Helpful Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

Central Illinois Real Estate Podcast

If you’re looking to purchase a home, take advantage of these tips for first-time home buyers.

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Buying your first home can be overwhelming, so I wanted to give you some tips on how to ensure your home buying process goes as smoothly as possible.
The first thing you should do is talk to a local lender and get pre-approved for your mortgage loan, unless you are paying cash for the house. If you end up finding your dream home, you want to have the pre-approval letter ready so you can make an offer right away. Otherwise, you might risk losing it to a more prepared pre-approved buyer.
It’s also very important that you know which neighborhood you want to live in. Sure it’s fun to look at all the homes for sale online, especially the ones with pretty pictures, but you want to narrow your search down to the area you are going to feel the most comfortable in. If you’re not quite sure which neighborhood would suit you best, do some driving around and get to know different areas. By doing this, you’ll already know what amenities and highlights the neighborhood offers, so you can focus on finding the perfect house.

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Do some driving around to figure out which area will suit you best.

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When buying, your costs are going to go beyond the purchase price. Be prepared to budget for things like a home inspection, which costs around $400 depending on the size of the home, and a radon test, which costs around $130. Neither the inspection nor the radon testing is mandatory, but they are highly recommended.
If you have any other questions please feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to help you with any of your real estate needs!