THE 12 STEPS OF HOME BUYING:
• Find Out What You Can Afford • Get Pre-Approved for a Loan • Create a List of Needs vs. Wants • Look at Homes • Choose a Location • Choose Home Design
• Hire an Agent • Make an Offer • Put Money in Escrow • Negotiate with the Seller • Begin the Closing Process • Close the Closing Process
Step 1: Find Out What You Can Afford
This first step is essential before you do anything else in the home- search and home-buying process. If you find out you can’t yet afford a home, or you aren’t ready to sell your home to get to your dream home, then wait until you can. There’s no point in getting your hopes up, stumbling upon the house of your dreams, and finding out you can’t afford it. You have to work within your price range, and not only use that as a general guide, but also as your starting point in going forward. We talked about this in Chapter 1, when we outlined the financial steps you need to take before starting the journey of purchasing a home, which include improving your credit score, saving for a down payment, researching recent home sales, and determining what you might be able to afford. So, know your budget! Don’t just think about the overall home sale price; consider the down payment, the monthly mortgage
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