Tips for Buying Your First Home
June 25, 2021
Here are some valuable tips for getting ready to buy your first home.
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Figure out how much you want to put down on your home. Whether you go for an FHA loan with a 3.5% requirement, or you aim to pay 5%-10% up front for a conventional loan, having a number in mind will give you a measurable goal to work towards. Also keep closing costs in mind, which usually amount to around 2 to 5% of your total loan amount. Saving up for all this takes time, so start by cutting back on luxury expenses, and put that money away in a separate account.
Work on Your Credit Score
For most people, a mortgage is the largest amount of money they will ever borrow, and lenders need to be somewhat sure that borrowers are able to repay that amount. To show lenders and banks that you are a reliable borrower, you need to start working on establishing and improving your credit score. Your first step is to know where you are starting; you can access your credit score from any of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax).
Research Assistance Programs
Saving up for a home is daunting, so look for assistance wherever possible. Many state and local government agencies offer first-time homebuyer assistance programs that can go a long way in cutting down on the upfront costs of buying a home. Some offer Mortgage Credit Certificates (MCCs), others offer Down Payment Assistance grants and second mortgages.
Shop for Different Mortgages
Do your own research to see what type of home loan works best for you and your needs. Depending on your financial circumstances, you may benefit from applying for a government-backed mortgage. If you have settled on a specific kind of loan, it helps to request loan estimates of the same loan type from different lenders to compare closing costs and interest rates.
Get Pre-Approved for a Loan
When you are ready to start shopping for a home, it is important that you get pre-approved. A pre-approval from your lender shows that a lender is willing to loan you a certain amount of money to purchase a home. This goes a long way in showing a potential seller that you are serious about buying their house, and it also tells you how much you will be able to borrow. Applying or a pre-approval multiple times should not hurt your credit score, given that you apply for a loan with the lender within the time period that it is valid (varies by lender).
Buying your first home can seem like a scary prospect. However, like with most things, the process will go smoother the better prepared and more informed you are.
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FHA Loan Articles
June 30, 2026FHA loans offer low down payment options and more forgiving credit requirements for borrowers who may not qualify for a conventional mortgage or need to save more money out of pocket at the front end of the mortgage. But even with more forgiving credit requirements, some borrowers are tempted to omit certain debt information from their home loan applications. What does it mean to conceal a debt or financial situation from your loan officer?
June 30, 2026Some borrowers start working on their credit scores but get impatient with the process because they can't predict when their efforts will change their FICO scores. How long does it take for your FICO scores to update when you pay off a loan, reduce your credit card balances, or take other steps to make yourself a better credit risk? The short answer is that credit reporting procedures are not standardized, and it may take more time than you realize to get those positive credit actions added to your credit report.
June 29, 2026Mortgage interest rates are "moving targets" shaped by national economic trends and the borrower's specific financial profile. What is your FHA loan interest rate? Much depends on the financial data you bring to the table. Lenders set interest rates daily based on a snapshot of market conditions, but the rate ultimately offered also reflects risk, equity, and the lending institution's internal operational costs.
June 28, 2026An FHA appraisal differs from a conventional appraisal. While the goal of a conventional appraisal centers on market value, the FHA appraisal also focuses on the buyer's safety and soundness. FHA lenders select the appraiser, not the home buyer.
June 24, 2026FHA loan closing costs vary by property price and geographic location, rather than by a single nationwide flat fee. Total settlement charges combine percentage-based fees, local government taxes, and marketplace service costs. If you are new to buying a home, you'll want to get familiar with the closing cost issues discussed here to avoid budgetary surprises later on.
