Long before you get to making that offer (on paper, through your real estate agent)—and even before going to your first open house—there are a ton of things to do and to prepare.

Overwhelmed? Here’s a checklist of everything you need to do to get ready to buy a new home.

1. Check your credit score

Do not pass “Go,” and do not start looking at real estate until you have checked your credit score. This is the number that mortgage lenders will look at to determine whether you are creditworthy, and will dictate the rate you will be charged by the bank.

The higher your credit score, the lower your interest rate—and that’s what you’re going for. Get a free copy of yours at AnnualCreditReport.com to see where you stand.

2. Clean up any credit blemishes you can

Any surprises on that report? Credit errors are more common than you might think, so contact the credit bureau to correct any erroneous information.

Remember that lenders love good credit scores, because they are an assurance of your financial worth. If you walk into a meeting with a lender with a low score, don’t be surprised if you can’t get the loan you’d like.

3. Figure out how much home you can afford

Next, make sure you are clear on how much home you can afford. You can get an official estimate by following our next tip.

4. Shop for a mortgage lender

A prospective home buyer should make one of their earliest stops with a mortgage originator, to see if they can qualify for a mortgage and confirm how much of a mortgage they can afford.

Different mortgage shops offer a wide variety of rates and programs, contact your lender to find the best rate and mortgage option for you.

5. Secure mortgage pre-approval

Once you’ve found the mortgage that’s right for you, you’ll want to show the sellers that you have what it takes to buy their home. In hot markets, a pre-approval is almost required for a seller to take your offer seriously. That’s because it spells out exactly how much a lender has agreed to loan you, assuring the seller that you’re both willing and able.

6. Save up for a down payment

To get the best rates on real estate, you’ll need to make a down payment on a home. A few loan programs do offer 100% financing, though you will still need a minimum of $2000 for earnest money, inspections, and appraisal.

7. Sit tight!

Once you’re ramping up to buy a home, it’s wise to not make any—we repeat, any—major changes in your life or, most important, your finances.

Do not switch jobs. Do not buy a new car. Do not even buy furniture or apply for a new credit card, which could affect your credit. Just a credit pull alone from a car dealership or a furniture store is enough to affect your credit score and could cause you to lose your dream home.

This is a sensitive time for a buyer, so before you do anything, remember that you don’t want to mess things up with your credit score or your lender. If you do make a wrong step, you may not be able to qualify for the home loan.

8. Find a real estate agent

There’s no reason to go it alone—having a real estate agent helping you can make the whole process much easier.

In times like these, with a limited number of homes on the market, a buyer needs a great Realtor to make sure they find their dream home.

9. Make a wish list

Of course, this list may be a very long one, but you need to be realistic about what elements are truly “wishes” and which ones are nonnegotiable—such as the number of bedrooms, a fenced yard for a pet, a specific school district, walking distance to the bus stop, etc.

Sometimes it’s helpful to divide your list into three categories: those nonnegotiable elements, followed by items that would be nice to have (e.g., a bonus room or home office), and your dream features (e.g., in-ground swimming pool).

Know that you are not likely to get everything on your checklist—but hopefully, you’ll get close!

10. Browse listings online

Realtor.com is a great place to start to figure out what properties are available in your area in your price range. Buyers can search by price, number of bedrooms, location, and other variables to start narrowing the options.

11. Visit open houses

Poring over online listings is one thing; seeing the properties in person is quite another. Take advantage of open houses, as a low-stress way to visit several homes in one day.

Map your strategy in advance, and while you’re in each home, take photos and notes so they don’t all run together in your mind. (Now, which one had the in-room fireplace again?)

12. Check out the hood

You’ve undoubtedly heard the adage “location, location, location.” What that essentially means is that you’re not just buying the property you’re looking at; you’re also buying into the whole neighborhood.

That’s why you have to be certain that it has the vibe you want. Savvy home buyers know that the best way to find out more about the neighborhood is to meet the neighbors and then visit at various times of the day and night to see what it’s really like.

Ready to start your home search? Call us at (281)912-5582 to get started today!