Home Buying Tips

Home buying guide for the first time home buyer


CUSTOMER LOG-IN CHECKLIST FOR BUYING A HOME FORMS & CONTRACTS TO BUY A HOUSE AGENTS & BROKERS: LIST HOMES FOR SALE


DOWN PAYMENT OR NO MONEY DOWN MORTGAGE LOAN TO BUY A HOME PRICE RANGE


NEIGHBORHOOD CHECKLIST CRIME RATES SCHOOL COMPARISONS PRICE TRENDS


MORTGAGE BASICS CREDIT RECORD & BUYING A HOME MORTGAGE LENDERS MORTGAGE BROKERS MORTGAGE SIZE


BUYING A NEW HOMES PRE-OWNED HOMES RELATIVE HOME PRICES BUY HOME TO SELL AT A PROFIT SELECTING A REAL ESTATE AGENT HOME BUYING INSPECTIONS VIEWING HOMES WORKING WITH AGENTS


EVALUATING ASKING PRICE NEIGHBORHOOD SELLING PRICES NEGOTIATNG POSITION SAMPLE OFFER COUNTER OFFER NEGOTIATING TIPS


COMPLETING THE HOME BUYING PROCESS CLOSING DETAILS THE SETTELEMENT STATEMENT


CLOSING COST MONTHLY MORTGAGE PAYMENTS MONTHLY COST OF INCREASING LOAN AMOUNTS PRE-QUALIFICATION OF LOAN AMOUNTS AFTER TAX COST OF OWNING A HOME LENDER'S VIEW OF MONTHLY MORTGAGE PAYMENTS




MANAGING THE MOVE HIRING A MOVER THE MOVING CONTRACT INSURING YOUR STUFF LOADING AND UNLOADING

ABOUT US CONTACT US PRIVACY STATEMENT USEFUL RESOURCES MORE REAL ESTATE LINKS ADD A LINK SITE MAP

Steps to Buying a Home Print this page & put a check under "done" for steps completed	Done
Get a copy of your credit report and correct any errors.
Reduce your consumer debt - pay down credit card balances.
Assemble a cash down payment.
Determine how much you can afford to pay for a home.
Decide how much you are willing to spend for a home (different from how much you can afford).

Get familiar with basic mortgage terms.
Shop for a mortgage loan on the Internet.
Get pre-approved or at least pre-qualified for a mortgage loan.
Investigate neighborhoods where you want to look for a house.
Consider neighborhood school quality and crime rates.
Select two or three neighborhoods that meet your requirements.

Find a real estate agent who specializes in the neighborhoods where you want to live.
Work with your agent but also shop for a home at Internet sites such as HomeGain and Realtor.com.
Visit homes for sale and make notes.
Get your agent's help in evaluating the asking price of homes you like.
Review Audrie's negotiating tips.
Decide how much to offer for the home you want.
With the help of your real estate agent, write an Offer to Purchase.
Complete all mortgage loan application requirements

Hire an inspector to examine your prospective home.
Accompany your inspector during the inspection.
Get agreement on repairs to be made by the Seller
Inspect repairs and handle other details prior to closing day.
Hand over a certified check for the down payment and pick up the deed for your home.

Pre-Approval for a mortgage
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Definitions:

Pre-Approved - A lending institution has processed your loan application and approved a specific mortgage amount.
Pre-Qualified - An unofficial estimate of the home you can afford (a "pre-qualified buyer" is one who should be able to get a mortgage big enough to purchase the home he or she wants to buy).

How ?

Get Pre-Approved by applying to mortgage lenders on the Internet. If you have $15,000 in cash for a down payment, and if you're looking for a $100,000 home, ask for pre-approval for a $85,000 mortgage loan.

Be prepared to pay $200 to $400 as an application fee.
Pre-Qualified - Use Audrie's calculator.

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Home Buying Tips

A checklist for first time home buyers