Quick Tips for Buying Your First Home
Before you’re ready to buy…
Interview Lenders: Talk to a lender and find out what you can afford, how much you will need for your down-payment and an estimate of closing costs. Get a copy of your credit report.
Credit score: Keep it clean! Be sure to pay all bills, student loans, rent and credit card bills on time.
Automate your savings: Automatically set aside what you can afford every month for your down-payment money. Don’t forget that you may need money for closing costs, too. Start making lifestyle sacrifices in order to meet your savings goals.
Interview Real Estate Agents: A good relationship with an agent can help you before you even begin your search. An agent can give you information on home prices, home trends in your area and market stats where you want to live.
Go to Open Houses: It’s a good idea to educate yourself as much as you can about the local market before you are ready to buy. Open Houses are a good way to see what’s out there and to see what you get for the money. You might meet a good real estate agent you want to work with, as well.
