Ultimate Homebuyers Checklist

Are you ready to buy a home?

Are you a first-time home buyer?

A repeat home buyer?

Are you preparing to buy a home in the future?

There are many factors to consider, questions to ask, and work to do! We put together the ultimate homebuyers checklist so you can be prepared for the information you may have to provide when going through the home-buying process. Preparing in advance for the personal, financial, and property information that may be requested can help you focus on your future home. 

When getting ready to buy a home, there are several important things to keep in mind:

• Determine your budget: This will help narrow your search and focus on properties within your price range. It’s important to consider not only the purchase price of the home but also the ongoing costs of homeownership, such as property taxes, insurance, and maintenance.
• Get pre-approved for a mortgage: Before you start looking for a home, it’s a good idea to get pre-approved for a mortgage. This will give you an idea of how much home you can afford and make you a more attractive buyer to sellers.
• Research neighborhoods and locations: Look into different neighborhoods and locations to find one that suits your lifestyle and needs. Consider factors such as proximity to work, schools, shopping, and public transportation.
• Hire a reputable real estate agent: A good real estate agent can help you navigate the home-buying process, find properties that meet your needs, and assist you with negotiations.
• Get a professional home inspection: Before buying a home, it’s typically required to have it inspected by a professional to identify any potential issues.
• Review the seller’s disclosures: Be sure to review all disclosures provided by the seller to understand any known issues or problems with the property.
• Close on the home: Once you have found the right home and have negotiated the purchase price, you will need to close on the home. This process typically involves signing a mortgage loan and transferring property ownership.
• Get Homeowners Insurance: Securing a homeowner’s insurance will protect your property and belongings from unfortunate events.
• Credit Score and Report: You can get a free credit score and report from many companies. Experian, Credit Karma, TransUnion, and more companies offer this resource.

Buying a home is a big decision requiring much thought and planning. By being prepared and informed, you can make the process go as smoothly as possible and end up with a home you love.

How My Financial Snapshot can help you in the home buying process

Budgeting

When applying for a home loan, knowing your numbers is critical. The best way to know your number is to know your budget. With My Financial Snapshots Budgeting Tool, you can accurately see all of your income, investments & savings, and expenses in one place. We make budgeting simple and easy, and when your budget is complete, our Budgeting Tool can answer all of the following questions related to buying a home:

• How much money do I make per month?
• What is my take-home pay?
• What is my monthly cash flow?
• What are my monthly expenses?
• What am I currently paying for rent/mortgage?
• What am I currently paying for utilities?
• What am I currently paying for renters/homeowners insurance?

Having answers to these questions will help you figure out how much house you can afford, and your loan officer will also use it to determine if you qualify for the home loan you are applying for. Loans are given based on your ability to pay back that loan. The factors that determine what you can afford to pay are based on a myriad of factors, including but not limited to a percentage of income, current debt service, current rent/mortgage payments, and more.

Personal Financial Statement

You will likely be required to complete a personal financial statement when applying for a home loan. A personal financial statement is a snapshot of your financial position at a given time. Our Snapshot Tool is the only personal financial statement building software available online. Your loan officer will LOVE our personal financial statement, and so will you. You can see all of your assets, liabilities, and annual income on one page, as well as detailed itemized pages of where all of your wealth is at. 

Our Snapshot Tool can answer the big money questions you might have!

• What is my net worth?
• Where is all of my money at?
• Who do I owe money to?
• What is my annual income? 
• What are all of my income sources?
• If unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances happened, how am I financially?

Be prepared to buy a home with My Financial Snapshot!

Ultimate Homebuyers Checklist

**This is a checklist of potential information to provide when applying for a home loan**