The Basics for First Time Home Buyers

If you're a first time homebuyer, this guide gives some steps for choosing your home.

The most important investment you will ever make is probably buying a home. So here's some help for first time homebuyers, especially first time Bronx homebuyers.

Know Your Wants and Needs

Before you go looking for your dream home, break down what you can't live without. Sit down, with pen and paper, and list all the features you care most about, such as:

1. Location - what city, school district, neighborhood.
2. Size - how many bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.

There are some things you definitely don't want in a house too, like living in a high traffic area or a home that needs major repairs. Write a list of those as well. As you look at houses, keep both lists in mind. Your lists may change over time as you do your house hunting looking. Be sure you also consider the kind of property you want. Do you want a foreclosure property, VA qualified home, HUD property, etc.?

Get Your Credit Report In Order

Prior to looking at properties, first time Bronx homebuyers need to get their finances in order. This is the time to review your credit report and clean it up if there are problems. This may be a headache, so it's best to clear it up early so you can get your pre-approval to find out how much home you can afford.

These are just the basics of home buying a home in the Yonkers/Bronx area, but for any buyers, it's a good start.