4 Tips to Buy a Home during the Spring Homebuying Season

With the pandemic slowing down, the spring season of homebuying is just about to rise. For many excited home buyers, this means heading online or even outside to look for homes to purchase. Unfortunately, many people have the same idea, creating a highly competitive environment that only the most prepared will succeed. 

Do you want to find your dream home during the spring season? If so, preparation is a must, and since you are here, you are giving yourself a good advantage. Here are the things you can do to purchase your dream home during this spring homebuying season:

Do some research

The first thing you must do is to warm up your fingers and start searching online for the best deals around. Use real estate listing websites to look for what’s available at your desired location, and compare what’s offered versus the price stated. This will give you a brief idea of what you can expect from the market you are looking at.

Also, take note of how fast the homes are selling. Ones that sell fast are the ones that are priced fairly. The ones that stay around for longer may mean that the price is a little too high. Do visit the homes if you have a chance, however, so that you can make the final judgment as to whether or not the house is the right pick for you.

Know your budget

What is your budget for purchasing a home? If you cannot answer that, then you must take a step back and decide. Your budget will affect what kinds of homes you can buy, and generally, the smaller the budget, the more constrained you are. When determining your budget, keep in mind your income. In most cases, lenders do not want you to spend more than 28 percent of your income on a mortgage. Of course, you can go lower than that number, but any higher, and your chances of obtaining one will drop significantly.

Check your credit

Even if you believe that you have good credit, you must still always check your credit history. There may be errors in it that can drag your score down, which means more interest rates in your mortgages, along with the cost of the total loan. You can get a copy of your credit report from major companies like Equifax for free once a year. Once you get them, check for any possible errors and get them fixed if needed.

Pay the down payment

When you obtain a loan, there will typically be a down payment you will have to pay. The gold standard for the industry would be a 20 percent down payment. However, know that you are not forced to stick to 20 percent. You can drop it down as low as five percent, but in some cases, you will need to obtain private mortgage insurance if you are going for the lower end of the spectrum. This can prove more costly in the long run, so weigh out your options carefully when deciding what amount to pay.

Conclusion

By carefully following the above tips, you can thoroughly ready yourself this spring homebuying season. It will be challenging for sure, but with some preparation, you will give yourself the advantage needed to secure your dream home. Do not be reluctant to work with a trusted real estate agent and mortgage broker, too!

EST Home Mortgage is a full-service independent mortgage broker in Kalamazoo, offering mortgages to families to help them purchase their dream homes. Apply for a home loan with us today and get the mortgage you need!