1. How much money do I need to buy a home?

   • The very final amount of money you will need on hand to purchase a home will include the following but not limited to: Down payment, closing costs, earnest money, inspections, moving expenses, etc. This number will vary from house to house, loan type to loan type, county to county and specific location. Your lender (if applicable) can and should get you an appropriatley sized ball park of what your final cost should be. 

2. How much house can I actually afford?

   • The amount of home you can purchase depends on your income, debts, monthly payment, taxes, insurance. Lenders use the 25%-33% rule for a clients mortgage. This means, once the lender has looked at all your income and outgoing finances. they will keep your montly payment, all aforementioned items included, in that range. That is to keep you from buying to much house and becoming house poor. 

3. What's the difference between being pre-qualified and pre-approved?

   • Pre-qualified vs Pre-approved may sound the same, but they are VERY different stages of financing. Pre-qualified means that a lender has offered you a pre-qualification based on publicly perceived information. They have not run your credit or had a look at your tax returns. You get these in the mail for credit cards. They haven't looked at your credit score. A Pre-approval means that the lender has done their due-dilligence and has gotten you in a strong financial position that carries much more weight than a pre-approval. 

4. What credit score do I need to buy a home?

   • This ranges from loan type to loan type. The rule-of-thumb for this is 640 will satisfy most home loans and not need repair. 

5. What happens during the home buying process?

   • Walk buyers through each step:

     • Get pre-approved

     • Search for homes

     • Make an offer

     • Negociate 

     • Due Dilligence Period 

     • Appraisal

     • Final loan approval

     • Closing

     • Get the keys

6. How long does it take to buy a home?

   • Most purchases take about 30–45 days after an offer is accepted, though finding the right home can take anywhere from days to several months.

7. What mistakes should first-time buyers avoid?

   • • Making large purchases before closing.

     • Changing jobs during the loan process.

     • Skipping the inspection.

     • Not budgeting for ongoing homeownership costs.

     • Shopping without a pre-approval.

Bonus Questions that you can ask me! 

• Should I rent or buy?

• Are there any first-time home buyer assistance programs available?

• How much are closing costs?

• How do interest rates affect my monthly payment?

• Who pays the Realtor's commission?

• What if I don't have a 20% down payment?

• How much should I save before buying a home?

• What should I look for during a home tour?