Buying a home is a major investment that takes careful planning and financial consideration. That's why it's best to have a good idea of what you can afford before you get too deep into the house hunting process. Check out a mortgage calculator tool to get a ballpark idea of what you can afford, and consider talking to a lender about being pre-qualified for a home loan.

As anyone who has lived through 2008 can attest, the housing market can fluctuate considerably year to year. That's why it's a great idea to keep tabs on your home's current market value—especially if you're looking to sell in the near future. We offer a competitive market analysis that will help you get a better idea of how much you can expect to sell your home for, how long it may take to sell, and the health of the market in your area, generally speaking.

With dozens of online real estate search engines out there, who needs a real estate agent, right? Wrong!

Real estate agents do more than help you find properties. Here's just a small list of the services we offer our clients:

• Find properties that match our clients' needs, sometimes before they even hit the market.

• Act as the middle man between buyers and sellers, helping to foster negotiations and reach an amicable agreement.

• Effectively market for-sale properties, so they sell as soon as possible for the best price.

• Schedule showings, giving buyers access to tour prospective homes.

• Stay educated on the latest trends in the housing and financial markets.

• Organize and file all legal paperwork necessary in a real estate transaction.

• Be your friend and advocate throughout the process of buying, selling, or renting real estate.