How to Buy a House - First Time Homebuyers

Buy a house in a snap. Planning is the key to locate and purchase your first home.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Find a house by looking online and within newspapers.
   Try to get an idea of what type of home will fit your housing needs. Many home listings will detail how many bedrooms, bathrooms and basic features are included in the house. This may give you an understanding of home styles such as ranchers, townhouses, condos and single family homes.

2. Choose an area to buy a house in.
   After you have an idea of how many bedrooms you need and the style of home that you like, you can start to concentrate on an area to buy a house in. If you find a house that you are interested in, drive through the area. Pay attention to the outside of the house. If the house shows will outside, there is a better chance that the homeowner keeps the inside in good condition. The opposite is also true, when a house shows poorly outside, you go in with your fingers crossed and hope that the homeowner just neglects yard work. Also, consider the travel time to the area from the places that you frequent most (work, family, shopping).

3. Conduct your research on the neighborhood.
   You'll want to know what houses are selling for in the area. This will help determine if the asking price is fair. Also, you should check the ratings for zoned schools, research the local crime statistics and note any association fee's.

4. Get pre-approved for a mortgage loan.
   Contact your credit union or bank to get qualified to buy a house. Your loan officer can give you details about financing requirements. Getting pre-approved informs you of how much you can qualify for to buy a house.

5. Decide on a house to buy.
   You are ready to buy a house and know the general area that appeals to you, contact a real estate professional to help guide you. Most buyers won't have access to all of the property listings in areas that they like. A real estate agent can provide lots of answers for communities that they are familiar with. A good agent will spend quality time finding a house that meets your needs. The best part is that the seller will pay the realtor's fee's. Find your new house, buy it and move in.