As you prepare to buy a house, you’ll want to know the ins and outs of it all. Below we’ve listed a few important steps you’ll want to take before you search for your new home. 

 

Understand why you want to buy a home

    • If you don’t have a clear picture as to why you want to buy a house at this time, you could end up regretting your decision and losing a lot of money. It’s best to have a concrete plan moving forward!

Check your credit score

    • Keep in mind, the better your credit score and credit history, the better the chances you’ll have of securing financing with the best terms and rates.

Create a housing budget

    • As you begin looking for a house, you’ll want to decide how much money you need to set aside for down payment costs, closing costs, and other ongoing maintenance expenses. By setting a realistic budget for your new home, you will have a better understanding of what you can afford and how much you will be spending in the end. 

Save for a down payment

    • It is incredibly important that you save for a down payment, even before you’ve started the actual house hunt. First things first, you’ll want to research the down payment requirements for the loan you want, to make sure you know how much you will need to close. Saving up for a down payment can take months, sometimes years, it’s better to be prepared ahead of time. 

Hire a real estate agent

    • Real estate agents can save you time and money by helping you search for a home that fits all of your needs. If you need help finding a real estate agent, give me a call!

See multiple homes

    • You’ll want to get a feel for what style of house you want and what will work best with your lifestyle. Make sure you check out a variety of homes in person, to really get a feel for which one would be the best choice!

Make an offer

    • After finding the perfect house, you will need to make an offer on it. Your real estate agent will help with this. Understanding how to make an attractive offer can increase the chances of the seller accepting it and putting you one step closer to getting those house keys. 

Get an inspection

    • A home inspection will help you figure out how to proceed with the closing process. There is the possibility that you may ask the seller for repairs, decide to back out of the deal, or simply have to anticipate for future repairs after moving in. 

Negotiate repairs

    • After the home inspection, you may find out there are some major and some minor repairs that will need to be made. Your real estate agent can help you negotiate any repairs; the seller will either oversee the repairs, or you can ask for a cash-back credit at closing and take care of them yourself. 

Secure your financing 

    • Getting a final and clear loan approval means you need to keep your finances and credit in line during underwriting. Make sure you respond promptly to requests for more documentation and double-check your loan estimate to see that all the details are correct.

Do a final walk-through

    • A final walk-through is your last chance to view the home before it becomes yours. Make sure you ask any questions you may have about the house and address any outstanding issues before the house becomes your full responsibility. 

Close on your house

        • This is the very last step before you are officially a homeowner! You’ll want to review all of the documents you sign carefully and always ask for clarification if you are unsure of anything. After signing everything, you will leave the closing with copies of the paperwork and your new house keys!