Just because you can get a $400,000 mortgage doesn’t mean you should. Check your monthly expenses and see where you will be comfortable. A pre-planned budget will allow you to set aside money for maintenance, updates and daily living expenses. 

Tired of being a window shopper? Getting a pre-approval can seem daunting, but it is really very simple. Filling out a quick form online can get the ball rolling quickly. Then, in a day or two you can be ready to make an offer! What if there are things in your credit report that you need to work on first? No problem, the lender will give you a plan to fix them.

Once you are pre-approved, you will know your buying power, which can also keep you from disappointment at times. For example, some loans require the home to be “move in ready” which limits many fixer uppers you may find. Before making your search list criteria, it is important to know what types of homes you can buy, and your max price range. This will limit future disappointments. For example, you search for homes before the pre-approval process and find a home you love and then your loan type omits it. It is best to be ready out of the gate.

What do you want in your home? Do you need 3 bedrooms, a rec room, or an office space? Is a garage needed or would a full basement be enough? Make a “must have”, “nice to have”, and a “deal breaker” list to share with me.

Decide if you want to be in the county or the city. Or maybe you are ok with both. Do you need a certain school district? How far will you be driving to work? Decide on these things and let me know. I can limit or extend your search in many ways to accommodate your wish list.