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Find a Top Real Estate Agent Near You
What is the first step in buying a home?
Asked By Mike M. | 1395 views | Buying | 4 years ago
Answer(38)
Steven Hunt
Real Broker NY LLC
Step 1 is Prequalification. Finding out how much you can afford. Here is a playlist i made to help guide you. It may be slightly different depending on the state with some steps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afS8z2AJM3I&list=PLA0ZVIIhIh739DiZLw90bf18zRazBrRF7
Call me if you need real etsate agent contacts in your area. 518-526-4964
Call me if you need real etsate agent contacts in your area. 518-526-4964
- 3 years ago
Helpful (4)
Unhelpful (0)
Marty & Abby Champagne
RE/MAX Market Place
Finding a good realtor who can help you find a good loan officer to get you pre-approved.
- 2 years ago
- Helpful (2)
- Unhelpful (0)
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Amy Quimby
CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company
I am not a lender, but I know how to create a net sheet that shows buyers their estimated payment, down payment, and closing costs. I do this before sending them to a lender because if they are only interested in $400k houses but don't want to pay more than $1,800 per month, a preapproval isn't going to change that, unless they have a large down payment and I would have calculated that into the net sheet.
Go look at a few houses that you know are within your monthly budget and figure out if the current market even has what you want.
Hope that makes sense!
Go look at a few houses that you know are within your monthly budget and figure out if the current market even has what you want.
Hope that makes sense!
- 4 years ago
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Blayne Pacelli
Rodeo Realty
The first step is to hire an experienced realtor. That realtor should guide the buyer to a lender that will take care of you. Before looking at a house you need to find out what monthly payment you feel comfortable with. Dont think about the total loan but what your monthly payment shall be. You need to get the piti. Thats principle, interest, taxes and insurance. You might think in your head you have to have a certain area but after getting a preapproval and finding out your piti, you might not be able to get the house you want in that area. A good realtor will guide you through this process.. Remember, once the house is yours you will have a lot of write-offs. Take that into consideration with the monthly payments.
- 2 years ago
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Anne Kofsky
Coldwell Banker
The first step is deciding where you want to live. The second step is seeing what the community and prices are. Also, you should get prequalified to determine with taxes and fees what your monthly carrying costs will be. If you have a home to sell and need the proceeds to buy, there are wonderful programs that accommodate that. eq
- 9 months ago
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Sakina Gamble
Keller Williams Realty River Cities III
The first step in buying a home is having a firm grip on your finances. Knowing your credit score and having a good debt to income ratio. A good savings will help as well. Also connecting with a good lender is essential to get a Pre approval, It is key to making strong offers once you find a home.
- 4 years ago
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Varonica Alexander
Home Pros Real Estate El Paso
Get a preapproval for your new home. The lender will help you to understand what your payment will be and maximum amount that they will lend you. That amount can be different for different lenders which is why I suggest to get more than one preapproval. This causes lenders to fight for your business and you in return get a better interest rate.
- 1 year ago
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Linda Sopko
Key Realty
Always talk to a lender first. Always. You need to know if you can qualify for a home loan and it'll set realistic goals. I have a home buyer booklet I supply to my first time buyers that explains the home purchase experience step by step. Number one on the list is talk to a lender.
- 4 years ago
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Jason Craig
Coldwell Banker
The very first step in a home purchase is to get your financial house in order so you know what you can comfortably afford. Check your credit report and scores, pay down any high credit balances and build a healthy emergency fund. Then speak with a reputable mortgage lender to discuss your goals and get pre‑approved for a loan. A pre‑approval not only tells you how much you can borrow, it also identifies any issues to address early and shows sellers you are a serious buyer. Once you have a pre‑approval letter and a realistic budget, the next step is to interview and hire a knowledgeable real estate agent in the area where you want to buy. A good agent can help you refine your search, educate you on local market conditions and guide you through the rest of the process, from making an offer to navigating inspections, financing and closing.
- 3 weeks ago
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Lisa and Greg Harris
eXp Realty, LLC
2 THINGS! Get a great local lender and a local REALTOR that is an expert in the area that you are looking to live! The REALTOR will most likely be able to give you great recommendations on local lenders. This will help you to get the path to homeownership on the right track fast and with the least amount of bumps in the road! The biggest thing I do not recommend is house hunting without a pre-approval letter from a good lender and without a great professional REALTOR!
