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Home Buying Tips

Organize your personal information

  • Check your credit report to make sure that there are no errors.

  • Gather documents such as financial statements and tax forms.

  • Make sure to have the following information readily available: the name, address, and Social Security number of all applicants; contact information for your current landlord or mortgage company; a pay stub and employer information; the value of your assets; and the source of your down payment and closing costs.

  • Make sure that you have the Social Security numbers of all borrowers involved.

Get pre-approved

  • A pre-approval will tell you how much home you can afford, give you the power to negotiate and even make an offer, and show sellers that you're a qualified buyer.

Search for a home

  • Search for properties online to get an idea of the homes that are available in your price range.

  • Drive through areas that interest you in order to spot 'For Sale' signs and to get a feel for different neighborhoods.

Research areas and neighborhoods of interest

  • Try visiting your preferred neighborhoods at different times of the day and at different days of the week to observe patterns of noise and traffic.

  • Use my website to find statistics on neighborhoods, schools, and other demographic information important in your search for a home. I will be glad to send you any other statistics, and school and tax information as needed.

 

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This list has been prepared to help make you comfortable with the home buying process. After all, this is an exciting time in your life, and we want to help you enjoy it. Read through the checklist, then call me for more information. Of course, purchase transactions can vary, but this 'typical' list should help jumpstart your thinking.  

  • Be sure you're ready to buy a home

  • Determine how much you can afford

  • Organize your personal information

  • Get pre-approved

  • Search for a home

  • Research areas and neighborhoods of interest

  • Visit selected homes

  • Make an offer on the home you want

  • Arrange financing

  • Schedule a home inspection

  • Prepare for closing

 

Be sure you're ready to buy a home

  • Consider all costs involved, including taxes, homeowner's insurance, private mortgage insurance (PMI), and utilities.

  • Consider the responsibilities of home ownership, from mowing the lawn to maintaining the roof.

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Determine how much you can afford

  • Consider all costs involved, including upfront costs such as the down payment and closing costs.

  • Estimate the monthly mortgage payment.

  • Include in your estimates other costs such as taxes and maintenance, as well as insurance and any applicable association fees.

  • Tip: Use the mortgage calculator found under each home listing on this site to run the numbers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Prepare for closing

  • Make sure your closing date is scheduled prior to any rate lock expirations on your mortgage loan.

  • If you're also selling a home and need the cash from the sale, make sure that the closing on your current property is scheduled prior to the closing on your new home.

  • Arrange for your real estate agent. That will help assure that all closing tasks are completed to your satisfaction.

  • Check with your closing agent to find out the amount of certified funds — a cashier's check or money order — needed for closing.

  • Make arrangements for all people needed to sign closing documents to be present. This may include your spouse or any other co-signer.

  • Make arrangements at work and with childcare to be absent for 3-4 hours. (Closing normally takes an hour but you should be prepared to spend extra time in case issues arise.)

  • Bring along a photo ID — your driver's license or passport, for example.

  • If you haven't done so already, make sure utilities will be turned on once you take possession of your new home.

 

When closing is completed:

  • Don't leave without your new keys.

  • Congratulations on your new home!

 

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