Your RealNet Team
RealNet Team is a family owned, full service real estate company serving the entire Austin area. The “Team” includes myself, Dave Baird an Austin area Realtor for 30 years, my wife Linda Baird an Austin area Realtor for 27 years, and my son Kevin Baird an Austin Realtor for 6 years.  

A successful purchase starts with the right representative. In fact, once you’ve selected the best agent to represent you, it is likely that he or she can recommend other professionals to join your team, taking more of the responsibility off of your shoulders.

Lender
Times are changing and so are lending guidelines, sometimes weekly.  Your first step (after selecting your real estate broker) is to select a lender and get pre-approved for your loan.  Let me guide you.  A bank is not just a bank. Having the right banker can be extremely important – it is your money we’re talking about after all! Make sure that your lender and financial representative is someone with whom you feel comfortable.  Be wary of any lender who promises you more than you think you can reasonably afford.  Also, your lenders may not be qualified to offer all of the programs available so it is important to discuss your options with your Realtor.  Avoid internet lenders, stay with a local lender.

Home Inspector
No home inspection is 100% guaranteed, but a few hundred dollars to catch a major problem now is certainly better than many thousands to correct that ‘surprise’ down the road. Ask us for a recommendation.

Insurance Agency
Select your insurance agency early to insure that the property you are purchasing is insurable.  Your insurancve agent can tell you if there have been any claims against the property (fire claims, water claim, hail claims, etc).  Your real estate broker can recommend several insurance agencies for you to consider.

Contractors
Don't be turned off by dirty paint and carpet... we deal with contractors daily and can refer you to some of the best in the area. 

Planning some renovations? You’re not the only one! The home renovation industry is booming, and in some markets, booking a contractor must be done months in advance (that’s a long time to go without a kitchen). Don’t let finding the right contractor slip through the cracks – planning ahead will almost certainly make your renovation smoother, and you contractor will appreciate the advance notice. 

1.  Find the right representative
Even if you’re not quite ready to buy, your buyer’s agent can be an absolute wealth of information, and can often offer ‘scoops’ on local developments you might not have know about otherwise.  Speak to your agent first and he or she can be helping to guide you right from the start.

2.  Find out what your price range is
Online mortgage calculators are a good place to start, but as you get closer to being ready to buy, there is no substitute for a written mortgage pre-approval.  Just speaking to your lender is an extremely worthwhile venture – this is the only way to really get an in-depth picture of your overall financial picture and to discover exactly what you can reasonably afford to spend on a home (and possibly on renovating).

3.  Find out what your local market looks like
The internet can be incredibly valuable in doing preparatory research.  Start with your agent – he or she can direct you to valuable resources and immediately start e-mailing you real estate listings that may interest you (or at least give you a better idea of what your needs and wants are).

4.  Find out what your true needs and wants are
Compose a needs/wants list that takes into consideration your local market conditions, your price range, and the advice of your real estate agent.

5.  Find your dream home!
Once you’re ready to act, you may be surprised by how quickly you can make a decision.  Armed with your pre-approval, a little market knowledge, and your needs/wants list, call your real estate agent, hit the pavement, and when you see ‘the house’, put in an offer. 

With the right team behind you, it really can be that easy!