Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Dear Friends,

For most people, buying a home is the biggest investment they will ever make. It’s important that going into this decision, potential homeowners take into account all of the factors that could affect their purchase and use all the tools at their disposal to make the right decisions.

It’s important to shop for a good loan, to understand its terms, and to make sure it’s affordable in the long run. But it’s also necessary to know about the property you’re buying and about the nuts and bolts of the neighborhood it’s in – to know, for instance, who maintains the roads in your community, and who provides water and sewage services.

For people looking to buy a home, my administration designed the Arizona Homebuyers’ Bill of Rights, which you can see by clicking here. The Homebuyers’ Bill of Rights lists information that you have the right to know before you purchase a home – information critical to the quality-of-life in the community you may be a part of, and that’s important to the value of your investment.

You may want help navigating through a home buying process that can be confusing. Across the state, there are homebuyer counseling agencies that may be able to assist you. The Arizona Department of Housing provides information here about agencies in Arizona who can provide some advice to buyers.

If you or someone you know are thinking about buying a home, take the time to make sure that the investment you’re considering is exactly the right one.

Feel free to call my office at 602-542-1318 if you have questions or thoughts about this or anything else. Or, visit our Web site at www.azgovernor.gov for information and news in state government.

Yours very truly,

Janet Napolitano
Governor