Thinking of buying a new home in the new year? Does the thought of house hunting and applying for a mortgage make you feel a bit overwhelmed? You’re not alone! With Salal Home Lending and HomeAdvantage® by your side, you can turn those home-buying jitters into a less stressful homebuying journey. Here are a few tried-and-true strategies that can simplify the process and help you approach your home purchase with confidence.
1. Get Your Ducks in a Row: Preparation and Organization
First of all, they don’t have to be ducks in the row. They could be kittens or bunnies or puppies—whatever cute animal makes the metaphor work for you. Anyway … our point is, before you even begin the mortgage application, it’s a good idea to have all your necessary documents at the ready. We’re talking proof of income, recent tax returns, credit reports, and any other financial statements you might need. When you have all your paperwork ready and organized, it not only streamlines the process but also minimizes potential delays. It’s all about setting the stage for a smooth transaction and removing sources of stress down the line.
Learn more about what documents will be helpful to have ready.
2. Knowledge is Power
HomeAdvantage puts a wealth of house-hunting tools at your fingertips. Search for houses in the areas you hope to buy in. Estimate your current home’s value. Check out recent sales data, schools, crime statistics, and current market trends. Calculate your potential mortgage payments. All this and more is free to Salal Credit Union members. The more you know about your homebuying needs and goals, the better equipped you’ll be to have productive discussions with agents and lenders and make informed decisions.
Start using your HomeAdvantage homebuying and selling tools.
3. A Helping Hand: Seek Guidance from the Experts
While doing your research is invaluable, it’s also a good idea to seek out professional guidance, both in terms of real estate professionals and mortgage lenders. A Salal Mortgage Advisor can help you better understand the homebuying process, what home loan options are available, and most importantly, which options might make the most sense for your goals and financial situation. When it comes to finding a real estate agent to work with, you can earn Cash Rewards*, 20% of your agent’s commission, when you work with a real estate professional in the HomeAdvantage network.
Calculate your potential Cash Rewards.
What’s Your Next Step?
A great first step in the homebuying process is to schedule a free Homebuyer Planning Session. Have a casual, no-pressure sit-down with a Salal Mortgage Advisor and learn what to expect, what you can afford, how much you’ll need to put down, and what your future mortgage payments might look like.
If you have any questions or would like to get more info about the home loans we offer, you can always reach out at HomeLending@SalalCU.org or 800.562.5515 ext. 1288 (M–F, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. PT).