Are you getting ready to buy your first home? This is an exciting time that can also feel overwhelming. Buying your first home will be incredibly rewarding. As you get started there are some important steps to follow so you can be well-prepared throughout the process.

What Buyers Need To Know

Debt

One of the first things you need to know going into the home buying prices is your debt-to-income ratio. You need to know how much debt you have. Your debt-to-income ratio will help your lender determine what you qualify for. It is essential to keep your debt-to-income ratio under 43%. The more debt you pay off before applying for a mortgage, the better.

Credit

In addition to your debt-to-income ratio, your credit score is also s big determining factor in your mortgage application. Check your credit score ahead of time so you can improve it or correct any potential errors. You can improve your credit score by paying down credit card debt and increasing your credit card limits.

Preapproval

When you feel that your finances are in a good place it is time to get pre-approved for your mortgage. This is a significant step because you will go through the mortgage application process and find out exactly how much you can borrow, which tells you how much house you can afford. You will get a pre-approval letter that you can attach to any offer you make.

Budget

Your financial steps above inform your budget immensely. When you know what you are pre-approved for, you know how much house you can afford. This doesn't mean that you can afford that total amount though. You need to take all of your other bills and home maintenance into account to determine your entire home owner's budget.

Down Payment

Part of preparing for your home purchase is saving for your down payment. You need to determine how much you can put down on your home purchase. Much of those have to do with what type of mortgage you will receive. A majority of lenders suggest putting down at least 20% of the home purchase price. Without that 20% down payment, you will likely have to pay for private mortgage insurance.

Type Of Home & Where

When all of your finances are in order, it is time to start your home search. This is when you work with your agent to determine the criteria you are looking for. Decide whether you want a single-family home, duplex, condominium, or townhome. Consider what is important to you in a home and where you want to live. you need to take several things into account like school, transportation, and taxes. Take your time and visit several; neighborhoods you are interested in and different times of the day.

Make Offer

When you find a home you love, then it is. time to have your agent write a competitive offer for you. They will help you put your best foot forward so that you will hopefully get into a contract on the home you desire.

Contingencies

Once the seller accepts your offer then you will go into the escrow process. Part of this process is moving through the contingencies you put in place in your initial request. There will be a home inspection that informs whether or not the home is in good condition and any potential repairs that are needed. From there you can negotiate repairs or a seller credit. There will also be an appraisal for your mortgage lender and when this is all approved and agreed upon, you can move closer to closing on the home.

Close

Closing day is the best day for you! You will sign all of your mortgage documentation and anything needed to finalize the purchase of the home. Finally, you get your keys and start your homeownership journey.

In Conclusion

When you go through this process and do your research to understand every step of the way, you will buy your home with confidence, Having your finances in order allows you to make good investment decisions as you dive into homeownership.