was money. I was stressed over making my finances work and Sal put my mind at ease.

If you're thinking about putting yourself out there and buying your first home (and now's a great time to do so because interest rates are low), here are some helpful tips I've learned so far:

1) Start with how much you can afford to pay each month toward mortgage, taxes, etc. You can find a million mortgage calculators online (in fact, Sal has one here) but if you're unsure how it all fits together, don't hesitate to ask your real estate agent to break it down for you. You don't want to waste time looking at homes you can't afford and you don't want to stretch your budget so much you can't enjoy your new home.

2) Prioritize your needs. Many people would love a chef's kitchen, a few extra bedrooms, a fully finished basement, the whole nine yards — all in their favorite neighborhood. Maybe you can get all that in your budget, but it's a good idea to think about what are musts and what you can live without if needed.

3) Pick the right agent. Not only is this person going to show you several homes but he or she is going to advise you on negotiating offers and through the home inspection and all the other things you need to do before closing. You want someone you trust and honestly, someone you like.

For me, that person was Sal Bua. He's focused on first time home buyers, commercial real estate, investors, and rentals. Check him out at salbua.com or give him a call at 609-439-8699.