Is your New Year’s Resolution to Find a Home in 2014?

Keywords: buy a house, property, find a home, real estate news, mortgage, property search

As 2013 comes to a close and the New Year dawns, many families dream of being able to buy a house in 2014. Owning a home isn’t just about having property, it represents a stability that many people see as a life milestone. With that in mind, we thought we’d offer up a few details that you need to keep in mind as you look to find a home.

Before You Begin Your Property Search

When you are looking to buy a house, there is more to a property search than hunting down the right home. You have a few checkpoints to hit on your end before you can be sure to land the best mortgage loan with your application.

• Credit Score: Do a check on your credit score to be sure it falls within the “good” range.
• Outstanding Debt Check: Try and pay off any outstanding credit debt, cards, loans, before you apply for a mortgage loan.
• Income to Debt Level: When you are paying off your credit debt, keep in mind your income to debt level, which is the percentage of monthly debt you have in comparison to your monthly gross income.

Being aware and managing each of these criteria will help you get a better mortgage interest rate.

Check the Local Real Estate News

As you begin your property search, the best place to start is the local real estate section. Newspapers, real estate magazines and real estate websites will all provide real estate news and information that can help you find the home of your dreams.

Another source of local real estate news is your neighborhood real estate agency. With an ear to the ground of the local real estate market, they know about the current homes available, and even have insight into the homes that are available but not listed publically yet. That means you can get first dibs on unlisted properties, giving you the widest range of potential homes possible.  If you need a referral to a Top Local Agent in your market please let us know.

When it’s time to begin the search to find a home, there can be a lot of questions, and not just a little excitement. Be sure to get all the information you can to speed your property search while dotting your I’s with your personal credit history to ensure the best mortgage potential. Happy New Year and here’s wishing you a 2014 in your new home!