Purchasing a house is one of the big decisions in life. There are 6 things you need to do when buying a home. Following these necessities prepares you to find the perfect house.

#1 Finance

The place to start is to get your financing in place. Pre-approval will make you more attractive to sellers. Search lenders to discover what options are available, and how much you qualify for. A quick calculation is about 3 times your household annual income.

Gather a down payment, usually 5% of the purchase price. Don’t stop until you’ve secured the loan and the deposit, otherwise, you may stretch your budget beyond your comfort zone.

#2 Budget

Create a budget based on the information you have acquired. Items in your plan are current debt, home insurance, property taxes, utilities, food, gas, etc. Once it is set, stick to it! Going over your budget will strain your finances and your family.

#3 Agent

An agent is an expert on the housing market, so their advice is essential. This is not the time to hire your brother-in-law who has his license but isn’t selling real estate. The agent to look for knows the area, and listens to what you want. They are specialists who find examples fitting your description, so communicate to take advantage of their expertise.

#4 Location

You’ve heard it before: location, location, location. Find one that fits you. If schools are important, find a great school district. Other things to consider are suburban vs urban, single-family or condo, proximity to work, grocery stores, etc. Track how long it takes to get to those places by visiting the property at different times of the day or week.

#5 Shop

This is the best part. Everything’s in place to find the perfect property. Before you head out, create a list of must-haves and deal-breakers. Preparing ahead of time will steer you away from properties that don’t fit your needs. Share the list with your agent upfront.

#6 Inspection & Appraisal

An inspection is how you discover what isn’t visually noticeable during walk-throughs. An unbiased assessment provides a trained eye of the property. Your agent will assist with finding the inspector.

The lender will want an appraisal of the house to make sure it’s a good investment. This is a safeguard for you too.

To create a smooth buying process, there are 6 things you need to do when buying a home. The first 3 steps are vital. The financing, budget, and agent are necessities in finding your house. The 4th and 5th steps are fun; shopping time. The last one will assist you in making a smart decision.