Resolution #1:
Credit and Mortgages. Make sure your credit is up to date and accurate. Even people with good credit can have items on their credit report that can impact their home buying desires. Get your credit checked before you start the process and do it with more than one lender. There can be old items on there that you don't know about and often they are pretty easy to remove if they are false or really old but Often times the financial instituion that you bank with will NOT have the best rate. Don't let them sell you on ʺhow easy they make it to get a mortgage with themʺ. All lenders will need the same documents so you will have to turn them in anyway and the best thing that the bank will do for you is be able to access your account info and keep you from having to bring in that documentation but is it worth the price of possibly saving a half point of interest or 5% in your payment to print out a couple extra documents? If you have a great realtor you can ask them who their preferred lender is, we have a couple that we use and love. They give the best rates and have excellent customer service.
Resolution #2
Start saving for the down payment, closing costs, etc: You don't have to put down 20%. You can do a FHA loan at 3.5% or possibly a USDA or VA loan and put zero down. 20% does save you from paying PMI but if it takes you too long to save up the 20% and if interest rates go up a point you are possibly flushing money down the toilet. You should have some savings in the bank for things (additions, improvements, reairs, etc) that you want to put into your home as well. You don't need tons of cash but you don't want to be barely scraping by and forgo something important like a home inspection just so you can save 300-400 bucks.
Resolution #3:
Hire a GREAT agent! This sounds simple but tons of people miss this one. A top agent can save you tons of time with legwork, finding the right home in the right area, put you in touch with all of the necessary inspectors, lenders, and all other vendors that you will need to make your home buying experience a great one. Do a little research when you hire the agent. Ask them if they are full time or part time? How many homes they have sold? How long they have been in business? Don't just call the agent on the sign in front of the house and don't work with the first person who runs right out and shows you any home without doing a good consultation first. You want an agent that respects your time AND theirs.
Resolution #4
Learn what types of program are out there to assist you. Different programs are available to assist you with your new purchase and give you piece of mind. We offer programs such as:
***Love it or Leave it Guarantee - if you don’t love your home after 12 months we will sell it for free
***Certified Pre Owned - No worries with this program - the sellers get an up front appraisal, the home inspection and a 1 year home warranty. This program takes all of the guesswork out of the equation as the buyer you know exactly what you are getting into
***Buy New, Sell for free - We’ll help you sell your current home and get you connected with reputable builders to build your dream home. Here are just some of the programs that we can offer to help you with the purchase of your new home