Thinking of buying a new home but not sure where to start?  This video from Coldwell Banker addresses the first steps in a new home search. 

If you haven’t bought a home before one of your biggest concerns is probably, how much can you afford. 

Its easier than ever to get an idea of what price range is right for your budget.  There are a number of on-line mortgage calculators that you can use.  One good one is Coldwell Banker’s mortgage calculator.  If you want more detail about different loan programs and interest rates then talking to a loan officer is your next step.  Here in Beaumont, Lamar Mortgage is a good place to start.  They can give you a quick and easy loan review and let you know what you would be comfortably able to spend on a mortgage payment. 

Once you have been pre-approved for a loan then you are ready to start looking for your new home.  Most sellers want a pre-approval letter submitted with any purchase offer.  Taking the time to get pre-approved also helps save you time and prevents you from looking at homes that are not in the right price range. 

Looking for a new home can start with on-line searches from the comfort of your home or you may prefer to find a Realtor to help show you properties in person.  Eventually, as you narrow down your search you will want to see several of your top choices.  Once you have found the perfect home, then you will be ready for step two – making an offer.  There are strategies that can be used to your benefit when making an offer and we’ll discuss those in another post. 

Just remember- step one- figure out what price range works for you.  Then let the fun and excitement of finding your new home begin.