Buying a house for the first time can be very overwhelming, especially with the number of available homes in the real estate market. Buying a house is not an investment that you can take lightly since choosing the wrong house can lead to costly mistakes and regrets. If it is your first time to build a house, you can consider some of these tips to help you prepare yourself for this new endeavor.
Evaluate and assess your financial situation: Before you start visiting houses for sale or model homes, you must first examine your financial capacity. You must look into your expenses and your budget every month. For this reason, you must determine how much you can comfortably afford. Financial experts advise spending less than 28% of your gross monthly income on your mortgage, and property taxes and insurance.
Check your credit score: This is in relation to the tip mentioned above. To help you assess your financial situation, you must also consider getting pre-qualified for a mortgage loan. To even be considered by the bank or lender, you must have a good credit score. To achieve this, you must check your credit score and fix any errors in your record before starting the loan approval process.
Shop around for mortgage rates. You must take the time to shop around different banks and lenders to find the mortgage rate you are comfortable with. You must also consider the terms of the mortgage. You can talk to a loan officer and have your income verified, review your outstanding debts, and run a credit check. In doing so, you can obtain a pre-approval letter which states the mortgage amount you qualify for. It is best to get a pre-approval letter or get pre-qualified before you even start house hunting to avoid costly mistakes.
Make a list of your preferences and needs. When searching for a house, you must know what kind of property you are looking for and the features it must have. You must also consider the location of the house and its neighborhood.
Avail the services and expertise of a realtor. Realtors have the experience and expertise when it comes to real estate market trends, property conditions, and other transactions. They can help you find a house that is within your budget, and will advise you on which property will best suit your needs. When working with a realtor, you must be honest regarding your preferences, specifications, and your financial situation.
Jamie Mixon
Top Louisiana Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams
Southern View Real Estate
1522 W. Causeway Approach
Mandeville, LA
Cell: 504-315-0334
Fax: 985-727-7001
