patrick.net

Hi All
I live in SF Bay Area (south bay). Managed to sit out the bubble so far. Now I want to start looking seriously, with the possibility of buying toward the end of 2011 or start of 2012.

I want to ask the forum members on some of the things I need to 'brush up on' or do my home work, before looking seriously.

Here is what I have done so far:

1) decent downpayment saved up (ding , ding)

2) reading real estate sites like P.net and Redfin forums.

3) make sure my credit report is correct ..etc

4) got some spread-sheets to calculate payments ..etc

Haven't done yet:
1) pre-approved
2) choose a real-estate-agent (thinking of going with RedFin agents)
3) go to open houses

How about membership sites like RealtyTrac or PropertyShark? Are they worth the membership?

Any suggestions on what I should be preparing ..etc.

thanks in advance

#housing