Mortgage lenders, banks, libraries and real estate firms often host home buying seminars to educate the community about the home buying process. Whether you’re a first time homebuyer or are thinking about moving to a new neighborhood, the home buying seminar in your area is a great place to have your questions about home buying answered by local professionals.Home buying seminars typically take place in a meeting room in a local library, at a community center, or even in a banquet room of a local restaurant. The presenter may create a PowerPoint presentation or slideshow to highlight key points about the home purchasing process, or conduct the seminar in a lecture style format with a Q&A session. These group sessions are usually free, and you’ll be leaving with a wealth of information about homes and purchasing options.One of the key benefits of attending a home buying seminar is getting to know local realtors in person. Instead of doing your research solely online or by calling different realtors over the phone, you’ll have a chance to interact with realtors who are looking for new clients. This can be the basis of a new relationship, and you’ll have the chance to pick up their business card and learn more about their services or the firm they are working for.Mortgage lenders that conduct home buying seminars will educate you on the financial side of home buying, and may introduce several loan packages and programs available, or even prequalify you on the spot. Meeting mortgage lenders at these events helps you establish a relationship and may make it easier for your to get started on the preliminary loan document process.Some lenders and realtors may also offer discounts or incentives for attending their own branded seminar. While local libraries and educators also host these informational events, they may not be able to direct you to specific professionals in the area. When you attend a seminar hosted by a lender or realtor, you’ll have an opportunity to get referrals and other insider information about services you need. Mortgage lenders who host the event may waive your closing costs if you attend the event, and realtors may offer gift cards or other free gifts as part of their invitation.Christina Spira and Mariwyn Evans, authors of the book “1,200 Great Sales Tips for Real Estate Pros” explain that realtors who go the extra mile often create introductory videotapes about their services and offer free gift bags to prospects attending the seminar as a way to build a relationship. You may be able to learn more about the realtor’s background, services and their unique approach with these extra freebies at the end of the event.Attending a home buying seminar offers several benefits and can help you get some of the tough questions about home buying answered by real estate professionals in your area. Consider signing up for at least one or two events in your preferred neighborhoods for an insider’s view of the market, and to learn more about seasoned realtors in your area.