Home buying timeline

Clarify budget comfort, neighborhoods, commute, and deal-breakers.

Learn how mortgages really work—payments, interest, taxes, insurance, and PMI—then run the numbers to decide if buying now fits your situation.

Estimate your realistic monthly payment range, down payment, and cash reserves using rough numbers.

Compare multiple lenders for rates, fees, responsiveness, and service—pre-approval also makes your offer credible.

Find someone whose communication style, availability, and strategy match your needs.

See homes in person, compare tradeoffs, and refine priorities. A simple tour checklist helps you stay consistent and avoid missing red flags.

Price, contingencies, credits, and timelines all matter—align the offer with your risk tolerance.

Focus on safety, major systems, and costly surprises—then renegotiate or request credits if needed.

The lender verifies value and documentation before issuing final approval.

Confirm condition, review the closing disclosure, sign documents, and fund.

Transfer utilities, establish a maintenance baseline, and celebrate.