When the excitement of owning a home sets in, you will likely want to make the process quick and painless to get keys in hand as soon as possible.

When you’ve got homeownership on your mind, waiting can make you restless. If your apartment is bursting at the seams and you’re looking to put down roots in a larger space, it might be time to buy your first home.

But buying shouldn’t be considered without first determining if you’re truly ready for the responsibilities, both financial and otherwise, of owning.

“Do I really need one more thing?”

That’s a question we hear from a lot of lenders.

Banks and credit unions have a wide breadth of loan and mortgage offerings, and it’s easy to feel like they are offering everything their clients need. But there are some things that the First-Time Homebuyer Loan Program offers that other programs may not.

The burden of selling a home while you’re in the thick of the new-house search can seem a little daunting. But juggling selling and purchasing simultaneously can be manageable if you keep the right things in mind.

If you’ve been renting for years, when do you know if it’s the right time to buy? There are a lot of factors that go into this decision, whether it’s investing in your future, the satisfaction of ownership or just getting more room to spread out. 

So what factors should go into the decision-making process?

The value of a home inspection is gaining an expert’s insight into the structure and state of your potential house before you invest. A home inspector can see red flags that you and your agent may miss.

When it comes time to close, what are these “closing costs” that are always talked about? Should a homebuyer be prepared to offer up a substantial amount on them?

Planning a move to a new house soon? Do you have a game plan for getting your belongings to their new home?

Before you embark on the journey of buying a home, know what you’re getting yourself into. The process of searching for the perfect property can introduce a lot of variables, from your own personal needs to your budget limitations.

When you picture your “dream home,” what do you see? A brand-new house with all the bells and whistles? The perfectly landscaped yard? Four bedrooms? Two bathrooms?