Feeling prepared for the home buying process is the most essential step in finding your dream home. Buying a home will have a widespread, long-term impact on your life. Being well-informed and making rational decisions will help you confidently navigate securing your dream home.
Know Your Budget
Looking at listing prices of homes can feel overwhelming when you aren't sure of your budget. Before you move past just window-shopping, you should figure out what you can realistically afford. A mortgage is a big commitment, and you don't want to waste your time falling in love with houses way out of your price range. You can start with seeking out a mortgage pre-approval to get an accurate loan estimate. A bank will be able to holistically assess your income, credit, and current finances to determine how much they are willing to offer you. However, just because the bank says you can afford a certain mortgage amount does not mean that you have to get a house for that price. You should look at your budget personally and determine what you are comfortable with spending. Be realistic about what you can afford and know that you don't have to push the limits of your budget to have a nice house.
Know Your Wants and Needs
Knowing what you want in a house probably sounds like a no-brainer, but creating a list of deal-breakers and dream features will help you narrow down your search. You should consider the long-term with your house and think past initial aesthetics. Do you need a home office? Does your dog need a yard? Are you willing to do renovations? To what extent? If you aren't realistic with your needs, you might find yourself unhappy with your purchase within the year. You should browse homes within your price range and determine what features are realistic to look for so that you aren't disappointed down the line.
Have an Agent
One of the best things you can do for yourself during the home buying process is to work with an agent. Buying a house is a huge undertaking and will become a full-time job if you go at it alone. An agent will be able to walk you through every step of the way. Armed with advanced market knowledge, your agent will be able to easily find houses, navigate deals, and make the experience all-around more comfortable. You can start your home buying journey and contact a Noble & Company agent here.
Inspect with a Vision
When viewing a house, you will want to have a vision for what kind of home you can realistically make it. Upon initially viewing the house, you may feel deterred by cosmetic issues. Are you able to put in the time and money to have cosmetic repairs done? Buying a home within your price range may be worth the extra effort, especially when things can be done exactly how you want. Equally important to having a vision is understanding the flaws of the property with a home inspection. This will help you put your vision into perspective and guide your purchasing choices.
For more information about the buying process, check out our full buyer's guide here.