Why is a home a great investment now? Where do we start?

This is one of the best times to purchase a home. The interest rates are low and the prices are low too. That means the home you purchase will be a great value for the price and the rate that you will pay on your mortgage will be low and make your payments lower. A double benefit for the buyer now!
First you have to pay a visit to one of the local lenders. You will need to put down on paper the amounts you make and the amounts you owe. Be sure to include all your student loans, your car loans, your savings amounts, your retirement accounts, 401 K's, all your credit card bills, and any other income and expenses you have. Make an appointment with a lender (if you need a name give me a call and I will fix you up--815-739-6627 my cell) and take in your information. They will tell you how much home you can afford. There really are two numbers, the one is the amount that you can afford and the other one is the amount you are comfortable with. We work with the amount of home you are comfortable with. They will give you a letter of prequalification so be sure you bring that with you when you go to look at homes, because we will put that with your offer when you make it and that is one way the sellers know you are serious about buying their property and you have the funds available to do it. (It may be that you have to wait and build up some money in a savings account or that you need a co-signer, like a relative.) Start making a list of the things you need in a home and a separate list of the things that you want in a home. Buying a home is like filling a grocery bag. You only have so much money to purchase the groceries with so you start with the most important things, the bread and milk, and then you add the extras, like steak, when you see how much you still have in your wallet.