Step by Step Guide to Surviving the Stockton Home Buying Process
There are few things that are as overwhelming as deciding to buy a Stockton home. You have properly debated the decision back and forth, and when you finally decide to jump in and purchase a Stockton home, you realize the process looks like a long and daunting one.
While there are a lot of steps involved in buying a house, they don’t need to overwhelm you. This simple guide will help you walk through the Stockton home buying process.
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Determine what your budget is
Look at your personal income and spending habits to determine what you can comfortably afford to pay for a Stockton house. You will need to have money saved up in order to make a down payment as well. Remember that homeownership comes with additional expenses, such as maintenance and property tax.
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Get pre-approved
Once you know that you can afford to be a homeowner, it’s time to find out if you can get approved for a mortgage loan. A mortgage lender will look at your credit score, income, debt, and job situation, among other things, to determine if you are a safe risk to lend money to.
Once you go through this process, the lender can provide you with a pre-approval letter stating how much you can be approved for. Make sure that you remember just because they set a certain amount, it does not mean that you can afford to buy a house for that amount and still maintain the lifestyle that you enjoy.
Balance your pre-approval amount with your monthly budget.
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Make a list of your wants and needs
There are two things that are going to determine which Stockton house you buy. The first is your needs. Carefully think through what things you need to have in a house.
For example, if you have eight people in your family, a two-bedroom house probably isn’t going to cut it for you.
The second thing that you need to consider is your wants. What things do you want to see in the house?
Once you have a good list of both, you will be able to effectively start your search. However, during the search process, remember that your wants are not your needs.
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Decide on a Stockton area
Neighborhoods can vary greatly. Consider which Stockton area you want to live in. Look at factors like property taxes, school districts, local amenities, and your commute to work and home.
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Write a killer offer
Once you find the Stockton house that you want to buy, it’s time to put together an offer. Find out what you can about the seller so you can write an offer that will jump out at them.
Remember that the deal needs to work for both parties in order to make it to closing. Be ready to negotiate and don’t be afraid to counteroffer.
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Due diligence
Once the seller accepts your offer, it’s time for you to get to work. The house will need to be appraised and inspected. You want to make sure that all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed so there are no surprises once the house is yours.
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Closing
Once it’s time to close, have your money in hand and get ready to turn it over in exchange for the keys of your new Stockton house.
The process for buying a Stockton house will be easier if you are prepared for each step before it arrives. Make sure that you quickly respond to communication from your real estate agent and your mortgage lender to keep the process moving. Then, before you know it, you will be in your own home.