Ed note:  We’re very happy to welcome Michael Cornell, Realtor® to our ranks here at My Green Lake.  In addition to being Chairman of the Green Lake Community Council, Michael is also an experienced real estate agent who has an incredible amount of knowledge about the Green Lake market.

Now, in his most recent role, he has become My Green Lake’s Site Sponsor.  We sincerely appreciate Michael’s dedication to this neighborhood and his support of Green Lake’s neighborhood blog.  Thank you, Michael!

From time to time, Michael will be sharing information with My Green Lake readers on topics relating to Green Lake or to the real estate market in general.  We hope that, if you are in the real estate market, you will enjoy reading his posts, and if you are looking for an agent, be sure to drop him a line!

Are you thinking of buying a home in Green Lake? Wondering where to start?

The very first thing on your “to do” list is to arrange your financing. This should be done before you look at any homes. It is your very first step.

Many people make the mistake of delaying this step, which only causes unnecessary heartache later on.

If you look at homes in the $750,000 range, and later find out that you only qualify for $500,000, then the homes that are actually in your price range will be a bit disappointing after seeing the more expensive ones. You should not have been looking at the more expensive homes. Also, some buyers are actually able to qualify for more home than they expect.

Today’s loan approvals, while not as free-wheeling with the “anything goes” atmosphere of a few years ago, are relatively painless.

I would be happy to suggest a good loan officer for you to consult.

Keep in mind that most good home loan professionals will have just about the same rates and fees if you check the details. It is critical that you use a reputable, experienced, local home loan professional with a track record of closing loans on time at the agreed terms. Be VERY WARY of any loan officer who promises you rates or fees that are substantially better than his/her competitors. These low-ballers often fail to produce what they promise.