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Buying a House in San Diego? Local Real Estate Agents Share 15 Tips First-Time Buyers Need to Know

Redfin

Get pre-approved for a mortgage My advice to first-time homebuyers is to find a good loan officer and get pre-approved, fully underwritten approval is best. Work with that loan officer and their agent to understand what timeframes they’re comfortable with in an offer.

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What’s My Home Shopping Budget with an FHA Loan? How to Figure it Out

HomeLight

You’re getting ready to start shopping for a house, and you’re pretty certain you want to go with an FHA loan. The Federal Housing Administration backs loans with less strict credit requirements and low down payment options to help families become homeowners. How much house can you afford if you’re getting an FHA loan?

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Looking for a Mortgage Lender? Here Are 19 Questions to Ask Them Before You Commit

HomeLight

One of the first things you’ll want to know is just how much house you can afford , which is based on your income, credit score, debt-to-income ratio (DTI), and savings amount (including your down payment). I had some clients a few years ago that had trouble qualifying because they had a lot of debt.

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15 Mortgage Questions to Ask Lenders Before Buying a House

HomeLight

Debt-to-income ratio After looking at how much money is flowing into your household, you’ll want to write down your monthly debts. That’s because lenders will also look at your debt-to-income ratio, or DTI. That number will be your debt-to-income ratio.

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FHA Loans and Down Payment Assistance: Making Homebuying Affordable

HomeLight

The FHA backing lets lenders offer easier credit terms than non-FHA loans. FHA loans are especially important for first-time buyers. In 2020, only about 10% of all home loans were FHA-backed, according to the agency’s annual report. But more than 80% of those FHA borrowers were first-time homebuyers.

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51 Brilliant Real Estate Tips for Buyers to Edge Past the Competition

HomeLight

Don’t forget to budget for closing costs. Closing costs are one-time costs that go along with your home purchase, and you pay them on — you guessed it — closing day. A lot of times people have no idea until they get the Loan Estimate that they have $15,000 to $20,000 worth of closing costs,” Ortman explains.

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A Guide to USDA Loans: A 0% Down Payment, Low-Interest Mortgage More Homebuyers Should Consider Now

Realtor.com

Getty Images With mortgage interest rates near 7% and home prices hovering at a national median of $425,000, many homebuyers might be wondering how they’ll be able to pay for a property, and searching for ways to reduce costs. Here’s everything you need to know about USDA loans, and whether they’re right for you.

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