A 10-Point Checklist All First-Time Homebuyers Should Follow

You’ve checked listings, scouted your favorite neighborhoods, compared market prices and even picked the perfect shade of blue for your future kitchen. It’s safe to say you’re ready to become a homeowner.

While buying a home is one of the most exciting experiences you’ll ever have, it can also be extremely daunting, especially if you’re not sure where to begin. To help guide you in the right direction, here are 10 steps all first-time buyers should follow.

Table of content

• Step 1: Take a Look at Your Finances
• Step 2: Check Your Credit
• Step 3: Learn the Lingo
• Step 4: Check for Federal, State and Local Programs
• Step 5: Get Pre-Approved
• Step 6: Hire a Good Real Estate Agent
• Step 7: Consider the Location
• Step 8: Make an Offer
• Step 9: Get an Inspection
• Step 10: Get Ready to Close
• FAQs: First-time home buyers checklist

Step 1: Take a Look at Your Finances

Before scheduling any house tours, you'll want to do a thorough assessment of your finances, so you know exactly how (and if) you can pay for that dream home. “Buying a house is a major commitment, which means the person should feel that their job is secure, they must have sufficient financial resources for the down payment, and a few extra months of reserve funds, just in case there could be some disruption in their life,” says Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research at the National Association of Realtor (NAR).

Most people can’t buy a house out of pocket, so you’ll likely need a loan to finance your purchase. In addition to the loan, it’s important to have some savings set aside to cover the down payment, closing costs and other third-party fees associated with the mortgage loan. Your down payment could be as low as 3% of the total loan amount or as high as 20%. Closing costs and third-party fees, such as home inspection, flooding certificate, appraisal, title search, courier and attorney fees, could amount to up to 5% of the total loan amount.

A new survey of 1,000 homeowners from the website Real Estate Witch finds that on average, people spend $17,459 each year on their home — in addition to the mortgage. Although these numbers may seem insignificant compared to your yearly rent, they only take into account basic monthly expenses, like utilities, property taxes and insurance.

So make sure you factor in all of these things, in addition to other miscellaneous expenses, like repairs, maintenance and — depending on the neighborhood you live in — homeowners association fees, to determine whether you’re financially ready to take this step.

Step 2: Check Your Credit

You’ll need a minimum credit score of at least 620 to get approved for most mortgages, unless you’re applying for a government-backed loan, or for some special program provided by the lender. Your credit score will also play a big role in determining your interest rate: the lower it is, the higher your interest rate will be.

Besides that, most loan providers require a debt-to-income ratio (DTI) of no more than 43%, although 36% or less is preferred. The DTI is what measures how much of your monthly gross income goes towards debt repayment after taking into account your current financial obligations, like credit card and student loan payments.

Pulling up your credit report will allow you to get a clearer picture of your outstanding debts, payment and account history. This should help you determine whether it’s the right time to apply for a loan or if you should pay off some debt first.

It's also worth noting that your credit report won’t include your credit score, only information about your financial history. Your credit score is calculated by your lender, since each creditor uses its own credit scoring model — but there’s common ground on how they choose which score to use.

“Each borrower has three scores: one from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion,” says Matt Jolivette, a Certified Mortgage Consultant and Owner of Associated Mortgage Brokers. “The lenders usually take the middle score, so if someone has a 700, a 720 and a 740, the lender is going to use the 720 one."

If you’re planning on taking out a mortgage with a spouse or a partner, the lender then compares both middle scores and chooses the lowest one, so it’s something you should be aware of if you’re thinking about buying jointly.

Step 3: Learn the Lingo

Getting to know the house-buying lingo can be quite tedious — after all, most of us would rather jump straight to the fun stuff, like actually looking at places, than sit and debate about interest rates, DTIs, and credit scores.

Still, knowing a few keywords can help you choose the right financing option, so here are some of the most important ones you’ll encounter throughout the home purchase process:

• Term. The mortgage term is the time the borrower has to repay the loan. It usually ranges from 10 to 30 years, depending on the lender.
  

• Annual percentage rate (APR). Some people confuse it with the interest rate, but this number — expressed as a percentage — combines the interest rate, points and lender fees. In other words, this is the number you need to pay attention to when shopping for mortgages, as it reflects the actual cost of the loan.

• Fixed-rate mortgage. With this type of loan, the interest rate remains the same from start to finish.
  

• Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). Also known as a “variable-rate mortgage,” with this loan, the interest rate is fixed for a number of years, then turns into a floating rate for the remainder of the loan.

• Conventional loan. This type of mortgage isn’t guaranteed by any government agency and usually has a fixed term and interest rate.

• Government-backed loan. These are insured by the government and offer benefits such as lower down payments or full financing and have a different set of requirements. Government-backed loans include VA, USDA and FHA loans, and there are loan options for first-time homebuyers and those who wish to refinance.
• Jumbo loan. These are mortgages that exceed the limits established by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Depending on the lender, they can be for as much as $1M and require higher credit scores, income and down payments than conventional loans.

Step 4: Check for Federal, State and Local Programs

One of the best things about buying your first home is that you may be eligible for different homebuyer programs that can facilitate your transition into homeownership. These programs offer everything from flexible requirements to assistance with down payments or monthly mortgage payments and access to affordable housing.

Here are some of the federal programs that you may qualify for:

• Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans
• Homeownership Vouchers
• Good Neighbor Next Door
• The Indian Home Loan Guarantee

Programs like the FHA loans and HomePath Ready Buyer allow you to qualify with credit scores lower than 620, and you could purchase a home with a down payment as low as 3%. The Homeownership Vouchers provide subsidies for low income individuals looking to purchase property.

The Good Neighbor Next Door program offers up to 50% off on qualified home listings for those working in careers that can revitalize communities, like teachers, first responders, and police officers. The Indian Home Loan Guarantee offers down payments as low as 2.25%, plus flexible underwriting to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and other federally recognized tribes.

Also: If you have an IRA, you can withdraw up to $10,000 without incurring any penalties for the purchase of your first home, in addition to applying for other state and local programs.

Step 5: Get Pre-Approved

Fact: not getting pre-approved before checking out houses is a common home-buying mistake. "We always recommend you get pre-approved. This allows us to look at your income, assets, and pull up your credit, to make sure you're all buttoned up," Jolivette says.

Getting pre-approved not only saves you time, but can also narrow down your choices and spare you the disappointment of falling in love with a piece of real estate that’s out of your price range.

In order to get the best term and interest rate for your situation, do research by comparing quotes from multiple lenders. Getting pre-approved won’t hurt your credit, as lenders only do a soft credit pull for this process.

To get a mortgage pre-approval, you’ll need to provide the following:

• A form of ID
• Social security number
• Up to two months worth of pay stubs
• Copies of your two most recent W-2s and tax returns
• Bank statements
• Statements of assets (certificates of deposits, savings, or any other investments)

Filling out the pre-approval form will only take a few minutes and, depending on the lender, you may be able to submit all the paperwork via email, instead of regular mail.

It can take lenders a couple of days to a week to get back to you. If you’re pre-approved, the lender will send you a letter stating the amount you’re qualified for. Having this letter at hand allows you to close faster and could also speed things up come time to persuade sellers to accept your offer.

If you’re unsure of where to start, Money has put together a list of the best mortgage lenders, to help you choose wisely.

Step 6: Hire a Good Real Estate Agent

Once you’re pre-approved, the next step is to get in touch with a real estate agent. “Realtors can protect your interest and your investment,” says Diane Schall, a seasoned realtor at Ferrari-Lund Real Estate in Reno, Nevada.

Although you may check for listings online, these usually contain general information about the property, and could be outdated. “I get so many texts and phone calls from people looking at listings online, and sometimes the home isn't even on the market, or it was already sold," says Schall. "They just don't give the consumer accurate information.”

The obvious benefit of hiring a real estate agent is that they’re knowledgeable about the market. They have updated information on listings that are within your price range, which can help you narrow your options. Additionally, they can give you in-depth details about the property, including things that would be hard to find on your own, like homeowners association fees and history of insurance claims. This can be a serious advantage for you, as it can help you negotiate a better price.

Real estate agents can also tell you things to watch out for, so you get the full picture of what you’re getting into. “I always point out everything that I possibly can, so they are aware. Like, ‘Look there's a gap in the flooring, or there's a water leak in the ceiling,’” says Schall. “I treat people like they're my friends and family. I'm not gonna just sell a home just for the money, it's about building lasting relationships,” she adds.

On average, real estate agents charge a commission fee that’s between 5% and 6% of the home’s final sale price, but they can also charge a flat fee. This fee is negotiable, and agents don’t get a single penny until the purchase is finalized. However, it should be noted that this fee is paid by the seller.

