Boston Real Estate FAQs / Buying /
How should I prepare for buying a home?
Write down a list of everything you could possibly want in your dream home. Then go back through your list and circle the things that you absolutely MUST have. These are the items that are most important to you. Keep this list with you when you are looking at homes, and use it as a guide to narrow down your search.
Gather the documents you'll need to apply for your mortgage. Most lenders will ask for the following:
- W-2's for the last two years: If you are self employed, commissioned or own other real estate you should have 2 years 1040's with all schedules.
- A recent paystub for all jobs.
- Bank statements for the past 3 months for all accounts and any retirement or investment accounts.
- Statements or payment books for any installment loans including mortgages.
- The name and address of your landlord for the past 2 years (to verify timely rent payments) or 12 months canceled rent checks.
- Proof of funds for your earnest money
deposit.
- Self employed borrowers may need to prepare a year to date profit and loss statement.
- Addresses, Loan, tax, insurance info and leases for any other real estate owned.
Others in this Category
- Could you give me a rundown of the entire buying process?
- What is the first step in the home-buying process?
- How do I find out how much house I can afford?
- What is the difference between a pre-qualification and a pre-approval?
- Can I buy a home below market value?
- How can I find bank-foreclosures or government-owned homes?
- What about HUD homes?
- How is an asking price determined?
- How do you determine the value of a distressed property?
- What is the difference between sales price and assessed value?
- What is the difference between an appraisal and a CMA?
- Explain the difference between a "Buyer's market" and a "Seller's market."
- Whose obligation is it to disclose information about a property?
- Do I need an attorney when I buy a house?
- Can I make a verbal offer on a property?
- What contingencies are usually put in an offer?
- What is a mortgage contingency?
- What is an "earnest money" deposit?
- Do I have to put down a deposit with my offer?
- How can I make my offer stand out against competing buyers?
- What happens after I present my offer?
- What happens to my deposit if my offer is accepted?
- What happens to my deposit if my offer is rejected?
- Should I have a home inspection?
- What if I don't like the results of my inspection?
- Under what circumstances could I lose my deposit?
- Do the appliances stay when a home is sold?
- What is a Purchase and Sale Agreement?
- What if I decide I want to change something in the contract?
- Do I have to put down a second deposit?
- How much should my deposit be?
- What happens to my deposits after the sale?
- When should I submit a loan application to the bank?
- What happens if my loan is not approved by the deadline in the contract?
- What happens if my loan is denied?
- How can I be sure I'm getting what I pay for?
- What happens after I get my mortgage commitment?
- What is a final walk-through?
- What does my mortgage payment include?
- How do I find out how much my closing costs will be?
- What does the closing attorney do?
- Who does the closing attorney represent?
- Can the closing date be changed once it has been set?
- What happens at the closing?
- What do I need to bring to the closing?
