1. WHAT’S THE FIRST STEP OF THE HOME BUYING PROCESS?
Answer: The Mortgage Pre-Approval. 
Unless you are paying cash for a house, you will need to get a mortgage. In order to know how much home you can afford, you will need to get pre-approved for a loan. This is the first step in the home buying process.
2. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BUY A HOME?
Answer: Around 30 to 45 days
The timeline for finding a house varies greatly from person to person. Once you find a house and have an accepted offer, it usually takes around 30 days to close.
3. WHAT DOES A REALTOR® DO?
Answer: Almost everything.
A REALTOR® is your most valuable asset when buying a home. They will walk you through every part of the home buying process. They will educate and inform you of all your options. They will represent you throughout the transaction and beyond. To fully understand what that means, you can read our article entitled “What does it Really Mean to be ‘Represented’ by a REALTOR®?”
There is a difference between a REALTOR® and a real estate agent; many people do not know this. A REALTOR® is regulated by the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribes to a strict Code of Ethics. A real estate agent does not. It is recommended that you work with a licensed REALTOR® to avoid potential problems.
4. HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO PAY A REALTOR® AS A HOMEBUYER?
Answer: Nothing
In most cases, you do not have to pay your REALTOR® anything to help you purchase a home. The sellers pay their REALTOR® a fee, and then that listing agent pays the buyers agent for bringing the buyer and facilitating the transaction.
5. WHAT’S YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS?
Answer: Trust the Professionals.
Beware of advice from people who do not work in the industry. Real estate is a popular topic and almost everyone feels like they have some great insight to offer. In reality, the people who know best are the people that work in the business. Good REALTORS® have sold hundreds (maybe thousands) of properties. We know what to expect and what to look out for. Friends and relatives have only bought and sold a few homes if any at all. Buying and selling a couple of homes does not make someone a well-rounded source of information. I’ve seen too many first-time buyers become persuaded by well-meaning friends and family, only to be disappointed later. Be confident in your decisions and trust the professionals.
6. WHAT KIND OF CREDIT SCORE DO I NEED TO BUY A HOME?
Answer: Usually 620+
A 620 credit score, or higher, is recommended. As you are probably aware, a higher credit score offers better lending terms. This is an ever-evolving topic, however, as loan requirements are constantly changing. There are some lenders who will approve buyers with a 580 score, sometimes even lower. Your loan officer will be the best source to give you a current answer to today’s lending requirements.
7. ARE THERE SPECIAL HOME BUYING PROGRAMS THAT I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
Answer: Yes
There are some great home buying programs to research. The main ones would be VA loans, USDA loans, and FHA loans. Knowing the difference between these loan types is very important. Other local options would include The El Paso County “Turnkey” Mortgage Program and the CHFA SmartSteps Plus Purchase Mortgage Program. Both provide down payment assistance under certain conditions.
8. HOW MUCH MONEY DO I NEED FOR A DOWNPAYMENT?
Answer: Mainly loan origination and closing costs.
The downpayment is usually the largest cost associated with buying a house. Lending fees are the second-largest cost to homebuyers. Most lenders will charge between 2% to 4% of the loan amount for loan origination fees, depending on the loan type. Conventional loans usually have lower loan origination fees, but require more money down. Your loan officer will be able to help you determine how much you can expect to pay towards loan origination and closing costs. For a detailed list of all potential home buying fees, see our article entitled “How To Avoid Sticker Shock at the Closing Table?”
10. WHEN DO I GET THE KEYS?
