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Is buying a home in your future plans? Maybe you are even a first time home buyer trying to figure out the process.
Buying a house is a significant milestone, and it can be as exhilarating as it is scary.
Whether it’s your first time dipping your toes into the real estate market or you’re an experienced homeowner looking for a change, the process demands careful planning and consideration.
Your journey to homeownership involves navigating financial prep work, market trends, and the actual house hunt—each step critical to finding a place you can call your own. And for first time homebuyers, this can be even more stressful.
Remember, buying a home is not just a transaction; it’s a step towards building your future.
If you’re feeling a bit confused, below are some tips to help you reach home-buying success. You can also check out this in-depth guide to the home buying process.
Improve your Credit Score
Figure out what your credit score is and do everything you can to boost it. The better your credit score, the better the interest rate you’ll get and the more home you will be able to afford.
Your credit is the cornerstone of your home-buying process. Your credit history and financial circumstances can affect your mortgage interest rates significantly, and a higher score could lead to better terms.
You can easily pull a credit report for free to see your credit score and history. You can download a credit building app like Kikoff to help.
If student loans are part of your financial landscape, understand how they impact your debt-to-income ratio—lenders scrutinize this when deciding to approve your loan.
You might want to take extra money and pay down debt to help improve your financial health. The lower your debt-to-income ratio, the more house you will get approved for.
It might be worth taking the time to pay off debt before you start searching for a house. And of course, you need to work on saving up for a down payment.
Educate Yourself on Loans
First, you want to get your financial eggs lined up when it comes to buying a home. To kickstart your home search, you will want to get a pre-approval for a mortgage.
This is what the mortgage lender will give you once they go over your finances. It will tell you the interest rate, how much home you can afford, an estimate of closing costs percentage and more.
And it will show if you are getting a conventional loan or other type of loan. A pre-approval gives you a clear idea of your budget and shows sellers you’re serious.
It is basically your green light that you are cleared to make offers on houses.
It can be tempting to take the first thing that comes your way when it comes to loans, but you may be able to find something better if you do a bit of research.
Before you rush into an offer from hard-money lenders, make sure you’ve done your research to be sure that you’re not skipping out on something that could be ideal for your life situation.
VA loans, Jumbo loans, FHA loans, and more—there’s something for every background and need, so shop around until you find the mortgage loan option that fits your plan.
There is specifically a program for first time home buyers to take advantage of which is FHA loans that only require a 3.5% down payment!
And, maybe interest rates will shift a little as well. Getting pre approval can help gauge what lenders think you can afford and shows sellers you’re serious.
Types of Mortgages Explained
There are many types of mortgages available. Conventional loans are the most common and typically require a higher credit score but offer more flexibility in terms of payment.
If your down payment is less than 20%, you’ll probably need Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI), which protects the lender if you default. It will be added into your monthly mortgage payment by the lender.
- Fixed-rate mortgages: Lock in your interest rate for the life of the loan.
- Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs): Start with a lower interest rate that may change over time.
- FHA loans: Backed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), these require smaller down payments and are easier to qualify for.
- VA loans: Offered to veterans and service members with benefits like no down payment or PMI through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Heard of velocity banking? Learn about this strategy to save on your mortgage once you have one!
Calculate Your Budget
Another helpful first step to buying a home is to figure out your budget by reviewing your bank statements and monthly income.
Use a home affordability calculator to estimate how much house you can afford without stretching your finances too thin.
Talking to your mortgage lender will help understand your home purchasing budget as well as they will calculate exactly what you can afford.
Make sure you also have enough cash for the down payment and other fees like closing costs or existing debts you need to clear out. And of course, it’s always best to keep an emergency fund.
Don’t clear your bank account out completely to buy a home. Be aware of all the costs and fees with owning a home.
Preparing to buy a house means also getting a grip on additional costs like closing fees, inspections, and insurance—it’s not just the sticker price of the home that counts.
In most cases the property taxes and homeowners insurance will get bundled in with your monthly mortgage payment. That way you pay for them over time and not up-front in cash.
But if not, understand how much those costs will be so you are prepared and can save money for it. Property taxes can be significant depending on where you live.
In addition, know that you will need money for repairs and upkeep on the house once you own it! And certain neighborhoods have homeowner’s associations that require you to pay HOA fees.
Save Up A Down Payment
Understand the role of a down payment in your purchase and know how much you need saved up. The standard is 20%, which can help avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI).
However if that is too much, most conventional loans will accept as low as a 5% down payment. First time homebuyers can get by with as low as a 3.5% down payment however with Federal Housing Administration loans.
With the lower down payment you will have to pay the PMI insurance, but it shouldn’t add a huge amount to your monthly mortgage payments.
And, once your home equity reaches a certain amount, it can be possible to get the PMI removed.
Remember to also think about your ability to make monthly mortgage payments in relation to your income and other financial obligations.
Look Into Down Payment and First Time Home Buyer Assistance Programs
As a first time home buyer, there are some great programs that offer financial assistance. You can also get some really good mortgage advice in general from these programs.
Some states offer down payment assistance like this program in Tennessee. They even have programs to help first time and repeat home buyers.
There are may state and local and even some federal assistance programs that will help you with closing costs, down payment and more.
You can find grants, low interest loans and more. Many programs are specifically for first time home buyers so don’t miss out on these!
You can check the HUD website for a good start at locating these.
Another way to get help you buy a home is a family opportunity mortgage plan. This just means that your family members lend a helping hand when it comes to buying a home.
Perhaps your credit score isn’t too great yet but you could technically afford to pay the mortgage, or maybe you need a bit of a hand with the deposit because it’s a little steep.
Just remember that there are a lot of terms and conditions that you need to understand before you get help from family.
