An excellent step to take when you decide to buy a house is hiring a real estate agent. This agent will be the person helping you locate a home, negotiate on it, and close on the property. For the agent to help you, he or she will need some details about your situation and your desires. To find out these things, the agent may ask you the following questions when you initially meet with him or her.

What Is Your Budget?

The agent you hire cannot help you locate homes you might like if he or she has no idea what your budget is, so this may be one of the first questions the agent asks you. It would help if you thought this through before meeting with the agent so you can provide an accurate range.

Did You Get Preapproved for a Loan?

The agent will also want to know if you are preapproved for a loan. The purpose of this question is to find out if you are a qualified buyer. There is no point in shopping for a house if you cannot get a loan, so you'll need to make sure you complete this step before this meeting.

What Loan Program Are You Using?

If you are preapproved, the agent may ask you what loan program you plan to use. The loan program can affect the house you buy, the closing process, and other factors in the sale.

What Features are Must-Haves?

It is also crucial for the agent to know what you are looking for in a house, so he or she will ask you about the must-haves. You should have a list ready to give to the agent or to explain to him or her.

Do You Have a Preference with Location?

The location of where you purchase a house also matters to the agent, as the site you long for can help him or her narrow down the homes you may be interested in viewing.

Are There Features That You Consider Deal-Breakers?

Finally, you should not be surprised if the agent asks you about deal-breakers. A deal-breaker is a feature of a home that you could not live with. If a home has a feature like this, you would skip over it and select a different home to purchase.

If you meet with a selling agent, you should expect him or her to ask these questions. To schedule a meeting, call an agent today.