Buying a new house is an exciting and stressful time. You are likely to be juggling many responsibilities, including your job, family, and finances. It can also be overwhelming with all the decisions that need to be made before you even start home shopping.
To get started on this journey of finding the perfect new home for your family, follow these ten steps:
1. Find Out What You Want in a Home
This is essential before you start looking. You should know the size and location of your dream home, as well as how much you are able to spend. Knowing what you want will make it easier for you to find a great deal on the right house.
2. Get Your Credit in Order
Poor credit can keep you from getting a loan — or even worse, get you stuck with an unfavorable interest rate. If you need some help trying to boost your credit score, take a look at these tips. It is also recommended that homeowners check their credit reports regularly for any errors or signs of identity theft.
3. Decide When You Want to Buy
Don’t just assume that it makes more sense to buy a house in the winter — seasonal differences can make a huge impact on house prices and competition for listings. For example, if you want to move during the summer months when children are out of school, it might be a better idea to wait until spring.
4. Start Searching
When it comes to house hunting, there is no such thing as one source for all your house-hunting needs. Each housing website has its own strengths and weaknesses based on what they offer home buyers. Whether you are looking for house plans or new homes, you should be able to find great deals with ease!
5. Find Out How Much House You Can Afford
By running the numbers through an affordability calculator, you can see just how much house you can afford, given your income and expenses. This will help you avoid going over budget or getting into debt to buy a house.
6. Get Pre-Approved for a Loan
Before you start house hunting, it is a good idea to get pre-qualified for a home loan. This will show house sellers that you are a serious buyer, and you won’t be outbid by people with cash offers. It also makes it easier for house hunters to find the perfect house when there are no roadblocks like not having enough funds for a down payment.
7. Shop Around for Mortgages and Rates in Person and Online
Although it may be tempting, don’t rush into signing with the first mortgage company that offers you their services. Find out who has good rates and what fees they charge — only then can you make an informed decision.
8. Start House Hunting!
Now that you have got your house-buying checklist out of the way, it’s time to get house hunting! Go through listings until you find the house that has everything you want and need in a house. Ask for help from friends or family members if you need more people to look at houses with — the more opinions, the better! You can also go for home-and-land packages to save time and money.
9. Get Prepped for a Walk-Through
You’re almost done! Before you do anything, be sure to get house hunting tips from experienced house hunters and house buying experts. By following these house-buying steps, there’s nothing to worry about — you can find the house of your dreams with ease!
10. Make an Offer
You’ve found the house for you, so now it’s time to make an offer! Don’t be intimidated by house appraisals or inspections — a house is a home, not a museum. House appraisals are an estimate of how much a house would sell for in today’s market, whereas inspections tell you what condition the house is in right now. Remember that sometimes looking at houses one more time before closing on your new property can help you negotiate even better terms.
If house hunting seems daunting, take a look at this 10-step guide to buying your dream home. Follow these steps, and you’ll be able to find the house of your dreams without any hassle or headache. This article will help you through every step of house hunting — from deciding when to buy all the way up to making an offer on the perfect property. Plus, we’ve provided some great house-buying tips that can make things easier for aspiring homeowners like yourself!
