So, you’re ready to buy your first home. Congratulations!
Purchasing a home can be overwhelming – especially your first one. But it can also be a lot of fun. Whether you are purchasing for yourself, you and your partner, or your family with kids, buying a house is an exciting time in a person’s life.
To help you enjoy the home-buying process and give you some peace of mind, we put together a first-time home buyer checklist for you to keep in mind as you start this journey.
Figure out how much you can afford.
Use our Mortgage Calculator on the website to figure out how much house/property you can afford and what type of loan and interest rates work for you. This will also help you determine an appropriate monthly mortgage payment and how much you can afford to put forward as a down payment. It’s important to know all of this before starting your initial search.
Get Pre-approved.
First, settle on a trusted mortgage lender. Once this is determined, they will help you get pre-approved for the amount of house you can afford. A seller will take you seriously if you can show them a pre-approval letter.
Find a realtor.
Yes, purchasing a home without involving a real estate agent is possible. But, to be completely candid, I don’t recommend this. A real estate agent will provide resources, knowledge, and guidance throughout the process. For first time home buyers, selling without a realtor will only cause stress and headaches.
Determine what you want in a home.
When considering a new home, people always have a few things they really want as they begin their search. We recommend having two categories:
- Must-haves/non-negotiables (number of bedrooms, garage, etc.)
- Flexible options (fenced-in yard, swimming pool, finished basement, etc.)
Understanding this will help you know what to look for throughout your search and help your realtor provide accurate listings based on your goals.
Start house hunting.
You made it to the fun part! Yes, this list is pretty condensed, but you get the idea. It’s best to cross these items off the list first, then jump into discovering your dream home.
If you are looking to buy a home, I can help you check off #3 on this list (and a lot more!) – let’s chat. Give me a call at 717-253-3259 (cellphone) or visit my website at www.karentavenner.com.