Buying a house is a life-changing process that requires a lot of upfront financial planning. When looking for a house, keep certain factors in mind, including your financial situation, types of available loans, your credit score, the price of the house and your down payment so you can navigate the process smoothly.
Your financial information
Before you buy a house, make sure that your monthly budget can handle such a large expense. Unless you are one of the few people who can pay cash for a home, you will likely be paying it off for 15 or 30 years, depending on the length of your loan.
In addition to the mortgage payment, you will want to factor in expenses such as property taxes, homeowners insurance and routine maintenance.
Types of mortgages
When buying a home, you have a few options for the type of loan you want to use. Two of the most common mortgage types are fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages. The former has more predictability. The latter usually has a lower upfront interest rate that can change annually. With an ARM, you need to consider how much your monthly payment could increase and your ability to pay if it does go up.
Your credit score
Borrowers with credit scores of 740 or higher generally qualify for the best mortgage deals.