What should I do before buying a home?

There are a lot of things that need to happen prior to purchasing a home. It will seem like an incredibly slow process at first, but once you find your new home things go fast, so fast that most people forget these important first steps:

• Saving money for a down payment and closing costs
• Get a credit check
• Get pre-qualified for a loan

You should do a credit check as early as possible. There are often errors that can take some time to correct. Errors on your credit score can cost you thousands of dollars in the home buying process, so it is in your best interest to check that early and monitor it throughout the purchase. Getting pre-qualified will show you how much a lender is willing to loan you and how much you can afford.