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Six Suggestions for Homebuyers
Dated: May 25 2026
Views: 64
Six Suggestions for Homebuyers
Thinking about buying a home and not sure where to begin? Fear not! I’ve got six things you can do to get the ball rolling. Having these done before you start touring houses will save you stress down the line and make the process a lot more enjoyable.
Calculate Affordability
Have an honest conversation with yourself, or your partner, to determine what you can afford. This step is crucial to help you set your expectations. As a general rule of thumb, banks use the 28/36 rule, which means your housing costs (principle, interest, taxes, and insurance) should cost no more than 28% of your monthly gross income. You can use a home affordability or mortgage calculator to get an idea of what this number would be.
Get Pre-Approved
A pre-approval letter gives you credibility, and can even make you stand out from other interested buyers that might not already be pre-approved. This letter indicates how much a lender is willing to lend you and can be valuable for locking in a competitive mortgage rate.
Shop Around for Quotes
Get quotes from three different lenders. Make sure to do this within about a 30 day timeframe, in order to avoid multiple hard inquiries on your credit report.
Save for Unexpected Closing Costs
You likely have already begun to save for a downpayment. However, did you know that there are additional costs associated with closing on a home? Closing costs can range from 2% to 5% of purchase price. These can include application and processing fees, inspections, appraisals, etc.
List Your Needs and Wants
Bring clarity to your search by knowing what your home absolutely needs to have and what you would like to have. Depending on your market area, you might have lots of homes that meet your needs, in which case you can use your “want” list to filter homes out.
Hire a Real Estate Agent
The best thing you can do is hire a professional that is familiar with the homebuying process and the local market. An agent will be able to find the best homes for your search criteria and be able to answer any questions you may have along the way. Agents can also recommend lenders or other necessary vendors during the closing process.
Whether you’re looking to purchase a property in Florida or somewhere else, I would love to personally help you or get you in contact with an agent. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Victoria Mendoza
Welcome to paradise! My name is Victoria, and I am dedicated to helping you achieve your real estate dreams. My goal is to facilitate a smooth transaction and ensure you understand every step of the r....
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All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Updated on September 22, 2026 4:12 PM UTC
© 2026 Florida Gulf Coast MLS (FGCMLS) Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. The IDX data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Florida Gulf Coast Multiple Listing Service. The information being provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
