Every year brings its own goals. And one of your goals for 2020 may be to finally become a homeowner. If so, you’re reading the right blog. Homeownership is a big deal and once you have the keys to your first home, or your dream home, it’s one of the most exciting moments in your life. As you begin your home buying process, here are some crucial things to do and think about.

Know What You Want

Before you start looking and working with an agent it helps if you (and your partner) have already agreed on certain requirements for your home. For example, do you want an attached garage or one off to the side? It’s important for you to decide on “must haves” and “nice to haves.” This can save you time and hassle when searching for your home. Also, don’t forget to research the areas/neighborhoods you want. Some things to keep in mind are access to entertainment, dining, schools, and commute time.

Do Nothing

This is vital. Let’s assume you’ve set aside your down payment and found the house you want and you’re ready to make an offer. In order to make this dream a reality, you’ll need to do nothing. Weird, right? Joking aside, we mean this. Before you close it’s important that you don’t change jobs, make any large purchases, or apply for other new lines of credit. If you do any of those things, it may cause some serious headaches during closing. It could delay your closing and in the worst case scenarios even cause your mortgage to be denied. 

Get Pre-Qualified

Pre-qualification is the first step in the home buying process and is less formal than a pre-approval.  With pre-qualification, you can quickly find out how much home you can potentially afford. Since we offer a variety of loan programs that have different requirements, getting pre-qualified with Guardian Mortgage gives customers more confidence and buying power. Plus, most of our programs offer a “Lock and Shop” of 90 days which locks your pre-qualified rate for 90 days while you find that perfect new home.

Is 2020 the year you buy a home? We certainly hope so. It’s a monumental moment in life and it’s one our employees are always happy to help make happen. If you’re ready to buy a home, we hope you keep our recommendations in mind. This will ensure a much smoother closing process, getting you into your new home quicker. For any other questions or if you’re ready to get pre-qualified, a Guardian Mortgage home loan professional is always ready to answer your call.