You've finally decided you're ready to take the plunge and buy your first home. Congratulations! Home ownership is a huge accomplishment and an exciting time. However, it's also a big responsibility. There's a lot to think about and consider before you start house hunting in earnest.  

That's where we come in. As realtors with years of experience helping first time home buyers, we've got some great advice to share with you. In this blog post, we'll share our top tips for finding and buying your first home. So without further ado, let's get started!

1. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Loan 

The first step in the home buying process is to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan by a lender. This will give you an idea of how much money you can borrow and also lock in a low interest rate for your loan. Getting pre-approved is a must-do before you start house hunting because it will give you the financial confidence to make an offer on a home when you find the right one. 

2. Set Your Housing Budget 

Once you know how much money you can borrow, it's time to set your housing budget. This includes not just the purchase price of the home, but also things like closing costs, moving expenses, furniture, and more. When setting your budget, be sure to leave yourself some room to breathe financially after buying your home. You don't want to be house poor! 

3. Find the Right Neighborhood 

When looking for your first home, it's important to find the right neighborhood that fits both your needs and your wants. Do you need to be close to public transportation? Do you want good schools in the area? Do you want a quiet neighborhood or one with lots of nightlife? Once you've answered these questions, you can start narrowing down your search to specific neighborhoods that fit the bill. 

4. Start House Hunting! 

Now comes the fun part: house hunting! Once you've found a few homes that fit your budget and are located in desirable neighborhoods, it's time to start going on showings. When touring homes, be sure to pay attention not only to the physical features of the property but also things like noise levels from neighboring houses and traffic flow through the neighborhood. If everything looks good and feels right, then it might be time to make an offer! 

5. Negotiate Like a Pro 

If your offer is accepted, congratulations! You're one step closer to owning your very first home. However, there may still some negotiation that needs to take place around things like repairs and other items. Your realtor will help you through this process so that you can get the best deal possible on your new home. 

6. Close on Your Home 

After all is said and done and all negotiations have been completed successfully, it will finally be time to close on your new home! This process takes place through your attorney's office and involves signing lots of paperwork (don't worry, your advisors will be there with you every step of the way). Once everything has been signed and finalized, congratulations! You are now a proud homeowner! 

Buying a house is a big deal - probably one of the biggest deals you'll ever make in your lifetime! That's why it's so important that you do it right by following these tips from seasoned professionals (us!). By getting pre-approved for a mortgage loan, setting your housing budget, finding the right neighborhood , house hunting like a pro , negotiating like a champ ,and closing on your home ,you'll be well on your way to becoming a happy homeowner in no time!

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