When it comes time to buy or sell a home, you might think that your first step is to contact a real estate agent. But don’t be hasty! There are some key things that will make your real estate transaction smoother if you accomplish them before sitting down with your Realtor.
- Get pre-approved
The best thing you can do before meeting with a real estate agent is to get pre-approved. Sit down with a mortgage lender and run your numbers. They’ll determine what you are pre-approved for a mortgage which will be helpful when deciding on a budget. Many real estate agents won’t meet with clients until they are pre-approved, so accomplishing this step will be helpful in the long run.
- Decide on what you want
You don’t have to know exactly what you want when it comes to your new home,...
A poor credit history is a reality for many people, but it can be particularly daunting when it comes to investing in a house. Fortunately, simply because you or yours have experienced bad credit doesn’t mean that you should be penalized in the future. If your spouse has struggled with bad credit in the past but you’re both preparing to move forward and invest in a home, here are some tips for getting it together financially.
Face The Music
Many people who have bad credit are too scared to take a look at their credit report and broach it honestly, but it’s important to come to terms with the problem so that it can be fixed. Instead of ignoring it, get a copy of the credit report and review it for any errors so that you can update these if needed and be aware of the issues impacting your credit score. While there may not be any inaccuracies on the report, knowing what you’re dealing with will give you a point to start from.
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Are you about to become a first-time home buyer? If so, there’s a lot to get excited about. You’ll soon be a home owner, able to customize and improve your living space as you see fit.
Of course, buying a home is an investment unlike any other. To get the best deal on your home, you’ll need to be diligent. Let’s have a look at some of the hidden costs you may uncover when buying your first home.
#1: The Home Inspection (And What It Finds)
A major step before buying any home is the inspection. A licensed inspector will go over the home from top to bottom, looking for current or future issues. The inspection itself isn’t very costly. But any unresolved issues that come up may lead to expensive problems later.
If possible, try to ensure that the seller pays for any necessary repairs. When you take possession of the home, it should be in top condition.
#2: Taxes And Fees You’ve Never Even Heard Of...
When you’re delving into the market in the hopes of finding your dream home, it’s likely you’ll come across the term debt-to-income ratio. This may not seem important at first, but your DTI is the key to determining the amount of money you can put into your home and just how much you should spend on a monthly basis. If you’re curious about what this means for you, here’s how to calculate it and how it can impact your mortgage.
What’s Your DTI Ratio?
One of the best ways to determine whether or not a home is affordable for you is to first calculate your DTI ratio. To get this amount, add up all of your monthly payments including any credit card, loan and mortgage payments, and divide this amount by your gross monthly income. The amount you get is your DTI percentage and this will help to determine how much your monthly payment should be.
What Does Your DTI Mean?
Your DTI percentage helps to determine...
