It's going to take time and likely various viewings before you find your new home. Additionally, the home-buying process is often quite variable. Most buyers schedule three or four months to find properties, get approved for lending, making offers, and completion of inspections and closing. Commonly, the mortgage and closing process will generally take between 30 and 45 days.

Getting a mortgage may be somewhat  intimidating. First-time buyers typically don't know where to turn or what to do. Our professionals are prepared to walk you through the process of finding your home, applying for a loan, obtaining appraisals, title insurance, home owner's insurance, inspections and closing. There are also steps we can walk through to better prepare you for the process:

Ensure your budget is ready for a home loan. Evaluate expenses and anticipated changes to income and make the necessary adjustments. For instance, lessening credit card debt can help significantly in acquiring a mortgage.

Know your credit rating and eliminate any negative or derogatory items on your credit report.

Organize the necessary documents you will most likely need such as W-2s, tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, child support and alimony records, utility bills and other documents that can be used to verify your income and expenses.

Save to cover closing costs. Quick access to funds not only gives lenders more peace-of-mind in extending credit, but it also gives us, your Realtors® more negotiating power.

Most buyers purchase a home equivalent to one and one-half times to two times their annual income. A buyer making $50,000 should look for a home priced between $75,000 and $125,000. That makes mortgage payments roughly 27% of gross monthly income. Any other debt will also be considered in the process including car payments and student loans. Ideally, total debt should not exceed 40% of total monthly income. There are several loan programs available with varying loan-to-debt ratios. We can help you through the budgeting and pre-qualification process so you are prepared when meeting with a lender for the first time.

Moving again in a matter of months or years isn't much fun, and the expense can be significant.

Follow these tips to help avoid buyer's remorse and get the right home the first time around!

Create a list of everything you must have in your new home, and a separate wish list of the things you would like but don't necessarily have to have. Consider things like how many bedrooms and bathrooms you will need for the size of your family anticipating future expansion, especially if you intend to have children, the location or neighborhood you would like to live in, and any other special needs you have. The size of the lot should be considered as it can affect the time invested in yard maintenance.

Let us help you get educated on the home buying process before committing to buying a home. Doing so will allow you to understand what you can expect while finding the home where you will comfortably be making memories for decades to come.