So you think you’re finally ready to make the jump from renter to homeowner? Awesome! In this exciting but admittedly scary time, you might be inclined to turn to friends and family for advice—especially if they own homes.
But beware, dear home buyer of the future: Those close to you might not be the experts you think they are. You could be heeding bad (albeit well-intentioned) advice without even knowing it.
So we’re here to bust the most common misconceptions about home buying so you can do this thing the right way. Because this is what we do.
Myth No. 1: The first step is looking for a house
Perhaps you just want to get a feel for the area. You know, have something in mind before you sit down with a Realtor®. I mean, you’re not really looking yet, right?
Stop right there. Even if you think you’re just browsing, you run the risk of setting your heart on something, only to have it broken.
“A buyer might be viewing homes that are in a higher or lower price range than what they are qualified for,” says Connie Antoniou, a broker associate in Barrington, IL.
Browsing is always fun, but when it comes to serious home-buying work, you need to make sure your credit is in top-notch shape before you get started for real. Also, don’t forget to get PREAPPROVED MORTGAGE before you embark on your home-buying journey. This will determine what your budget is.
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