Okay, so we’ve equated the homebuying process to sports a fair amount lately, but who can blame us? With the ongoing excitement of the HIP Gold Games, we proudly present one more sports-themed homebuying article, broken down per quarter, for your reading pleasure.
Q1: The Paperwork
If you’ve been dreaming of buying a home but have done virtually nothing to make it happen just yet, don’t sweat it. You’re in what we affectionately call the first quarter of the homebuying process. This is the time to gather up paperwork like W-2s, paystubs, bank statements, tax returns and other pertinent financial information. Your lender (discussed in Q2) will need that info to get the ball rolling, and to determine what neighborhood to stay in, financially speaking.
We also recommend that you start looking online at houses currently for sale in your preferred area (if you haven’t already) to get a sense of what you like, what’s available and how long homes are staying on the market. Zillow.com, Realtor.com and Trulia.com are three good websites to get you started.
Q2: The Players
In the second quarter, you should start to find your stride. You also should find two of the biggest players on your homebuying team: the lender and the real estate professional. Recruit well and you’re sure to be victorious. As luck would have it, the Nevada Housing Division has the equipment (lender finder and agent finder) to help you find well-trained, well-versed pros with experience in your area and with our homebuyer programs.
Read 5 Dating Steps to Achieve Happily Ever After Homeownership
Q3: The Game Plan
This is when the game gets really interesting. Your dream team co-captains (lender and real estate pro) will lead the way through the various parts of the process like negotiating the price of a home, scheduling an appraisal and home inspection, and doing the bulk of the paperwork to participate in homebuyer programs like Home Is Possible and Mortgage Credit Certificate (which, by the way, can be used together).
Read Why Free Money? And Nine Other FAQs from HIP Homebuyers
Q4: The W
Q4 is where you get to cross the finish line, score at the buzzer, stick the landing (or whichever sporty metaphor you prefer) and earn the coveted title of homeowner. Is it a feat worthy of gracing a cereal box? Absolutely. (We’re currently in negotiations on your behalf.) After thanking all the little people who helped you along the way, be sure to share your story with us and submit your other achieved Homeowner Challenge milestones to get one step closer to HIP Gold glory. If you’re an overachiever, share your earned e-gold medals via #HIPGold for your chance to win our Social Media Challenge.