- 2 years ago
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Spirit Messingham
Tierra Antigua Realty
Hi Mike
You have asked a lot of questions on here. First step should be to get pre-approved with a local lender. Here in the state of Arizona we require a signed pre-qualification form from lender when submitting a purchase contract (line 69 of 11 page Arizona purchase contract). It is free to do and buyers need to know how much they qualify for, down payment amount, current interest rates, closing costs, etc. Next, interview a dedicated experienced buyer's agent to work with. Best of luck in your home search (though I suspect you actually work for Fast Expert). Spirit
You have asked a lot of questions on here. First step should be to get pre-approved with a local lender. Here in the state of Arizona we require a signed pre-qualification form from lender when submitting a purchase contract (line 69 of 11 page Arizona purchase contract). It is free to do and buyers need to know how much they qualify for, down payment amount, current interest rates, closing costs, etc. Next, interview a dedicated experienced buyer's agent to work with. Best of luck in your home search (though I suspect you actually work for Fast Expert). Spirit
- 4 years ago
- Helpful (0)
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Tammi Nicholas
Epic Real Estate
The first step is to talk to a mortgage lender and get pre-approved.
- 2 years ago
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Carol Syler
Premier South
Find a great realtor® and get preapproved through a lender. If you are unable to qualify at this time, the lender will be able to advise you on what you need to do in order to improve your credit score.
- 2 years ago
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Evan Harlow
Coldwell Banker
Finding an agent
- 5 months ago
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It may sound funny, but the first step is actually figuring out what you want and if your budget matches that desire. I have worked with buyers that see their dream house only to then check with a lender who shoots down the dream. There is so much marketing collateral online these days. After the list of priorities is clearly identified, you would be amazed how quickly the search finalizes
- 2 months ago
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Carole Tyne
HomeSmart
The first step in buying a home is getting pre-approved by a lender. Pre-approval gives you a clear picture of your budget, helps you understand monthly payments, and shows sellers that you’re a serious and qualified buyer. During this step, the lender reviews your income, credit, and finances to determine how much you can borrow. Once you’re pre-approved, you can confidently start your home search knowing what price range to focus on and that you’re ready to make a strong offer when you find the right property.
- 3 weeks ago
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Chaimae Yaagoubi
Keller Williams Wellington
Start by exploring first-time buyer programs—there are options like zero down payment loans, grants, and closing cost assistance that can make buying more affordable. Next, get pre-approved through a lender so you know what you qualify for. It also helps to connect with a trusted REALTOR® early on—they’ll guide you through the process, help you avoid costly mistakes, and make sure you’re not missing out on programs you may qualify for. Taking these steps puts you in the best position to buy with confidence.
- 2 months ago
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Tammy Jackson
KM Realty Group LLC
The first step in buying a home in Chicago, Illinois is to understand your budget. Check your credit score, review your finances, and get pre-approved for a mortgage. This gives you a clear idea of what you can afford in the Chicago real estate market.
- 2 months ago
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Chris Doherty
Doherty Properties LLC
The first step in buying a home is getting pre-approved by a lender. That way you know exactly what you can afford, strengthen your offer with sellers, and move faster when you find the right property.
- 1 month ago
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Brian Sullivan
Highgarden Real Estate
The first step without a question is to get pre-qualified for a mortgage. Once you do that you can seriously begin home shopping.
- 2 years ago
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CHRISTINE GARDNER
Berkshire Hathaway Gross & Jansen
Research agents & see if you feel comfortable, if they explain the process, the current market & spend time answering questions, you will know if its a good fit. Typically they will have you reach out to lenders, to find out what you qualify for, what monthly payment works for you, type of loan etc.
- 8 months ago
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Edward Davis
Fathom Realty, LLC
First step in buying a house is to ensure you check your credit and know what your credit scores are; then of course, set a budget on what amount you want to put down on the house and then factor in, how much you want to reasonably spend or how much you can afford to pay monthly towards your mortgage. Then of course, build out you a team by getting you a Realtor who will in turn, find you a lender who can and will work towards the best interest for you on your Real Estate Journey. They can answer all questions dealing with market conditions and what ever programs you may qualify for to offset the cost of purchasing a home.
- 2 years ago
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Gitta Urbainczyk PA
Gitta Sells & Associates Keller Wiliams Heritage Realty
The first step is to speak to a mortgage professional. They will analyze your situation and give you advice on what you should do to get to home ownership.
- 2 years ago
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Ginger Gendron
BHHS Verani
Get yourself pre approved. Know your numbers. You can be qualified for X amount, but, if you are not comfortable with the monthly payments, go lower. Buying a house is an exciting time, however you do not want to be house poor.
- 2 years ago
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Ryan J Rogers
Keller Williams Realty
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- 2 years ago
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Jese Gonzalez
Keller Williams Realty El Paso
Most people think the first step is scrolling Zillow at midnight but the real first step is talking to a local lender and getting pre-approved.
Here’s why:
It tells you exactly what you can afford (before you fall in love with that $500k kitchen).
It helps your Realtor (that’s me 😉) tailor your home search to your true price range.
It shows sellers you’re serious, which gives your offer more power.
Once you’re pre-approved, your Realtor can help you find “the one”, the home that fits your lifestyle, not just your budget.
