Were you thinking about buying a Lexington or Clemmons, NC home in the last year, but never got around to it? Sometimes it can be hard to get around to doing the things you need to do if you’re serious about buying a new home, but the new year is upon us, and with every new year come New Year’s resolutions! Here are a few New Year’s resolutions you can make to try to get into a new house this coming year. Just don’t break these resolutions a month in, okay?
Save Money
In most cases, you’re going to need to have a downpayment for your home, so how much have you saved? It’s not fun, and it’s not always easy, but putting yourself on an austere budget for a while will help you save up the money you need for a downpayment. Think about that next time you’re considering a $4 cup of coffee.
Raise Your Credit Score
When is the last time you checked your credit score? There are websites out that like CreditKarma.com that will let you check your score for free, send you updates as your score changes, and give you suggestions for further improving it. In the meantime, just make sure you pay your bills on time. And don’t forget to actually use those cards from time to time; $0 balances on unused cards can paradoxically hurt your score.
Check Your Options
Go ahead and start talking to a mortgage broker. Even if you’re not ready to buy yet, discussing your situation with a mortgage broker can help you with expectations of how much house you can afford. On top of that, a mortgage broker will let you know what you need to work on, how much to save, and what information to start gathering. They can also help you find government programs such as VA and FHA loans to help with your purchase.
Get Pre-approval
Once you’ve got your money saved up and everything is in order, go ahead and get a pre-approval. While nothing is in stone at that point, it lets sellers agents know that some financial institution most likely has your back and that you’re serious about looking for a house. This can be helpful, especially in markets where homes are going fast.
Know What You Want
Maybe you like new homes in neighborhood developments while your spouse pines for an old farmhouse on a few wooded acres. Maybe one of you loves basements while the other wants everything on one level. Knowing what you want in a house before you start looking will save a lot of headaches and make your Davidson County realtor’s job a lot easier.
Get Your House!
The final resolution for getting a Davidson County home is… getting your house! If you’ve followed all of the above homebuying resolutions, you’ll be inviting your family and friends over to your new home for Christmas and New Year’s Eve around this time next year!
Mantle Realty
