February 15, 2023

Tips To Reach Your Homebuying Goals in 2023 [INFOGRAPHIC]

If you’ve got #HomeownershipGoals for 2023, we have a few things for you to focus on.

1. Work on your credit score.

Your credit score impacts your mortgage rate and future home loan. Monitor your credit to keep track of your spending record and improve your score by paying down debts. There are some great apps out there that you can use to do this for you which will send you alerts, monitor and track on your behalf.

2. Plan for your down payment.

You may be under the common misconception that you need to put 20% down, but for first-time homebuyers especially the percentage could be much, much lower. Set aside a portion of your paycheck to go directly into a homebuying fund and work with a Realtor® to explore your options for Down Payment Assistance.

At www.onekeymls.com, listings that are eligible for Down Payment Assistance are marked with the Down Payment Resource icon. You the homebuyer, or the property you’re interest in buying, could be eligible for more assistance than you think. 65% of our listings in the NY Regional area are eligible for some type of assistance. Read more about saving for a down payment here: Wondering How Much You Need to Save for a Down Payment?

3. Get pre-approved.

Pre-approval from a lender helps you understand what you can borrow and what your total home budget might be. Want more Key Terms for First-Time Homebuyers?

4. Prioritize your Wants and Needs.

Create a list of desired features and categorize them as Must-Have or Nice-to-Have to determine what’s essential. Share this information with your Realtor, who can help you narrow the search. Read our suggestions on Home Shopping Compromises.

To Sum Up:

Work on your credit score. Plan for your down payment. Get pre-approved. Prioritize your wants and needs.

The [INFOGRAPHIC] below lays the four most important aspect for you to focus on as you begin your home search.

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