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Many people who actually want to begin the homebuying process don’t do so because they’re intimidated by the whole thing. It’s understandable. The homebuying process for first-time buyers can feel complex, exhausting, and frustrating. (It can feel that way for veteran buyers too.) If you need a roadmap to help you get started, that’s perfectly okay. In this week’s blog, you can find a rough outline of steps that you should take as you prepare to begin the homebuying process. You’re in the right place!

Before You Begin Trying to Buy a Home, Take Stock of Your Support Network

Before you do any paperwork or start scouring websites for listings, you should figure out who your support network throughout this process will be. That starts with you and includes your spouse, immediate family, extended family, friends, and any experts you work with in the process. Your support system may provide advice, financial aid, or a cup of coffee for you to drink as you continue to stay up and browse available homes. Know who you can count on so that you actually remember to rely on your support system when you need it.

Build a Budget and Criteria for Your Home

Next, you should think about what type of home you can actually afford. It can be a painful thing to fall in love with a property, only to realize that you can’t pay for it. Narrowing your search criteria early on will help you avoid this heartbreak. Build a budget based on what you can reasonably afford as a monthly payment, and then start on your home criteria. Create a list of wants and needs for your new home. If you need help distinguishing between the two, you can follow this handy guide.

Start Doing Your Own Research to Find What You Like

If you plan on working with a real estate agent (and you should), you can rely on this person’s expertise to help guide you through the process. However, you should start by performing your own research. Look at different neighborhoods in the area where you’d like to live to get an idea of what homes there cost. Then, once you land on a neighborhood you like, start looking at home listings to see if homes in the area have all of the features that you need (and at least some of the features you want). Preliminary research can save you time during the actual home search process.

When It’s Time to Get a Professional Involved, Call Bill Swanson

Hopefully this guide helps you get started on your home search. Once you know what you’re looking for and who you can count on, it’s time to get a professional involved. Bill Swanson has been helping people buy and sell homes in Omaha for over 30 years. When you need an expert you can trust, reach out to Bill. To start the homebuying process, contact Bill Swanson in Omaha, NE at 402-679-6566.