Work With a Top Realtor
A professional realtor can make a difference when it comes to finding your dream home. Working with a reputable real estate agent can provide valuable guidance to help you navigate the market and find a your dream house.
They are experts at navigating the real estate market and can help you find hidden gems thanks to their local connections.
They also may have good relationships with numerous homeowners in the area looking to eventually sell their homes. You might be able to see a house before it goes on the market in these cases.
A good real estate agent will be able to help with negotiations, avoiding pitfalls and knowing whether a home is worth the selling price.
Not to mention that you want a real estate agent you can spend time with while house hunting!
Wait for Rates to Go Down
In many cities around the nation, it can be challenging to buy a home at the price that you want because interest rates are skyrocketing.
However, as with many markets, things fluctuate and even out. So, if you’re in the market for buying a home, take a minute to research rates in your area.
It could be wise to wait a bit if you want to be sure to get the kind of interest rate that won’t hurt your pocketbook.
Another option though is to go ahead and buy and then refinance later when interest rates drop.
Figure Out Your Dealbreakers
Once the dollars and cents are sorted, the real fun begins. It’s all about discovering what you want in a home, scouting potential neighborhoods, and deciding on must-haves versus nice-to-haves.
Whatever house you buy, it isn’t going to have everything you want. You will have to compromise on some things.
But it is important to know before you start looking at homes what your must-haves and deal breakers are.
That way it can help you know when a house is worth making an offer on. So, write down all the things you have to have, like fireplaces and hardwood floors, and write down the things that aren’t as important.
It is also good to keep in mind with any home that you can change things once you move in. Don’t be distracted by the purple paint in the living room! Just look for the things you most want.
Tempt the Seller
Let’s say that you’ve found your home that you’ve dreamt about for years. But maybe the price or conditions aren’t exactly in your favor.
Here’s the thing: in many home buying situations, there is room for negotiation. Sometimes it’s easy to get the seller to change the price, such as in circumstances where the home has been on the market for a while.
In other cases, you may need to throw them a bone to get them to agree to the price that you want.
Whether that’s all cash or waiving contingencies, there are ways to tempt the seller to sell their home at a price that you’d appreciate more.
Negotiate the Cost
On the flip side, you can also negotiate for the seller to cover things like closing costs if you need some extra help.
And when the inspection report comes in, use anything negative on that to help bring the price down on the home.
In a competitive market, be deft with your negotiations but also realistic about your offers to avoid losing the home to another buyer.
These are important things to discuss with your realtor so that you can be confident that you’re making the right choice.
Don’t hesitate to negotiate, especially if you’re buying a home through a realtor service or something similar.
Get a Home Inspection and Appraisal
Don’t skip the home inspection! You never know what issues might be lying under the surface of a home that will be costly.
A home inspection will help you know exactly how much will have to be spent on the home to fix things. You can use this to negotiate having the sellers make the repairs or bring the cost of the house down.
Part of the closing costs will be an appraisal. If you are getting a loan you will be required to get one, but even if not an appraisal is needed. It will show you if the purchase price of the home matches the actual value of it.
Don’t Make Any New Large Purchases
During the home buying process it is really important that you not make big purchases. Any new debt that you add to your budget could change your loan pre-approval.
You might have a conventional loan and the house you want to purchase is on the top end of your approval. If you go out and buy something that will add new debt, you could actually lose your approval!
I heard once of someone who was in the last days of the process of purchasing a house and and did this and they actually lost the house!
It is a very common mistake with first time homebuyers. Once you have a loan approval, do not spend any money on anything new.
Don’t Rush but Don’t Wait Too Long
Some people believe that if something good comes around, they must jump on it right away.
However, while that’s true in some situations when the terms are perfection itself, it’s typically best to consider things for a minute before you rush into a monumental life decision.
On the flip side, if a home is offering you everything or nearly everything you have on your wish list, it’s wise to not wait for something better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Navigating the home buying process can be tricky, but arming yourself with the right knowledge can make all the difference for first time buyers.
Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or looking for a refresher, these FAQs can shed light on some of your biggest concerns.
Be proactive in researching available first-time home buyer programs that could offer financial assistance or education. Eligibility requirements vary, so check with local housing authorities or lenders for programs you may qualify for.
Don’t let emotions lead you to overbid or skip important steps like home inspections. Always stick to your predetermined budget to avoid financial strain.
And don’t make any purchases during the process. Conventional loans are strict and you don’t want to disrupt your approval with new credit accounts.
Start with getting pre-approved for a mortgage to know your budget and potential monthly payments, then search for homes within your range.
Once you find a home you like, you’ll make an offer, negotiate, and conduct a home inspection before closing the deal.
To know how much of a mortgage you qualify for you will need to talk to mortgage lenders.
They will look at things like your debt-to-income ratio and figure it out based on that. 43% high of a DTI is typically the highest you can have and still get approved for a mortgage.
Typically, aim to save at least 20% of the home’s purchase price for a down payment. This can minimize your monthly payments and potentially negate the need for private mortgage insurance.
However, if you can’t save up that much you can opt for 5% down instead. You will need money for closing costs, title, appraisal and inspection as well.
Focus on location, the condition of the property, and price. These factors can significantly impact your everyday life as well as the home’s future resale value.
Inspect the age and condition of major systems like roofing, plumbing, and electrical. Also, ask about recent repairs or upgrades to gauge the home’s condition beyond the surface level.
Get a pre-approval on a loan, look for a home with built-in equity so it will increase in value and boost your credit score before you look!
Final Thoughts
From knowing when to buy to finding the right real estate agent to help, understanding the best ways to find the home you want involves a lot of factors.
Do your research first and make sure you apply all of these tips! Set yourself up for success so you get the home you want at the price that is right for you.
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