Buy A Home

If buying a new home is truly important to you then you may want to know what the next steps may be. Well, here they are (in a very particular order).

1. Pre-purchase education

Learn everything you can! The education is there and most of the time free!! Invest time in learning about the process, the terminology, the paperwork, and interest rates. The more you know upfront the less uncomfortable you will feel later.

2. Check your credit

Know what your credit is to know what to expect. You can sign up for free at www.creditkarma.com. If you are close to progressing a credit score you may want to wait a week before applying to pay something down, level-up, & get a better rate.

3. Get pre-qualified for a mortgage

Again, you don’t want to not know what you are able to afford. If you go and begin looking at homes way outside of your price range, you may end up heartbroken. Or, vice, versa you may qualify for more than you think. Either way, you will never know until you find out first. Don’t be surprised by the bank, know your worth!

4. Work with a real estate agent

A professional real estate agent will look out for you, making sure you find the best home for your situation, and that you are protected in the negotiating process. Their job is to keep the process smooth. Look for an agent that is responsive and willing. 

5. Shop for a mortgage

Begin building a list. We would start with a few select banks and investigating the different loan options available. Each bank may have different products available and you want to do your homework to save HUGE in the long-haul.

6. Shop for a home

See multiple properties. Know what you want in a house, again by making a list of your must-haves, your wants, and your do-not-wants. When you find a property that could possibly fulfill all three, at the right price, in the right neighborhood, you call it HOME!

7. Get inspections

After you make an official offer on a property, your lender and agent will work with you to hire inspectors. You will want to know if there are any concerns about the property before you go forward, and your lender will not want to fund the purchase unless they know the property is sound.

8. Set up home insurance and utility services

You guessed it another checklist & make sure they are in working order BEFORE closing

• Water
• Electric
• Insurance
• Internet
• Postal Change Of Address

9. The loan and home closing

There are a lot of professionals involved here so breathe, trust them, and take your time reading the details. 

10. Move in

This is the real work and the fun part.

• If you can, hire movers unpacking and painting can be tiring enough.
• Do a little light work before you completely unload so you can paint or patch quicker.
• Change locks, shower curtains, garage door openers, gate codes, etc.
• Make your first dinner special (game night, candlelit floor dinner, enjoy it!)