Step 7: Consider the Location

The best cities for first-time homebuyers provide shorter commutes, excellent school districts, convenient access to hospitals and plenty of restaurants and entertainment options. However, these aren’t the only factors to consider when house hunting.

To ensure buying a house is a good investment, you should also take into account if that cute little house by the trees is a prime location for wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters.

You may have a harder time getting insurance if you purchase a home in a high-risk area, and if you do, chances are it’ll be much more expensive. Additionally, the property’s resale value may be affected if the house is close to a highway or any busy main roads. Potential buyers can cite noise, pollution and lack of privacy as valid reasons to offer you a lower amount than your asking price.

Step 8: Make an Offer

So, you’ve finally found that special place that’s going to put an end to your renting days. Guess what? Three other buyers seem to share your good taste. This is when a good offer letter comes in handy.

Your real estate agent will most likely help you with this step, but here are some of the things that are usually included:

• Purchase price. This is how much you’re willing to pay for the property.

• Earnest money amount. Also known as an “initial deposit,” this is separate from the down payment, and shows sellers you are serious about purchasing the property. It’s usually 1% to 2% of the property’s value.

• Copy of the pre-approval letter from the bank or financial institution. You need these to show the sellers you’re approved for funding and are ready to close.

• Closing details. This includes information about the costs you’ll be responsible for, as well as those you expect the seller to cover.

• A list of contingencies. These are deal breakers that would make the offer void, or a list of things that need to be in place for the offer to be valid. A home inspection can shed light on some of these, like for example, if there’s exposed wiring, you can ask the seller to fix this before you move in, as a condition for the purchase.

Yun also recommends including an emotional appeal within your letter stating the reasons behind your intent to purchase. “They should express whether they are a family raising a kid, and are looking for a good school district, or if they just have a certain connection with that particular house,” says Yun, noting that your chances could certainly increase by taking this route. "They want the next buyer to be somebody they can relate to, and that takes care of the home,” he adds.

If the seller accepts your offer, the next step is to send the purchase contract to the lender, so they can schedule a closing date and get everything in place for funding.

Step 9: Get an Inspection

The home inspection takes place once your offer is accepted, to ensure the house you’re purchasing is safe. Some of the things inspectors look for are faulty or exposed wiring, poor ventilation, roofing problems, mold, presence of rodents or other pests, and plumbing issues. The inspection process takes 3 to 4 hours to complete, depending on the size of the property, and it usually takes the inspector a few days to a week to complete the report.

The seller is required to inspect the property prior to listing it on the market, but it’s always recommended you also hire your own inspector, that way you know if the property is being sold at a fair price and if you’re getting your money’s worth.

Although inspections are commonly held after the offer is accepted, most buyers ignore that they can request a “pre-offer inspection.” However, they must be careful when doing so. Requesting a pre-offer inspection could be seen as a sign of distrust from the seller’s point of view, which could lead them to reject your offer.

In Jolivette’s opinion, it is best to schedule inspections after making an offer. “We always recommend folks do get a home inspection once their offer has been accepted,” says Jolivette. If something seems off during the inspection process, you can always get the seller to make the adjustments prior to closing, or ask them to lower their price.

Step 10: Get Ready to Close

Closing is the final step in purchasing a home, and is when you sign all of the remaining paperwork to become the legal owner of the property. This happens between 30 to 45 days after your offer is accepted and your lender receives the purchase contract.

A day before closing, your real estate agent will schedule a final walkthrough to see that everything in the property is the way it should be for final approval. Some of the people you can expect to see at the closing are your real estate agent, a closing attorney, escrow officer, home inspector, a title insurance agent and the loan officer, in addition to the seller.

• At closing, you’ll be asked to bring the following:
• A photo ID to verify your identity
• The copy of the purchase agreement
• A cashier’s check or a certified check to pay for the down payment and remaining closing costs and fees
• Proof of insurance

The actual process can take a while, since you’ll have to sign a lot of documents, including the deed of trust or mortgage, promissory note, and a closing disclosure. Yun advises to review these documents carefully, to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

“Closing is just the validation of all the expectations, so there should be no surprises. Everything should be as negotiated,” says Yun.

After everything is signed and validated, the title is transferred under your name, and you officially become the legal owner of the house. Next step: get your keys, and start packing!