So you’ve decided to buy a home. Maybe you are a newlywed, and you and your new better half are happy in love and off to pursue the American dream.  Maybe you’re an unhappy renter, tired of throwing away your hard-earned money every month for your landlords house. Perhaps you’re a savvy investor looking to turn a profit from the current West Hartford real estate market.

Whatever your reason, you’re ready to buy, and you’re want to buy right now. Purchasing a home can be a exciting, weird, and intimidating experience — occasionally all at once. But by following a few simple steps, your transition from shopping to proud owner can be an easy one.

Getting Credit Its' Due

It can be pretty tempting to log on the internet and search for the home of your dreams, but before you click your mouse, you’ve got to get your credit in order. Three major credit agencies keep track of your credit records—Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Each of them will have a separate credit history and rating for you on file. Check each of these resources independently—now is a time to get your free annual credit report —and make sure to correct any inaccuracies and check for identity theft. 

Finding Your Limits

There are countless options of houses you could buy, but more importantly what can you afford?  Sure lots of people would love that 5,000 square foot, eight bedroom McMansion on Mountain Rd. but for most buyers this is out of their payment range. What you need to know before starting the process is exactly how much house you can afford.  Now is a good time to look at your spending and make a budget, even if it is a simple one.  What works for one person will not always work for you.  I can help you to figure out how much home you can afford based on what you feel comfortable spending each month based on your total situation.  

"Show me the money"

While many people think you need loads of money for a down payment, it is often not the case.  Many programs are available which do not require a down payment.  Even though you may not need a down payment, you should have some money available.  You will need to pay for an appraisal, you should have a home inspection done for example.  Often purchase transactions can be set up where the seller pays some or all of your closing costs.  

So where do you start if you would like to buy a home in West Hartford?  

With a call to Jon Sigler at HomePro Financial, LLC.  Get an idea of what options exist for you today, and how they can help you to purchase your dream home.