For a first time home buyer, the process of buying a home can be complex and filled with many questions. The following checklist is meant to provide you the necessary steps for completing the home buying process. See the links to the right for more helpful home buying tips.
Home Buying Checklist
- Be Informed. There are tons of guides on this subject. Consider coming to one of our seminars to get the best, most current information.
- Start to study the mortgage process. If you don’t know what mortgage company to use, ask your agent for some recommendations.
- Get a copy of your credit report and clear up any issues that may be on it.
- After finding a mortgage company, get pre-approved. This will tell you how much home you can buy.
- Find a buyers agent (they are free; they only make money when you buy a home).
- After finding how much home you can afford search for homes on the Internet to determine what types of homes you want and which one fits you.
- Inform your agent what kind of home that you are looking for so that they can suggest a home for you as well. They will show you homes, according to your specifications.
- When you find a home that you like write an offer with your agent.
- With your agent’s help negotiate the best deal with the information you have acquired. Your agent should be a good negotiator.
- Arrange for a home inspection with the help of your agent.
- Learn about home warranties and decide if you need one.
- Consider getting homeowners insurance, your mortgage company will assist you with this.
- With your agent and loan officer arrange a closing date with an escrow company. Inform your lender of the closing date.
- Make moving plans. Decide if you will be using a moving company or moving yourself.
- Contact your mortgage company to confirm your loan approval and get an updated Good Faith Estimate.
- Complete the final walk through with your real estate agent.
- Sign your closing papers.
- Move into your new home!