Thinking about buying a home? It’s one of the biggest decisions you can make and one that requires a lot of planning. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the first time you’re buying a home, or if you have done it before; with planning and attention to detail, you can get the home of your dreams! Below are a few home buying tips to know before you take the first step.

Home Buying Tip 1: Get Pre-Approved for a Home Loan

The key here is ‘pre-approved’! There is a difference between being pre-qualified and pre-approved for a mortgage. A pre-qualification is based on a preliminary discussion with your lender and some basic information including income and expenses. A pre-approval means the lender has done an extensive review of all of your financial information and determined how much you can afford and how much they will lend. A pre-approval will save you a lot of time and energy so you are not running around looking at houses you can’t afford and gives you the opportunity to shop around for the best deal and the best interest rates.

Home Buying Tip 2: Learn about the Neighborhood

You have found that home and it looks good all around, but let’s do a little more investigation. Go by the neighborhood on different days in the morning, mid-day, and in the evening. See what’s happening in the neighborhood. Look for heavy traffic, people out and about, and see what the morning commute to work will look like. Drive it and time it to make sure you can get to work on time! How far is the grocery store? Where is the closest shopping center? How about the kids schools? Use these tips in your research before buying a home. Make sure the neighborhood is right for you.

Home Buying Tip 3: Don’t Forget a Home Inspection

Would you buy a car without checking under the hood? Of course you wouldn’t. Be sure to have the home inspected by a qualified and reputable home inspector. Their sole responsibility is to provide information about the current condition of the home including major items such as the roof, plumbing and electrical systems. It will give you peace of mind when purchasing the home of your dreams!

Home Buying Tip 4: Enlist the Services of a Realtor

A Realtor is a key member of your home-buying team! They will represent you from the start of your home search al the way to the closing table. A Realtor is an expert in their field, plus they can navigate through all the legal forms, disclosures, and other technical documents. They can help you avoid delays or costly mistakes.