Here are the steps you can take to get ready — so you’ll be all set to make an offer when you find the right home.
Step 1. Make sure your finances are in order.
If you haven’t checked your credit report lately, grab a free copy at
annualcreditreport.com
. You are entitled to one copy of your credit report from each of the three reporting agencies each year.
Look for any errors or negative items that may affect your ability to get approved for a mortgage. Contact the reporting agency to correct errors.
Step 2. Evaluate your assets.
If this is your first home, ensure that you have savings to cover your down payments, closing costs, and move-in expenses. You may need to factor in purchases of new furniture and appliances, depending on what you already own and what will come with the house.
If you’re looking to sell a home, meet with a realtor to assess the value and discuss how long your home may take to sell.
Step 3. Get pre-qualified or pre-approved.
If you’re planning to start looking as soon as the winter weather breaks, go straight to getting a pre-approval. This piece is important because you can show the seller that a lender has checked your credit and approved you for financing.
A pre-approval is typically good for 90 days, so if you’re not planning to start looking seriously in the next 90 days, get pre-qualified. This will let you know how much you are likely to be approved for so you know what price range to look at. It will also help you see if there are any issues in your finances you might need to clean up.
Then, when you’re ready, come see us to get pre-approved for your mortgage.