Buying a house for the first time is fun and exciting, but it can also be an event that leaves you with questions and confusion. If you are a first-time homebuyer, it is important for you to know the main steps of buying a house. Here is a basic checklist you can use to prepare for this and begin the process.
Prepare
The process of preparing to buy a house is one that can take some people just a few days or weeks while it may take others many years. The time it will take you will depend on many factors, including the income you have, the current length of time you have been at your job, the money you have in the bank, and your credit. If you need time to build your credit, take your time to do this. If you need time to save up money for the house, then take the time you need. Take as long as you need to prepare to buy a house before you move on to the next step.
Gather your documents and get preapproved
When you feel like you are prepared to go through with the event of buying a house, you should gather important documents and contact a mortgage lender. This process is called getting preapproved for a mortgage, and it will require completing a mortgage application and submitting all the documents the lender asks for. This may include pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements.
Choose an agent
After completing the previous step, you should have a letter in your hands that states you are preapproved to borrow a certain amount of money for a house. When you have this letter from your bank, you can move on to choosing an agent to assist you with buying a house. This step is crucial as the agent you choose will be the person you work with throughout the remaining steps of the process.
Shop for a house
The fun part of buying a house is shopping for one. When you shop for a house, you may first look online at listings of single-family homes for sale to see what there is to choose from, but then you will begin getting the opportunity to go inside homes you are interested in to see them. From there, you can choose the one you prefer over all the others.
After finding the right home, there are additional steps, including making an offer and negotiating on the house, but your real estate agent will be there to assist you through these.
