Ten Steps to Prepare for Home Ownership

  1. Decide how much home you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between 2 and 3 times your gross income.

  2. Develop a wish list of what you’d like your home to have. Then prioritize the features on your list.

  3. Select three or four neighborhoods you’d like to live in. Consider items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.

  4. Determine if you have enough saved to cover your downpayment and closing costs. Closing costs, including taxes, attorney’s fee, and transfer fees average between 2 and 7 percent of the home price.

  5. Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report.

  6. Determine how large a mortgage you can qualify for. Also explore different loans options and decide what’s best for you.

  7. Organize all the documentation a lender will need to preapprove you for a loan.

  8. Do research to determine if you qualify for any special mortgage or downpayment assistance programs.

  9. Calculate the costs of homeownership, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and association fees, if applicable.

  10. Find an experienced REALTOR® who can help you through the process.

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright / All rights reserved.

Click here for printer-friendly format

Contact Annisha

If you are a buyer, please submit your "wish list" of must-haves. We will calendar an intake call.

If you are a seller, your address is sufficient for me to pull closed sale comps. We will calendar a walk-through of the property.

If you are a renter and NOT working with an agent, please complete the form below for a list of properties. PLEASE ENTER A BUDGET. NO PRICE RANGE = NO IDEA WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD. 

 

If you are a Housing Choice or subsidized housing participant, please enter your expected move in date, your Housing Authority, your voucher size, the voucher expiration date, TTP or S8/Rent Burden figures. I will then send you a list of available rental properties, photos and qualifications. Upon receipt of your selections, I will coordinate showing dates/times.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the overwhelming demand for rentals, we can not hold a home without a refundable good faith deposit. I am a Realtor® not a scam artist. I will not lose my license over your refundable good faith deposit. Once you are approved, I bring the deposit to your move-in and perform a walk-through with the owner/agent. If you are denied, we can apply your deposit to your next choice OR holding Broker will refund it. If you do not want to secure your deal, I can not help you. No one is holding homes in this HOT marketplace with just your voucher. Trust me. Not happening. I am getting several offers overnight on listings.

* Required