What You Need To Know About Being A First Time Home Buyer

Find the right agent

Finding the right agent is an important part of searching for your dream home. You want to make sure you choose an agent who is knowledgeable about the housing market and the neighborhood you are interested in. Make sure to choose an agent that is not only knowledgeable but also one that you get along with. You will be spending a decent amount of time with this person looking at home and you need to trust that they can negotiate on your behalf. 

 

more than a mortgage?

Many home buyers assume if they can afford their monthly mortgage payment then they can afford a home. First time home buyers often forget about the other items like insurance, taxes, and association dues (if you purchase a home with this added cost).

 

Keep in mind that when you rent, if something breaks the landlord will be responsible for repairing it. When you are the home owner, it is your responsibility to repair any items that break within your home. 

 

pre-approval is critical

Before you start shopping for homes, it is critical that you talk to a lender about pre-approval. Unless you are planning on paying cash, you will need this letter from your lender before you can write an offer on a property. It is also important to be aware of your credit because this is one item that can affect your loan type and interest rate.

 

Not only do you need this important piece of the puzzle to write an offer, it will also help you know your budget and loan type. These are all items that will factor into the type of home you can purchase when you are ready to move into your first home.

 

educate yourself

It is important to educate yourself on the area that you want to live in but also educate yourself about purchasing a home. Not sure what neighborhood you want to move to...check out our featured neighborhoods which will tell you about each of the 32 neighborhoods in Grand Rapids.  

 

Since this is your first time purchasing a home, you will have many questions that your real estate agent can answer for you. If you want some additional information to ready over, you can visit our other information pages like Understanding Closing Costs, What Will My Lender Need, and more!

 

Want to know even more? Request a FREE home buyers guide which has been made with the first time home buyer in mind. 

 

 

Have a few questions? Don't hesitate to contact us at anytime!