If you’re in El Paso, I work with amazing local lenders who walk my buyers through everything from credit clean-up to down-payment assistance programs. The right guidance from day one saves you time, stress, and money.
Think of pre-approval as the “green light” to start your home-buying journey, the rest is where the fun begins!
Here’s why:
It tells you exactly what you can afford (before you fall in love with that $500k kitchen).
It helps your Realtor (that’s me 😉) tailor your home search to your true price range.
It shows sellers you’re serious, which gives your offer more power.
Once you’re pre-approved, your Realtor can help you find “the one”, the home that fits your lifestyle, not just your budget.
If you’re in El Paso, I work with amazing local lenders who walk my buyers through everything from credit clean-up to down-payment assistance programs. The right guidance from day one saves you time, stress, and money.
Think of pre-approval as the “green light” to start your home-buying journey, the rest is where the fun begins!
- 2 weeks ago
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Step 1: The preapproval process and the preapproval letter are first always. Your realtor and the sellers will want to see the preapproval letter before Step 2: Finding your dream home and making an offer on the home.
- 11 months ago
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Steven Brandt
Xsell Realty
Get with your local banker or mortgage company to see what you pre approve for and what your closing costs will be. There are many types of loans offered so its good to see what is best for you. Also when putting in offers the first thing listing agents want is a pre approval letter.
- 2 years ago
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Jamie Walker
@Properties
The first thing you must do is speak to your lender. It is imperative that you know how much you can spend based upon not only what you can afford, but what you are comfortable with allocating to housing expenses on a monthly basis. This way, when you are home shopping you can stay on budget. Additionally, many lenders can assist first-time home buyers in qualifying for programs/grants that may benefit you.
- 2 years ago
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John (JEB) Stewart
Century 21 The Darby Rogers Company, Inc.
Make an appointment or call a local lender or one found on the internet. Make sure they make you feel comfortable. Look for any reviews they may have. Ask what kind of experience they have. Sometimes a person starting out may actually be more eager to assist to build up their clientel and reviews. They will be taking up a good amount of your time and their time. Make sure to not promptly comply with their requests so as not to miss out on that perfect property.
- 1 year ago
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Alex Schafers
Schafers Real Estate Group / REMAX United Associates
Contact a Realtor! They will guide you. Find a realtor that you trust!
- 2 years ago
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Jacob Worley
Worley Real Estate Inc
The very first step is to talk with a mortgage lender to get a look at what financing is available to you. Once you have a pre approval from a lender then you will know what price range to shop and what condition the house must be in for your loan program.
- 2 years ago
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Jeremy Stansbury
EXIT Realty Professionals
Selecting an agent/lender team to work with & getting preapproved so you know what your comfort zone/price range is for purchasing.
- 2 years ago
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Patricia Rohan
Weichert Realtors
Your first steps are to get preapproved by a mortgage company and attend a First Time Home Buyer Seminar.
- 1 year ago
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SONALI HUTSON
Samson Properties
Your first step is making up your mind that you are going to do what it takes to purchase a home. Once you have done that, the entire process becomes easier. Your next step is to connect with a trusted real estate agent to help you navigate the process. Best wishes to you!
- 1 year ago
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Heather Cooper
Compass
he first step is getting financially prepared—that means speaking with a local mortgage lender (unless you’re paying cash) and getting pre-approved. In NYC, most sellers and co-op boards won’t even consider your offer without it.
From there, you’ll want to:
Work with an experienced NYC agent who knows co-ops vs condos and the approval process.
Clarify your budget after factoring in closing costs, monthly maintenance/CCs, and building requirements.
Line up your team early (attorney, lender, agent) so you can move quickly when the right home hits the market.
Buying here is unique—timing, financing, and board approval all matter. Start with your financing, then surround yourself with a trusted local team to guide you through each step.
From there, you’ll want to:
Work with an experienced NYC agent who knows co-ops vs condos and the approval process.
Clarify your budget after factoring in closing costs, monthly maintenance/CCs, and building requirements.
Line up your team early (attorney, lender, agent) so you can move quickly when the right home hits the market.
Buying here is unique—timing, financing, and board approval all matter. Start with your financing, then surround yourself with a trusted local team to guide you through each step.
- 4 weeks ago
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Kate Wetherby
Wetherby Homes brokered by EXP Realty
Yes, definitely to get pre approved. Unless you are paying all cash, then a pre approval is the first step. Contact any lender or your local bank and they should be able to complete within a few days. The first step, price approved for purchase, will help you and your Realtor in first finding homes in your price range, then going for the details such as area, size, etc.
- 2 years ago
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Mark Rigsby
Re/Max First
Get a GREAT Real Estate Agent first. Find someone who cares about you....and who is an absolute expert. They can help you find an excellent lender. They will get you through a very complex process and serve as your negotiator, knowledge base, advocate and the one who drives all the other professionals involved to completion.
- 1 year ago
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