Buying a house is one of the most important decisions of your life. It is one of the top investments of your life not only in terms of money but also regarding your dreams and emotions. Thus, purchasing a house becomes an emotional affair, especially for the first time. From its practical steps; it is highly daunting and confusing. The journey through a home-buying transaction can leave you confused and unsure of your decision. We, thus, help you through the maze by giving you a comprehensive guide on how to proceed correctly and with confidence. Read on!

• Get updated on your finances
Before you even browse through any listings; it is important to check and know your financial situation. You should have enough saved to cover your monthly expenses for at least six to eight months. You would need to pay a lump sum down payment. Thus, it is important to know your credit score as well. The saving that is available for you to invest and the maximum loan amount that you can get from the bank will decide if you are ready to buy a house. If you cannot arrange for a down payment and have no plan for paying off the loan; it’s better to defer the plan.

• Start your research on a priority basis
You should start studying the newspaper, magazines, etc. to know of the property listings for sale; their rates, the area, location and all other matters that would be crucial for you. Different areas have different per square foot rates and different amenities available. The more you gather knowledge; the more you would get specific on the kind of house you wish to buy in the locality of your choice.

• Get knowledgeable of the mortgage industry
Getting the best loan from the right lender will decide how successful you get in buying a home. You can take the loan from a bank or private lenders. Moreover, there are different types of house loans that you can apply for. Researching on them would give you a start ahead of when you get down to the business of procuring a loan.

• Get pre-qualified or pre-approved
We have already discussed the importance of knowing your affordability. It implies taking your investable savings and the maximum loan you are eligible for into consideration. The entire affair becomes easier with you getting pre-qualified. Here various mortgage companies ask you various questions to help them understand how much a buyer can afford.
In pre-approval, the companies look at your credit score, your owed debt and any other liabilities you have. This is even done for the first-time homebuyer. Post all check and analysis, they pre-approve a loan amount for you. Most prefer this to getting pre-qualified.

• Hire the right real estate agent
The right real estate agent is your best partner in your home-buying journey. His knowledge and experience make a huge difference in the outcome of the entire procedure. He would guide you throughout and use all his resources to help you nail the perfect house in the most satisfactory way.

• Select the house and finish the sales process
This is perhaps the longest and the most crucial journey. Both you and your real estate agent hunt and check out properties to isolate the ones you like most. Then you negotiate a price; set up a home inspection and make the final offer. Your real estate agent is completely involved in every step and helps you strike the best deal in competitive pricing. He also takes care of all negotiations and all legal paperwork. He ensures that you get your house with the least hassle.

Wrapping up

Each hunts their house differently but we have outlined a general home buying process flow chart that would eliminate many bumps, hurdles, and frustrations out of the way.