It pays to get organized. Put your finances in order, get pre-approved for a loan, and you'll know what you can afford to buy.
Start a Home-Buying File
If you keep your records in one place, you can get organized in a few hours. Start a file for papers, sales brochures and other information you'll accumulate, including:
Credit data
Check your credit and correct any credit problems you may have before the lender gets your credit report.
Loan documents
Gather financial information the lender will request.
Real estate listings
Search for home listings online, in local catalogs, newspapers, etc.
Insurance information
Choose insurance wisely and cut your insurance costs.
Get Pre-Approved
Getting pre-approved gives you an estimate of how much you can borrow and puts you in a better position to buy. To get pre-approved for a loan, you need to know your:
Cash available for a down payment
Cash available for closing costs
Current income
Job status
Estimated assets
Estimated debts
Below are some suggestions and ideas you may want to think about prior to making a commitment to purchase a new home: