Buying a home is probably one of the biggest financial commitments many people make in their life, and so it stands to reason that the process can be complex and lengthy. From figuring out how much you can afford to understanding how mortgages work to getting preapproved to determining where exactly to live…it’s a lot!
But by learning about the usual flow before you begin hitting the open houses, you can be well-prepared to dive into homeownership. Here, the eight steps to follow that will help make purchasing a home a smooth process.
8 Steps to Prepare for a Home Purchase
Here, the moves that will help you get ready to buy your dream property:
1. Determining Credit Score
A homebuyer’s credit score can impact their ability to secure a mortgage loan with a desirable rate. It can also affect how much they’ll be required to pay as a down payment when it’s time to close.
Credit score can be influenced by a variety of factors, from payment history to amount of debt (a.k.a. credit utilization ratio) to age of credit accounts, mix of credit accounts, and new credit inquiries.
Payment history is the main factor that affects a person’s credit score, accounting for 35% of an overall FICO® score. Missing a payment on any credit account — from unpaid student loans to credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages — can negatively impact a person’s credit score.
On the other hand, positive habits can include making on-time payments, limiting the number of new inquiries on their credit file, and working to pay down outstanding balances.
Is There a Credit Score “Sweet Spot?”
Many buyers wonder whether there’s a desired credit score range or “sweet spot” to obtain a mortgage. Typically, a credit score of 740 or higher will get the best deals (meaning lowest rates).
Credit scores can also affect the amount of the down payment itself. Some mortgage lenders require at least 20% of the house’s sale price be put down, but might offer more flexibility if the buyer’s credit score is in the higher range. A lower credit score, on the other hand, could call for a larger down payment.
Whether homebuyers have debt or not, checking credit reports is still a recommended first step to applying for a mortgage. Understanding the information on credit reports can be invaluable in knowing where you stand when qualifying for a mortgage loan rate.
2. Deciding How Much to Spend
Deciding how much to pay for a new home can be based on a variety of factors including expected and unexpected housing costs, upfront payments and closing costs, and how it all fits into the buyer’s overall budget.
Calculating Housing Costs
There are several housing costs for home purchasers to consider that might affect how much they can afford to offer for the house itself. The costs of ongoing fees like property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and interest — if the loan isn’t a fixed-rate mortgage — can all lead to an increase in the monthly mortgage payment.
Closing costs are fees associated with the final real estate transaction that go above and beyond the price of the property itself. These costs might include an origination fee paid to the bank or lender for their services in creating the loan, real estate attorney fees, escrow fees, title insurance fees, home inspection and appraisal fees and recording fees, to name a few.
Typically, closing costs are between 3% and 6% of the loan’s amount. To get an idea on how this can impact your budget, use this home affordability calculator to estimate total purchase cost.
In addition to closing costs, expenses that potential homebuyers might want to consider are repairs and updates they might want to make to a home, new furniture, moving costs, or even commuting costs.
Finally, unforeseen costs of a major life event like a layoff or the birth of a new child might not be the first expenses that come to mind. However, some buyers could find themselves making a potential home-buying mistake by not getting their finances in order to prepare for the unexpected.
Making a list of these estimated expenses can help homebuyers calculate how much they can feasibly afford. It can also help them create a budget that could help them avoid being overextended on housing costs, especially if they might be paying other debt or saving for other financial goals.
3. Saving for a Down Payment
Saving money for a house is one of the biggest financial goals many people will have in their lifetime. And how much they’re able to offer as a down payment can significantly impact the amount of their monthly mortgage payment.
A larger down payment can also be convincing to sellers who see it as evidence of solid finances, sometimes beating out other offers in a competitive housing market.
The average down payment on a house varies depending on the type of buyer, loan, location, and housing prices. Most recently, the average down payment was 13%.
For first-time homebuyers, 13% or 20% of the price of the home can seem like a daunting figure. Many buyers find that cutting spending on luxury or non-essential items and entertainment can help them save up the funds.
Other tactics could include getting gifts and loans from family members, applying for low down-payment mortgages, withdrawing funds from retirement, or receiving assistance from state and local agencies.
For buyers who were also sellers, proceeds from another property could also fund the down payment.
4. Shopping for a Mortgage Lender
There are many mortgage lenders competing for the business of homebuyers who finance their home purchases. These lenders offer a variety of mortgages to apply for, with a few of the most common being conventional/fixed rate, adjustable rate, FHA loans, and VA loans.
Buyers might not realize they can — and should — shop around for a lender before selecting one to work with. Different lenders offer different variations in interest rates, terms, and closing costs, so it can be helpful to conduct adequate research before landing on a particular lender.
Mortgage lenders must provide a loan estimate within three business days of receiving a mortgage application. The form is standard — all lenders are required to use the same form, which makes it easier for the applicant to compare information from different lenders and make sure they are getting the best loan for their financial situation.
5. Getting Preapproved for a Loan
While it might seem like a bit of a nuance, getting prequalified for a loan versus preapproved for a loan are two different things.
When a buyer is prequalified for a loan, their mortgage lender estimates the loan amount they are qualified for, based on financial information they provided.
When a buyer is preapproved, the lender conducts a thorough investigation into their finances that includes income verification, assets, and credit rating. Preapproval is not a guarantee but tells a buyer that a lender is likely to approve them for a certain amount, as long as they clear the underwriting process.
Having a preapproval letter in hand can help some buyers get ahead by appealing to the seller as a serious intention of purchase and a lender’s guarantee to back that purchase up.
6. Finding the Right Real Estate Agent
While the internet and popular real estate search websites have made it easier for homebuyers to hunt for a house online, most buyers still solicit the help of a real estate agent to find the right home and negotiate the price and purchase.
Also, many realtors are experts in their particular housing market, so for buyers who are searching in a specific location, a real estate agent may be able to offer valuable insights that might not be revealed online.
7. Exploring Different Neighborhoods
By researching neighborhoods where they might want to purchase a property (both in-person and online), homebuyers can get a better sense of what living in their future community could look like.
Many real estate websites provide comparable listings to help determine a reasonable offer amount in a given neighborhood.
Check out housing market
trends, hot neighborhoods,
and demographics by city.
They may also highlight nearby school ratings, price and tax history, commute times, and neighborhood stats like home value fluctuations or predictions, and walkability ratings.
All of this information can help paint a picture of life in the area a homebuyer chooses to settle in. Doing a deep dive into a desired neighborhood can help inform a more realistic decision on where to buy a house.
8. Kicking off the House Hunt
Once the neighborhoods are whittled down, the loan is secured, the real estate agent has been signed, and the savings are set aside, the official house hunt can begin.
With the help of a trusted real estate agent and a housing market with adequate inventory, most homebuyers can begin to book showings, attend open houses, and formally put down an offer on a house they like.
In particularly “hot” markets, houses could receive several offers, so homebuyers might want to be prepared to go through the bidding process with a few properties before they get to that glorious final sale.
The Takeaway
A home may well be the biggest purchase you make and the biggest asset you ever own, so it makes sense to spend some time on the home-buying process. From checking out different mortgage options to getting preapproved for a loan to attending open houses, the process is a valuable one that brings you closer to your dream home.
Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% - 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It's online, with access to one-on-one help.
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*SoFi requires Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) for conforming home loans with a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio greater than 80%. As little as 3% down payments are for qualifying first-time homebuyers only. 5% minimum applies to other borrowers. Other loan types may require different fees or insurance (e.g., VA funding fee, FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums, etc.). Loan requirements may vary depending on your down payment amount, and minimum down payment varies by loan type.
Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
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