3 Important First-Time Home Buyers Tips

If you are getting ready to buy your first house, you no doubt have some questions, some fears, and a few things you are not sure about. Whether it is because you are inexperienced, or simply have not found a reliable real estate agent to help you. Start with these tips for first-time home buyers to help put your mind at ease as you head into the home buying process.

Get Pre-Approval

While getting ready to enter the purchasing market and begin looking at houses for sale, one of the best things you can do for yourself is get pre-approval for a mortgage. Head into your bank or another lending institution and work with a financial advisor to learn about how much money you are likely to be granted in a loan, and how much you will be able to put forward as a down payment. Not only will this give you a good idea of the price range of houses you should be looking in to, but it will also avoid any surprises later when you learn that the house that you wanted is not viable because you were denied approval for a mortgage.

Work with a Real Estate Professional

Once you have a bit of a better understanding of your finances, it is time to find a real estate agent to work with.  While it is advantageous to work with an agent in all home transactions, first time buyers can especially benefit. The right agent will be able to guide you through each step of the process, from finding the right home, to negotiating with current owners, to closing the deal and then taking possession of the property. More than that, they will be able to assist you with all the small hurdles that come up along the way. Chances are they have dealt with all of them before and know just what to do!

Understand the Money

Pre-approval for a loan and securing a mortgage are only one small part of the equation when it comes to the financing of a home. Do not forget additional closing costs that are associated with the purchase, and be sure you are clear on your monthly mortgage payments so that you know that you have enough money to pay them. When you are talking about payments, also do some research into payment plan options; the more often  you are able to pay, and the larger the sum each time, the sooner you can pay off the mortgage, and the less it will cost you in the end. While interest rates are an important thing to be aware of, they are only a small part of what you need to be concerned with when it comes to money.

Find a REALTOR® that specializes in First-Time Home Buyers

Purchasing your first home presents an exciting time filled with pride and accomplishment. It also however, can be stressful and intimidating and present with worry, fear, and many sleepless nights.

There are many REALTORS® out there that specialize in first-time home buyers and can help make your experience nothing but positive during the home buying process.