Recommendations For A Great Start To Your Home Search
The purchase of a home is a large investment and a decision that you want to make without any mistakes so you end up with a home perfect for your needs and your budget. Through the process, you will need to get a mortgage approval based on your credit, and you need to check into the current real estate market and its conditions, but you have the help of a professional real estate agent. Here are some recommendations to help you buy a home in today's market.
Get Pre-Approved
Because a home purchase is a large purchase, it usually requires a mortgage loan to pay to the home seller and to pay off any existing liens against the property. And unless you have a large cash deposit that you can pay for the home, you need to be pre-approved for the mortgage, which needs to be completed before you start to look for a home. The reason for this is because if you find a home you like without being pre-qualified, you won't know if you can actually get a mortgage for the home's purchase price, and you also won't be able to show the seller you can pay for the home. In today's market, this can mean you may lose out on the home to a qualified buyer who has their financing set up.
Complete a mortgage application with your lender and provide the required documentation first to get this process started. Then, you will have a mortgage purchase limit and can start shopping for a home to call your own.
Protect Your Credit
As part of the qualification process, your lender is going to look closely at your credit and score. During the approval process, and until you actually close on your loan, you don't want to make any changes to your credit situation. This includes getting a new loan or credit card, charging up an existing credit card, changing jobs, or co-signing with another person on a new loan. These situations can affect your chances to get a mortgage, which can derail your home buying process.
Evaluate the Market
You should also start by researching the real estate market in your area. It is important to know what types of homes are available in different areas, and how much they are selling for. Research the price of townhomes, condos, or single-family homes to help you get a good understanding of the market. Look at lot sizes, HOA fees, home sizes and amenities, commute times to work, and home location in respect to nearby freeway access, as examples.
For more information about things to look for in houses for sale near you, contact a local real estate firm, such as REMAX Executive.
