Buying Your First Home
Buying your first home is an exciting, rewarding, and sometimes confusing process. Fortunately, your REALTOR® can help you throughout your search—from finding the right home to negotiating a contract.
First-time home buyer programs
For some people, finding a home can be a trying process. But when you search with RE/MAX Centre Realty, home buying is a breeze. Our agents are here to help you every step of the way. We have a wide range of resources, including professional, experienced lenders and other organizations who offer services to help first-time home buyers. These wonderful resources range from resources covering home maintenance to special loans for buyers who meet certain criteria.
Setting a price range
Income, debt and credit scores help lenders determine what a potential buyer can take out as a loan. Before starting your search for your new home, consider the following:
- How much you can afford
- How much will you be able to put towards a down payment?
- How much will you need to set aside for closing costs?
- How much will the taxes, home owners insurance, and maintenance costs add to your mortgage each month? Will you still be able to afford the home?
While the mortgage payment is the main expense associated with owning a home, yearly taxes and maintenance are also significant—and can vary depending on the home's location, condition, and age.
First-time Home Buyer Guidelines
- Set a price range. Determine what you’ll feel comfortable spending each month as a starting point for setting your price range. Don’t forget to factor in costs like homeowners insurance.
- Get pre-approved for a loan. It’s a simple process and it strengthens our commitment to getting you a house you adore.
- Search for homes. Use our home searching database to easily find homes in your range.
- Visit open houses. This is the fun part. There’s nothing more exciting than stepping foot in a house that could soon be yours.
- Negotiate a contract. In general, you can negotiate on things like closing costs, inspection costs, or even the sales price of the home itself, but always make sure to talk with your agent about negotiating options first.
- Hire a home inspector. We’ll let you know what to expect and even offer professional recommendations.
- Complete closing/settlement. When you’re preparing for closing, make sure you set the closing date, meet the conditions of the loan offer, and ensure the title is clean.
Remember, you should always make a plan with your agent. Your agent will be able to provide you with ideas of what you’ll need, guide you along during negotiations, and help answer all your questions.
