First-time home buyer mistakes to avoid

In the market for a new home? Purchasing a home is definitely something we don’t do every day. So it’s easy to make mistakes, and when it comes to home buying, mistakes can be costly. Here are some of the most common errors made by first-time buyers:

Shopping before getting pre-approved. Pre-approval is an essential first step before starting your home search. Without consulting a mortgage company, you aren’t going to know how much house you can afford or how much you’ll need to have for a down payment. You also should know that most sellers today disregard offers from buyers who aren’t pre-approved by a mortgage company. Get pre-approved before you start looking at homes.

Looking for homes on your own. Don’t go it alone. You’ll want the experience and knowledge of a real estate agent on your side. An agent can provide another perspective on the home you are thinking about buying and help you avoid common home-buying mistakes.

Using up all your cash on a down payment. Many buyers want to put as much as possible down on their home purchase to lower their monthly payment and/or to reduce or eliminate mortgage insurance premiums. Just make sure you have enough cash remaining for unexpected expenses after you’ve bought your home.

Skipping the home inspection. Never skip a home inspection when buying a home, if at all possible. A quality home inspection can reveal critical information about a home’s condition you’ll want to know before you sign on the dotted line. Your real estate agent can help you make an offer on a home contingent upon a home inspection.

Have questions about this important step in the home buying process? Give us a call to learn more about what’s included in a home inspection or to schedule one: 1-862-273-6039.

Buying things. Hold off on purchases of items such as furniture before you complete your home purchase. Your home loan pre-approval is dependent on your current financial situation. Adding more debt could put your home loan in jeopardy. Plus, this isn’t the time to be adding more financial obligations or draining your savings account.