06/12/2026
~9 Tips For Home Buyers~
If you are ready to embark on your homebuying journey, whether it be your first home or your eighth, here are some important tips to remember!
1. Start Saving Early and Start Working on Your Credit Score as Soon As Possible
If you are a first-time home buyer, this is very important, but it's also important if upgrading your home means a larger mortgage. Be sure to keep an eye on interest rates if it's been a while since you bought, it's not 2021 anymore.
2. Do Not Finance Anything New Before Buying A Home
New car, new furniture, new jewelry, etc., can all wait until after your closing unless you can purchase it without affecting your credit score and the bank balance you used to get pre-approved with.
3. Decide How Much Home You Can Afford and Explore Mortgage Options
Your pre-approval will likely be for much more than you would ever want to spend on a house, so it's important to look at your finances and determine what monthly payment you are comfortable with. Despite popular belief, the lender that pre-approves you doesn't have to be the lender that you finance through. If you find a better rate at a different bank or credit union, you can change your lender after you put an offer in on a home.
4. Be Realistic About What Your Budget Can Buy - Size, Location, Age, Upgrades, Etc.
This one is SOOO important. It is okay to start off in a house that isn't your dream home, build equity and then buy your next home and do the same thing until you are ready to purchase your "long-term" or "forever" home. Houses only gain equity unless you borrow against it for non-home improvement things. It's okay to buy the good for the right now house today and get your good for the next 20 years home down the road.
5. Always Do A Home Inspection, Even If A Property Is Being Sold "As Is"
Your home inspection is your out if anything major comes up in a home that the homeowner isn't willing to fix or you are going to have to spend more than the house could be worth to repair. While it is important to be a little more cautious when it comes to "As Is" homes, it is possible that there is very little wrong with the property, and the owner just can't afford or isn't able to do the fixes you may request.
6. Always Your Twice When Possible. This Will Confirm Your Decision to Offer or Not.
When you can, walk through a home that you want to make an offer on twice. The second walk-through will either confirm your interest in making an offer, or you may see some major flaws you didn't see the first time that scream "WALK AWAY!" The exception to this is when there is a priced-to-sell home with multiple offers on the table. At that point you have to pull the trigger and offer or walk away.
7. Don't Skip The Sewer Inspection and the Radon Test
A sewer inspection can save you thousands, even on a brand new home! You would be surprised at some of the things that I have seen on the monitor when a sewer inspection is being performed, even on brand new houses! If something is wrong, this is your chance to get out if the seller won't fix it. Do the radon test too. Don't skip it even if the seller has stated that they won't mitigate. The test is inexpensive and it's worth knowing if you will need to mitigate or not.
8. Go To Open Houses! This Is A Great Way To Make Your List of Must Haves and Must Not Haves.
Going to open houses before going out to look with a realtor is a great way to determine the style of house you want, the layout that you want, the little things that you never knew you wanted and the little things that will take a house off your list immediately. Open Houses are also a great way to see a house that is on your maybe see it list, without taking time away from your definitely see it list.
9. Ask Me Anything! I'm Here For You Whether You Are Buying Today or Next Year.
Or Even in Two Years! I am huge on education, relationship building, and finding the right house for you at the right time. If that means looking at houses to determine what layout and style you like before you are ready to pull the trigger, let's do it. There will always be more houses coming on the market if one we walk through sells before you can make an offer. If you are trying to determine what price range you need to aim for, area of town to live in, or something else important to your future home purchase, it's important to actually see what's out there and get in the space instead of just looking at pictures online. I'm along for the adventure (even after the closing)! π
