To help you prepare, we’ wanted to share some tips that will help your home buying process go a little smoother and hopefully reduce your stress.

  1. Get pre-approved
    This is the first step you should take before you start looking for a home. Knowing how much money you can be approved for, will not only help guide your search, but will also make it easier to make an offer on a home once you find what you’re looking for. Why? Because most sellers require a proof of pre-approval before accepting any offers.
  2. Work with a real estate agent
    Finding the right agent can help make the home buying process go much smoother. A realtor does all the heavy lifting from finding houses to look at, scheduling viewings, sending in offers, handing any counter offers, and coordinating the closing. Not sure who to work with? Ask family and friends for recommendations.
  3. Don’t settle
    During the home buying process you are going to see a lot of houses. Some will be nicer than others, some will need a little work, some may need a lot of work. Everyone goes in with a list of what they’d like to have or must have in their new home, and although you may need to make some compromises, don’t rush the process. And, when you do find a house you love consider getting an inspection so there aren’t any surprises down the road that could cost you thousands of dollars in repairs.
  4. Be patient
    Let’s face it, buying a home is stressful. But it can also be an extremely exciting and you’ll learn a lot along the way. So, during the process, when you are feeling stressed take a deep breath and be patient. It can take months to find the right home, another month for inspections and appraisals, and another month after that to finalize the loan and paperwork.

NBT is here to assist you with the home buying process. Contact us today to get pre-approved for a mortgage.