Before you tour a single home: six things to settle first.
By MaShay Curtis, REALTOR® · Buying · 6 min read · Real Estate Real Talk
It's tempting to start with the fun part. You open the app, save twenty homes and start booking showings. Then you find one you love and realize you don't know if you can afford it, whether you'll be approved, or how the drive to work feels at 7:30 in the morning.
Settle these six things first. Every tour after that gets easier, faster and a lot less stressful.
1. Your real monthly budget
A lender will tell you the most you can borrow. That isn't the same as what you're comfortable paying. Start with a monthly number that includes the whole picture: principal and interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA dues if there are any, utilities and a little set aside for maintenance.
Work backward from that number to a price range. It keeps you from falling for homes that would stretch you thin.
2. A pre-approval you can trust
Talk to two or three lenders and compare their rates, fees and loan programs. Ask which programs fit your situation, especially if you're a first time buyer or you'd like a smaller down payment.
Then get a full pre-approval, not just a quick pre-qualification. Sellers take offers much more seriously when a pre-approval is attached, and you'll be ready to move when the right home shows up.
3. Must haves versus nice to haves
Write three lists: must haves, nice to haves and deal breakers. Be honest about which is which. A fourth bedroom might be a must. A finished basement might be a nice to have. A long list of nice to haves is fine. A long list of must haves usually means you haven't decided yet.
Tip: rank your top five must haves. When two homes feel equally good, the ranking breaks the tie.
4. Your commute and daily routes
In Metro Atlanta, ten miles can mean very different mornings depending on which interstate you're on and when. Before you get serious about an area, drive the route to work at rush hour. Try the school run, the grocery run and the route to wherever you spend your weekends.
5. Your timeline
When does your lease end? Do you need to sell a home before you buy? Is there a date you need to be moved in by? Knowing this shapes everything from how quickly you make offers to the closing date you ask for.
If you're buying and selling at the same time, plan both sides together from the start. That's where a lot of stress hides, and where a good plan saves the most.
6. Your team
You'll want a lender, a home inspector and an agent you trust. Before you tour homes with an agent, you'll sign a written buyer agreement that explains what they'll do for you and how they're paid. Read it, ask questions and make sure you're comfortable.
A good buyer's agent does more than open doors. They help you spot problems early, understand the market and write offers that protect you.
Ready when you are
If you'd like help working through these six, that's exactly what a buyer consultation is for. We'll set your budget, talk through lenders, rank your must haves and build a plan for your search.