Buying your first home is a huge milestone—one that comes with a lot of critical decision-making and a huge financial responsibility. This is why it is important to prepare yourself before you even start looking at houses. One of the main things that you should do when purchasing a home is to make sure that you have your finances in order. Mortgage loan services are readily available and you can always consult with a mortgage loan officer in Georgia to help you navigate the process.
Don’t know where to start? We have prepared a simple checklist that you can refer to when preparing for a home purchase:
1. Check your savings
See if you have enough (and then some) saved up to afford a down payment for a home.
How much you will need will largely depend on the value of the home you intend to buy. Down payments typically cost between 10 and 20 percent of the home’s value.
2. Ask yourself: Are you truly financially ready for the purchase?
It is crucial to have substantial savings and a budget in place for a home purchase. If you don’t, it is high time to create a concrete plan so you can generate cash and savings for the purchase. The sooner you begin managing your finances in preparation for a home purchase, the sooner you can begin your journey toward owning your first home.
3. Check your credit situation
A mortgage loan officer in Georgia will look at many different factors in order to determine a suitable loan rate for you. These factors often include the amount of savings you have and can make available for an initial payment on a home, potential threats to your livelihood or source of income, and also importantly, your credit score. Every point that your credit score is shy of 800, you can expect to pay more in interest. To make sure that your credit is ready for a home mortgage, it pays to check and monitoring your credit report, paying off your debts (if any), and learning out mortgage points, which can all help you maintain good credit.
4. Determine how much house you can afford
By assessing your finances, you’ll be able to determine just how much you can afford to spend on a home mortgage. Mortgage loan services can be extremely helpful in determining how you can manage your finances as you pursue a home purchase. Apart from your credit score, lenders typically take into account other factors to determine your ability to pay off your mortgage, such as your income, your monthly expenses, your bank statements, etc.
5. Do you have a location in mind?
Now that you know how much house you can afford, it is time to consider your options in terms of location and the type of property you want to live in.
Make a list of the things you want to have in a new home such as the number of bedrooms, baths, garage space, outdoor amenities, and even enhancement capabilities like a basement that can be converted into a home gym or perhaps a studio. These details can very well help you narrow down your options.
When it comes to location, consider neighborhoods that are close to everything you may need access to within a community. Research the safety and the general nature of the surrounding area, such as their crime stats, the amenities available within the community, as well as the transport links available in and out of the area.
6. Compare rates
When shopping for a home, you want to get the best deal out of your purchase. This is why it pays to apply for multiple loans so you won’t have to be pinning your hopes into a single mortgage source. This will also give you the opportunities to compare rates and get the best deal from your chosen lender.
When considering taking out a mortgage on your first home, it is crucial to be prepared for a demanding financial obligation. Queensborough National Bank can direct you to an experienced and knowledgeable mortgage loan officer in Georgia who can guide you through all the mortgage loan services that the bank and trust company offers. The company considers it a great privilege to be able to assist you with your home purchase through different kinds of loan and mortgage services they have on offer.
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