Question:  What is the first step to buying a home?

Answer: Make sure you are ready - psychologically and financially. 

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do I have steady income? 

2. Is my debt lower than my total income? 

3. Do I have enough money to pay for the down payment and closing costs? 

4. Am I working hard enough to improve bad credit?  

A house needs constant care and attention.  Also ask yourself if your budget will allow for unexpected repairs and upkeep.  Once you can honestly answer "yes" to these questions, you are several steps ahead of the game and that much closer to becoming a homeowner.

 Step 1: Defining What You Want

Start by creating a prioritized list of features you want in your next home and the reasons why.  Use it as your search guide, but remember that depending on your funding, you will probably need to make some compromises.  In addition, talk to your real estate professional about where you want to live.  Location is a huge part of any move.  CENTURY 21 Tullish & Clancy professionals are trained to help their clients narrow down their choices by sharing market trends and local information like neighborhood statistics and community links. 

Step 2: Figuring Out What You Can Afford

Each buyer is unique - CENTURY 21 Mortgage will help you find out what you can afford.  Your income and your debts will typically play the biggest roles in determining your price range.

Step 3: Shopping For Homes

Once you know what community you would like to live in and have an idea of how much house or condo you can afford, it is time to start checking out actual properties.  Beginning this search online can help save you time since it can help you target homes that meet your search criteria.  Our home rotifer can even email you when properties come on the market that mete your search criteria.

Next, begin visiting homes in person.  Ask your local real estate professional to arrange visits and attend open houses that are in your target area and price range.  When comparing homes, make sure to look at all aspects of the property.  Is the property tax approximately the same?  Do they have the same amount of bedrooms and bathrooms?  Are both houses or condos located on the same area?

Remember keep an open mind when you are looking at homes.