The home buying process

Buying your first (or second) home can be intimidating. That's why we're here to help. For starters, it's important to understand the steps to home ownership. So we've broken them down for you.

1. Get prequalified. It's important to know how much house you can afford. Real estate agents also like to know this info so they can pair you with homes in your price range.
2. Find your dream home. This is the fun (and exhausting) part. Tools like Redfin and Zillow help you find homes you want to visit and narrow down your must-haves. Your real estate agent will also have a tool for you to use. 
3. Put in an offer. Once you've found your dream home, you need to make an offer. The seller can accept or counter-offer. If they counter-offer you can either accept, counter or deny and start the hunt again.
4. The home inspection. It's important to know if there are any major issues with the house. A home inspector will look at important things like HVAC, the roof and structure. Pro tip: attend the inspection to get any of your questions answered.
5. The appraisal. The bank or credit union won't lend you more than the home is worth. An appraisal let's you (and the lender) know how much the home is worth. Fingers crossed it's worth more than your purchase price - then you have equity from the start!
6. Closing. Start practicing that signature. During closing you will sign a lot of papers and get the keys to your home. This is also where you hand over that hefty check with fees, closing costs and your down payment.