If you’re starting to think about buying, it’s tempting to jump straight to open houses and scrolling listings. That’s the fun part, and it’s a good way to get a feel for what’s out there. But touring before you’re ready can mean falling for a home in Salem or Keizer that you can’t move on quickly. A little groundwork first changes that. Here’s what we’d sort out before your first showing, and the choices you’ll want to make along the way.
The short answer: get a preapproval letter from a lender, decide how you want to work with a buyer’s agent, and write down what the next home has to have. Those three steps make each showing more useful, help you recognize the right home when you see it and put you in a position to write an offer without scrambling.
Why talk with a lender before you tour homes?
A preapproval tells you what a lender is generally willing to lend, so you can tour homes in a price range that fits. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes that lenders use the terms “prequalification” and “preapproval” differently, and that either letter is not a guaranteed loan offer. It does give a seller confidence that you’re likely to get financing.
The CFPB also points out that lenders may check your credit for a letter, and that getting preapproved earlier can help you spot credit issues in time to correct them. That’s a big reason we suggest starting here. When you talk with the lender, ask what the monthly payment would include, since property taxes and homeowners insurance are part of the real cost, not just the loan amount.
What should you know about working with a buyer’s agent in Oregon?
Oregon law sets out how buyer representation works. Three points are worth knowing before your first showing.
- The agency disclosure pamphlet. An agent must give you a copy of the state’s initial agency disclosure pamphlet at the first contact, including by phone or online (ORS 696.820). It explains the types of agency relationships.
- A written agreement. An agent representing a buyer must work under a written representation agreement, entered into before or as soon as reasonably practicable after the agent starts helping you. It must state whether it is exclusive or nonexclusive, and it cannot run longer than 24 months, including renewals (ORS 696.810).
- The agent’s duties. A buyer’s agent owes you loyalty, reasonable care and diligence, timely disclosure of any conflict of interest, and confidentiality, and must advise you to seek expert advice on matters beyond the agent’s expertise (same statute).
The agreement itself involves a few choices you get to make. An exclusive agreement means one agent is fully committed to your search, which tends to work well once you’ve found someone you trust. A nonexclusive agreement lets you work with more than one agent at the same time, which gives you flexibility, though it can be harder for any one agent to keep track of your whole search. The term is negotiable too, within the 24-month limit. Our usual advice is to pick an agent you’re comfortable with and choose a term that fits your timeline.
Read the agreement before you sign it, including how the agent will be paid and for how long. Oregon law also says that who pays the agent’s compensation does not by itself determine which party the agent represents (ORS 696.840).
What should you decide before your first showing?
Write down your must-haves and your nice-to-haves before you walk into a house. Bedrooms, a single-level layout, a garage, a yard or room for a home office are easier to judge against a list you made at the kitchen table than against a freshly painted living room.
Think about location in practical terms. Salem and Keizer sit side by side, and we find it helps to drive the routes you would use every day at the times you would use them, rather than relying on a map estimate. Browse the Salem market report and the Keizer market report to see what’s available in your price range, and read the August 2026 Salem-Keizer housing market update for recent local conditions.
If you already own a home, you’ll also want to decide whether to sell it first or buy first. Each path has trade-offs around money, timing and temporary housing, and our post on selling your home before buying the next one walks through the options.
What can you learn about a home before you see it?
Public records can answer some questions ahead of time. Depending on where a home is located, the Marion County Assessor or the Polk County Assessor keeps property records. FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center lets you look up the official flood map for an address.
The seller’s side of the story comes later. In Oregon, most sellers of homes with one to four units must deliver a seller’s property disclosure statement to each buyer who makes a written offer (ORS 105.465). Unless you have waived the right in writing, you then have five business days after receiving it to revoke your offer (ORS 105.475). Your agent can ask whether the statement is available before you write.
What to have ready before you write an offer
When you find the right home, these items let you move at a steady pace instead of a rushed one.
- A current preapproval letter for an amount that fits the home.
- Documentation of the funds for your down payment, closing costs and earnest money.
- A signed buyer representation agreement with the agent you have chosen.
- Your list of must-haves, for one last check against the home.
- The name of a home inspector. Paid home inspectors in Oregon should be certified by the Construction Contractors Board, which you can check with the CCB license search.
Common questions
Is a prequalification the same as a preapproval?
Not necessarily. According to the CFPB, lenders use the two terms differently: some issue a prequalification based on information you report and a preapproval only after verifying it. Rather than focusing on the word, we suggest asking the lender what it has actually reviewed, such as income, assets and credit, and how long the letter is good for.
Do you have to sign an agreement before an agent shows you homes?
Under ORS 696.810, an agent representing you must have a written agreement with you, entered into before or as soon as reasonably practicable after the agent starts helping you buy or find a property. In practice, expect to discuss and sign it early. Read it first, and ask about anything that’s unclear.
Can you choose how long a buyer agreement lasts?
The term is part of the agreement you negotiate with the agent, within the law’s limit. Oregon does not allow a buyer representation agreement, including any automatic renewals, to run longer than 24 months. The agreement must also say whether it is exclusive or nonexclusive, so you know whether you can work with other agents at the same time.
When do you see the seller’s disclosure statement?
The law requires the seller to deliver it to each buyer who makes a written offer, and your agent can ask whether it is available sooner. Once you receive it, you have five business days to revoke your offer unless you waived that right in writing. Read it closely and ask your inspector about anything it raises.
Ready when the right home shows up
A few conversations before your first tour, with a lender, with an agent and with yourself about what you really need, make the search calmer and the offer easier when the right home comes along. If you’re starting to look, a HomeStar Brokers agent can walk through what is on the market in your price range and what to prepare before you write an offer.
This article provides general real estate information and is not legal, tax or lending advice. Talk with a qualified lender about financing and a qualified attorney about legal questions.
