Steps to finding your dream home

1. Get pre-approved

2. Meet with agent

3. House hunting

4. Make an offer

5. Inspection and appraisal

6. Under contract

7. Get your keys!

Where to Start

• Save for a down-payment

• Check your credit

• Get pre-approved for a home loan

• Determine how much you can spend

But Ist, Get Pre-approved!

Be Ready to make an offer. House shopping is an exciting time! Get pre-approved for a loan first so you can be ready to make an offer when you find a home you love.

Pre-qualified vs Pre-approved

Pre-qualified - In order to be pre-qualified, a lender may or may not check your credit score and won't require documentation and will rely only on the information you provide. This will give you an idea of what you could qualify for, but when you're serious about buying, you'll need to get pre-approved.

Pre-approved - To be pre-approved, the lender will pull your credit and ask you for documentation to verify your finances. Before making an offer on a house, it is best to get pre-approved to show sellers your offer is serious and that a lender has already approved you for enough money to purchase the home.

Mortgage Guide

Which Type of Loan is Right For You?

Convention Loan - The most common type of home loan, which is offered through private lenders.

FHA Loan - Loans designed for those with high debt-to-income ratios and low credit scores, and most commonly issued to first-time homebuyers. Offered by FHA-approved lenders only and backed by the Federal Housing Administration.

VA Loan - Loans designated for veterans, spouses, and reservists, offered through private lenders and guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

First Time Home Buyers’ Programs - City or town first time home buyers' programs providing down payment and/or closing costs assistance. There are also special loans available to first time home buyers such as Equity Builders, One Mortgage Program and Interest Subsidy.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Lender

Not all Lenders are the Same. The type of loans available, interest rates, and fees can vary. Asking the right questions will help you determine which type of home loan is best for you.

Questions to ask a lender:

• Which types of home loans do you offer?

• What will my interest and annual percentage rates be?

• When should I lock my interest rate?

• What estimated closing costs can I expect to pay?

• What is your average loan processing time?

• Do I qualify for any special programs or discounts?

Loan Application Checklist

Documents Typically Required by Lenders

To determine loan eligibility, lenders typically require the following types of documents from each applicant

House Wants and Needs List

Important Features You're Looking for in a Home

Determine the features you are looking for in your ideal home and prioritize which items are most important to you. No house is perfect, but this will help us find the best match for you.

Investigate the Area

Drive around neighborhoods that interest you to get a feel of the area, how the homes are cared for, what traffic is like, etc.

Ask Around

Talk to family, friends and co-workers to see if anyone might know of a house for sale in an area you're interested in. One of them may even know of someone that's thinking about selling but hasn't put the house on the market yet.

Keep an Open Mind

Finding your dream home isn't always an easy task! Have a priorities list but keep an open mind when viewing houses.

Take Pictures & Notes

When you visit multiple houses it gets difficult to remember specific details about each one. Take photos and notes while touring houses so that you can reference them later when comparing the properties that you've seen.

Be Ready to Make an Offer

When you find a home you want to buy, keep in mind there may be others interested in it as well. Be ready to make a solid offer quickly in order to have the best chance at getting that home.