Steps Homebuyers Should Take Before Looking for a House

Many people like to begin the home buying process by window-shopping for homes. But if you’re truly serious about purchasing, there are a few steps you need to take first. Robert Johnson, president of the Duncan Duo Team, is here to help mewith the preliminary steps to take before going out to view homes.

1. Speak to a lender and get pre-approved first. Yes, this is a scary part of the process to many, but it’s also very important to do this before becoming attached to one home or another. If you get pre-approved before going to view homes, you’ll have an idea of how much you’ll be approved for, which will narrow down your choices. It will also give you an idea of what sort of monthly payment you’ll be looking at once you close on the home. Additionally, the home you’ve chosen may get taken before you even complete the approval process.

Further still, many agents won’t work with buyers who haven’t been pre-approved. If you’re concerned about your credit getting in the way of your approval, at least you’ll know where you are, and most lenders can help you form a gameplan to get your credit to where it needs to be in order to qualify for a home loan. Imagine finding out that you don’t qualify for a loan after you’ve set your sights on a home!

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Imagine finding out that you don’t qualify for loan after you’ve set your sights on a home!

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2. Instead of just looking for homes online, try driving around to see what’s out there. You might see homes you love online, but you may find that when you get there, they’re not what you thought they’d be. By driving around, you can see what the home looks like in person.

When you find a home you like, it’s also a good idea to measure your commute times. You don’t want to move to a place that will add unnecessary amounts of time to your daily commute to work! Additionally, observe the surrounding neighborhood after dark; this will help you get a well-rounded perspective on the neighborhood so that you can be sure it’s a right fit for you.

If you have any questions about buying a home or about real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Duncan Duo. We’d love to help you navigate the process so you can find the home of your dreams.