You have decided to start thinking about purchasing a house- congratuatlions! This can be exciting and overwhelming, and I am sure you wonder where you should even start! Many people wonder if they
I'm thinking of buying a home....what do I do?
Dated: October 2 2025
Views: 63
You have decided to start thinking about purchasing a house- congratuatlions! This can be exciting and overwhelming, and I am sure you wonder where you should even start! Many people wonder if they are financially ready, but the problem is they don't know what "financially ready" even looks like!
Let's chat about a good place to start!
1. The first step in the home buying process is to find a good mortgage lender who can take an honest look at your finances. They will be able to guide you as to what you can afford, how much of a down payment you would need, what loan type is best (What there are different types of home loans??? YES! we can chat about that later!), and the lender can even see if there are down payment assistant programs available to you.
Finding a lender is the best first step because it gives you a starting point. This tells you what budget you should shop in. Although househunting is fun, there is literally no point to look until you know what your budget is and what you can afford. Otherwise, you might have your heartbroken!
Once you find your lender, they will work with you to get you pre-approved. This is your golden ticket and opens the doors to begin looking for homes. I have worked with some amazing lenders - I would love to share their contact with you if you don't have one.
2. The next step is to find a good realtor!!! Find someone you can trust! Interview a few realtors! We are all different! Look for someone who is going to listen to you, someone who is going to make you feel important, and someone who will answer their phone for you! I have had way too many people tell me their horror stories about their realtor. Your realtor should literally hold your hand through the process, explain each and every step and situation, and be looking out for YOUR best interests! ((If you need a name of a good realtor, I have one!!))
Once you find the realtor you will work with, they will need you to sign a Buyer's Rep Agreement .This is a contract that shows you are working together. This allows the agent to formally represent you and show you homes.
3. SHOP for HOMES! Now the fun, and tiring part! It's time to look for a home that will be yours. The agent will send you listings based on what you have told them you want: price, area, square footage, bedrooms, etc. Remember, most likely you are not going to find EVERY single thing you are wanting! So talk to your agent about the "must-haves" and the "would like to haves" in a home.
Once you find some homes that look like they would meet your desires, its time to go look. Your realtor will guide you through the homes, take notes for you, help you remember what you love about each home, and help to look at the condition and quality of the home. Remember - you are buying the structure, not the furnishings! Try and look past all the staged pretties and look at the floor plan, the condition, and the location.
House Hunting can take some time - or you might fall in love immediately! But armed with the right realtor, right lender, and your pre-approval letter - you will be well on your way to finding the right house to make a home!
Feel free to send me questions!!!
Happy House Hunting!
---Cathy Bruce
Cathy Bruce
I’m a proud Texas native, born and raised in San Antonio, and a proud Military Spouse. As an Active Duty Army family, we've lived all across the U.S., completing eight moves in just 15 yea....
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