Once you get into the intricacies of the real estate market, you’ll realize one sobering fact -
becoming a homeowner isn’t as easy as it once was. And yet, this is still an essential
building block of the American Dream. Having a household you can truly call your own gives
you the truest feeling of freedom and security you can have in the modern world. And if you
work hard enough - it’s absolutely within your grasp! Which is why we’ve prepared some very
useful tips for first-time Indiana home buyers!

Only deal with professionals

After you decide on an area in Indiana that seems fitting to you - it’s time to find your dream
home there! And the most important among tips for first-time Indiana home buyers is: only work
with an experienced realtor. You want a real estate agent who knows the business, and
deals honestly, but them being a local is important. There’s nothing better than working with
someone who knows the region well, and has the real estate market in the palm of their hand.
So, the first thing you need to do is find such an industry veteran - and everything else will come
more easily afterwards.

And once you’ve found the perfect home that you want to purchase, the time will come to
relocate there. Which means you’ll probably be hiring a moving company. Relocating anywhere
without professional assistance can be difficult. So, find professionals that can help you move
long distance in Indiana. Don’t settle for subpar movers or realtors. After all, you’ll be paying
them with your hard-earned money, and your budget is bound to be somewhat strained if you’re
buying a home.

Having a realistic budget

Speaking of financial concerns, there’s something you’ll have to do long before you look for
Verified Movers or realtors. And that’s making a realistic budget for your home purchase.
It’s one of the most crucial tips for first-time Indiana home buyers that we can give you, really.
To put it in colloquial terms - you’ll need to know just how much house you can actually afford.

As we’ve already mentioned, homeownership is definitely something most people want to
achieve - and a worthy aspiration.

Know how much home you can afford

But before you can start the search for your perfect new home - you need to be certain that you
can afford it. And knowing just what kind of a budget you’re dealing with is especially important
before you enter price negotiations. If you’re not certain of your position, you’re giving the
seller quite a lot of leeway. Luckily, you don’t have to figure out everything on your own; there
are plenty of home affordability calculators online, which can help you pin this down more
precisely.

Consider the down payment

With all of that in mind - we recommend that you consider your down payment on time and start
saving early. Even if you’re tight with money, there are ways you can set aside enough money
to make the down payment easier on your personal finances. For example, if you plan far
enough in advance - you can set aside tax refunds to make the basis of your down payment
budget. You putting your work bonuses into this pot is a great idea as well. In due time, all of
this can add up to a sizable amount. Plus, you can use many handy apps to make some
savings on a daily basis - which will also make a difference, given enough time.

As for the size of your down payment - that can vary greatly. Twenty percent is a usual
amount, but quite a lot of lenders permit a lot less these days, so make sure you shop
around. And if you apply for a first-time home buyer program, you may get as little as 5%.
Though, bear in mind - if you put down less than 20%, you may be facing higher expenses
down the road. Plus, even a tiny percentage can be quite a lot of money, depending on how
much the house is worth.

Think of your credit on time

Naturally, your down payment is not the least of your worries; but it’s also definitely not the only
one. So, when we give tips for first-time Indiana home buyers; we also pay close attention the
other aspects of your mortgage loan as well. When you’re taking out any sort of loan, of
course - your credit score becomes the most important thing in the world. Obviously, it’s a
crucial aspect for whether you’ll be approved a loan, but also; it will be the deciding factor for
your loan terms, especially the interest rate. With that in mind - take a look at your credit, and
check it thoroughly before you enter the process of buying your first home. If you need advice 
and help boosting your credit score or saving money, check out these financial advisiors right here in Madison, Indiana.

Errors in credit scores are a worryingly common occurrence - so make sure to see if there’s
something that’s dragging your score down. And then, make an effort to dispute those
mistakes. Naturally, there may also be objective reasons as to why you have a low credit score.
If you can do anything to improve it in the short term, definitely work on that.
 

Hold off on new credit activity

Keeping your credit score high enough for your home purchase is crucial, which is why the
final among our tips for first-time Indiana home buyers is to hold off on any new credit
activity. Any time you get a credit card, or any kind of loan at all, your lender will make a
detailed inquiry, and that can drop your credit score a bit. And when it comes to buying a home -
even the smallest temporary difference can mean thousands of dollars more to pay!