Top 3 things you should consider when you decide you are ready to buy a house:
#1: Check your credit. Many banks offer free credit scores without pulling your actual credit. Check the credit score for all decision makers. If lower than needed for loan qualification, consult with a mortgage consultant or credit repair service who can guide you on the best way to raise your credit score for the purposes of purchasing a home. Once your credit score is good, get that pre-approval and make sure it fits within your budget. Just because the bank approves you for a loan does not mean you can afford the payments.
#2: Make sure all decision makers are on the same page. Have you discussed the move and potential home purchase? Have you each written down your wish list? Did you find enough matches to start a home search in a specific area?
#3: Choose a Realtor. Real estate agents come into the business with various backgrounds and numerous specialties and varying degrees of education. Make sure their personality is a good fit for you too. You will be working with this person on possibly the largest purchase of your life, and you want to use a Realtor you know, like and trust. A Realtor is there to guide and protect you in the real estate transaction, even (and maybe especially) in dealings with new home construction.
Original blog post on my real estate website: www.stephaniesellssaintaugustine.com