Here are some tips to get you started on the step-by-step process of buying a home:

 

1. Contact The Coastlands Group

All buyers should have a realtor to represent their interests during negotiations and to help buyers recognize the value in different homes and neighborhoods. Your realtor should be experienced, knowledgeable and familiar with where you want to live. Trusting your realtor is vitally important to buying a home.

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2. Meet with a lender 
Get pre-qualified for a mortgage loan before you look at homes so you can avoid falling in love with a home you cannot afford. Make sure you ask your lender about your variety of loan options and get an idea of how much cash you will need for a down payment and closing costs.

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Lenders base your mortgage qualification on a variety of factors, including your income and assets, your debt-to-income ratio, your pattern of savings and your job stability. But the most important factor in today's tightened credit world is your credit score. Lenders tie the interest rate you must pay to your credit score, so that borrowers with a score of 720 and sometimes 740 and above are the only ones who will pay the lowest mortgage rates. Borrowers with a credit score below 620 may not qualify at all for a mortgage until they can improve their score.

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3. Set your housing budget 

A lender will tell you how much you can borrow, but each potential homeowner should create a simple budget for themselves with income and spending to determine how much they are willing to spend on housing payments. Financial experts recommend that homeowners spend a maximum of about 30% of their gross monthly income on principal, interest, homeowners insurance and taxes.  However, in Ventura County, that percentage is sometimes slightly higher.

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4. Narrow your priorities 
Decide whether it is more important to you to live in a particular type of home (a single family home with a garage or a condo in a high rise) or in a particular neighborhood. If you cannot find or afford everything you want in your first home, you may need to make some compromises.

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5. Make a reasonable offer 
If you love a house and don't want to lose it, don't make a low-ball offer. Some sellers are willing to negotiate and others are not. A trustworthy realtor can walk you through the process to make sure you are dealt with fairly.

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6. Have a home inspection 
Never buy a home without having it inspected. Not only are you looking for serious flaws in the home, but you can learn a lot about home maintenance and what to expect in terms of repairing or replacing systems and appliances as an owner.

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7. Finalize the details 
After the contract has been signed, make sure to stay in constant touch with your realtor and your lender to be sure your financing is taken care of along with all insurance needs. A good realtor will be proactive and anticipating next steps to make sure everything is accomplished in time for settlement.

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8. Move in and ENJOY your new home