Buying a house is an exciting milestone. However, sorting through available listings can be an overwhelming experience, especially if you’re a first-time house hunter. Taking some steps before searching for homes for sale can streamline the process and help ensure you get the dream property you’ve always wanted. Below are a few ways to prepare.

What Should You Do Before Purchasing Property?

1. Check Your Credit

Your credit score has an enormous impact on your eligibility for a mortgage and the interest rates you’ll be offered. A few months before you start hunting for homes for sale, request free copies of your credit report from each major bureau. Check these documents carefully for errors, and report any debts that aren’t yours or other mistakes immediately. If your score seems low, consider putting off buying a home while you pay down other debts.

2. Decide How Much Home You Can Afford

Setting a budget in advance can help narrow down your options and ensure you’ll be financially comfortable in your new home. Many sites offer housing affordability calculators that will show you different mortgage payment amounts based on the cost of the house, your down payment, and other factors. 

3. Make a List of Must-Haves

It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of touring a home for sale and fall in love with a property. However, you might find that the house is too small a few years from now, or the commute is longer than you would have liked.

Before you go to an open house or schedule a visit, create a list of features you absolutely must have to make buying a house worthwhile. This will help you narrow down your options and avoid making compromises you might regret later.

4. Get Pre-Approved for a Loan

Securing a loan is usually one of the most time-consuming parts of the home-buying process. Getting pre-approved allows you to submit your financial paperwork and resolve any issues before you start looking at houses. This minimizes the risk of unexpected problems that could derail your sale later and may compel sellers to take your offer more seriously.

5. Find a Real Estate Agent

The internet has made browsing listings online easier than ever, but nothing can replace the expertise of an experienced agent. Real estate agents can dig through listings to find homes that meet your criteria, identify new neighborhoods you might love, and negotiate with sellers for you, as well as handle paperwork.

If you’re hoping to buy a home anywhere in western Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, or northeastern Iowa, Coldwell Banker River Valley, Realtors®, will make the process easy and stress-free. They serve buyers throughout the region and are dedicated to giving you the attention you deserve. Visit their website to browse homes for sale in your area, call (608) 784-9930 to speak with an agent in Onalaska, or dial (715) 284-9055 to reach their Black River Falls office.