Homeownership is a dream for many Americans. If you’re considering buying a home and have a down payment, you may want to take next steps to further prepare you for homeownership. We’ve laid out some tips that will help your home buying process go quickly and smoothly.

Get Pre-Approved

One of the most important things you can do to ensure you get the home you want is to get pre-approved for a home mortgage. Lenders look for several things before they issue a pre-approval. First, they want to see that you have a good debt-to-income ratio. Also known as DTI, you take your debt and divide it by your income. Typical guidelines often note that all your monthly debts, including the potential mortgage, should not exceed 43% of your monthly income. The lower the debt-to-income ratio, the more favorably a lender will look on your loan request.

Know What You Want in Your Home

Talking to your Realtor® about your must-haves in a home is important. Although inventory varies, there are always a lot of potential homes on the market. When you can clearly tell your Realtor® what the home must have, what you would like it to have if budget allows, and where you’d like to live, you’ll find your home more quickly than if you just know you want to buy a house. Some things on your list might include:

  • Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
  • Specific room requirements such as a bonus room, home office or dining room
  • HOA or non-HOA community
  • Type of flooring and countertops
  • Size of property, garage space and pool availability

Hire an Experienced and Knowledgeable Realtor®

The differences in Realtors® can widely vary. Don’t be afraid to talk to several agents before you hire the one you believe to be the best fit for you. You want one who listens to your wants and needs, knows the area you’re looking into, and with whom you feel comfortable. An experienced and knowledgeable Realtor® can help you find the home you want and make a good and fair offer on it.

Jason Duraj personally has over 17 years in the real estate business. He and his team at Future Home Realty have combined decades of real estate experience and will help you find the right home at the right price in the right neighborhood. If you’d like a free confidential consultation, call Jason at (813) 992-7771 today.