If you’re planning to buy a home this spring, you should prepare now. Here are five things you can do to help you get into the home of your dreams as quickly as possible.

Get pre-qualified.

Before you start looking for a home, get pre-qualified. This way, you’ll know what you can afford and can shop within your budget. Plus, you’ll be a “serious” buyer to a seller. Discuss loan options with your lender and start thinking about how you plan to finance your home.

Hire a real estate agent.

You can do a lot of searching on your own, but it’s still essential to have a real estate agent help you with the home buying process. Your agent can help you find a home you like, within your budget, and negotiate the best deal for you.

Find out your credit score.

Your credit score is key to getting the best loan possible. By law, you get one free credit report each year by going to annualcreditreport.com. Take advantage of this free offer and review your score. Make sure everything is in order. If your score is lower than anticipated, talk to your lender about how you can improve it before buying your home. There are things you can do to change your score in as little as three to six months. The better your score, the more options you’ll have.

Save for your down payment.

The type of loan you choose determines the amount you need to save for a down payment. For example, if you’re eligible for an FHA loan, you put down as little as 3.5% of the purchase price. Some loans require no down payment at all. In most instances, though, you need to prepare for a down payment of approximately 20% of the purchase price.

Get your documents in order.

If you know you’re ready to buy within the next three to six months, start a file to use for documentation purposes. Ask your lender what you’ll need for the loan and start preparing now. Some of these documents include paycheck stubs, W-2s or I-9 tax forms, bank account statements, investment statements, details on current real estate holdings, or tax returns. Keep this information updated for your lender when you’re ready to buy. 

Buying a home takes time, but the process is easy when you’re prepared. To learn more about the mortgage process at Belgrade State Bank, click here, or give us a call at 573-438-5200. We’ll walk you through everything you’ll need to get into your home as quickly as possible.

Information is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal or financial advice. The views expressed are those of the author.

Source:

Southwest Strategic Marketing, LLC