6. Buying a house is as simple as agreeing on a price and signing a few papers Would that it were so!! That should really be only a small part of what your agent does for you.  Every step is complex and fraught with potential issues if not handled correctly. Loan pre-approvals, inspections, title insurance, local inspections and many other things need careful attention. Use someone with experience and the time to be with you the entire way. 7. Foreclosures offer the best deal Some are good deals and many are not—but the one thing that is sure is that you do not have the same amount of leverage to find out the monetary and physical problems. 8. Getting a mortgage is quick and easy—leave it until the last thing The mortgage process is annoying and seems to be in the way of getting that home you really want. But all that paperwork is required in today’s market because almost all lenders sell their loans on the secondary market and must meet those bureaucratic guidelines. It seems like an invasion of privacy as well. If you start early and have the help of a good buyers agent, it will seem less painful. 9. All mortgages are pretty much the same Not to analyze all the options is a serious mistake and no one should make it. Rates differ, fees differ, and the lengths of the loans differ. Each can make a huge difference over the life of the loan. We tell buyers you’d have to clip a lot of coupons to make up the difference in what you will pay out with only a ¼ point difference in rate. 10. If the inspector finds something, the seller has to fix it Not true at all. The contract says what happens and your agent should go over the options you have before you even find that perfect house. Done right, this part of the process should not be stressful and should not allow the deal to fall apart.  A good agent will be an invaluable resource at this time of the process.