Thinking of buying your first house in 2022?
Laura Randall specializes in helping first-time home buyers like you find their dream property.
Before starting to search for homes online, it’s important to take the first step to house shopping: Getting pre-approved for a mortgage and knowing your numbers.
Benefits of starting with a pre-approval include knowing how much you can afford and what the monthly payment will be. With this information in hand you can feel confident when making a budget before searching for your new home and making a winning offer when the time comes.
Pre-approval letters are good for about 90 days, so once you’re ready, take these first 3 steps to get it done.
- Contact me, and I’ll send over a list of lenders I know and trust.
- Look over the list, check out online reviews, and ask friends and family for referrals.
- Email 2-3 lenders you like or let me introduce you over email.
Once you’ve got your finances in order and pre-approval letter in hand, it’s time to start the search!
Before we hop into the home search, I like to advise my clients to create two lists, the “must-haves” and “would be nice to have”. This will help us to really focus on the things that are most important in your future home.
Must-haves are the non-negotiable features; the features that simply must be in your next home. Would be nice to have are the ones you’d like to have, but can add or change down the road. Remember the lot or the location can’t be changed so make sure you love both.
Once all the must haves have been established I will set you up on a search so you can receive an email the minute a home that fits your criteria goes live. If you have any questions about a property, send me the information and I will get answers. Send me listings you like and I can get more information and set up showings on your behalf.
After touring houses and choosing the one you love, it’s time to make an offer. To do this, you’ll need your pre-approval letter or proof of funds. You’ll also need to make an escrow deposit of at least 1-2% of the purchase price. This will go towards your closing costs at closing.
Getting a home under contract is just the beginning.
After the home is officially under contract I will walk you through the inspections, obtaining insurance, working with your lender and preparing to close. If you would like a copy of my free homebuyers guide to prepare you for buying your first house click here.
Have more questions about buying a house or what happens after making an offer? Reach out to me today!
