Real Estate Information Archive

Blog

Displaying blog entries 1-3 of 3

5 Important Tips for First-Time Home Buyers in Omaha

by Nancy Heim-berg

Are you ready to buy your first home in Omaha?

The returns on investments in real estate can be daunting at first, but everyone appreciates their investments once they see them. Rather than giving all your money to a landlord, when you buy a home, you're saving for a better future.

Do you want to become a first-time home buyer in Omaha but aren't sure where to start? You can find your perfect home by following these five helpful tips.

1. Large Down Payments Aren't Always Necessary

We've all heard that an aspiring homebuyer needs to save 20% of their dream home's value for a down payment. Down payments are important as they reduce interest payments over the course of time, but huge savings aren't a requirement.

Many lenders will be willing to work with you on adjusting your down payment, depending on your credit score. Even if your credit score isn’t perfect, you can usually still make a lower down payment if needed.

2. Your Monthly Payment Isn't Just Your Mortgage

Once you become a homeowner, you have to do a lot of math to figure out how much your bills will change. There are other costs that you cannot overlook in addition to your mortgage.

In addition to taxes and repairs, insurance can also take a bite out of your paycheck. Make sure you can afford your entire home rather than your mortgage.

3. You Should Shop for Mortgage Loan Officers

You aren't stuck with a mortgage from your bank once you're ready to start shopping for houses. You should shop for mortgage providers before house hunting so you can secure the greatest deal.

Not only should your mortgage be large enough to allow you to purchase your favorite home, but it should also come with a low-interest rate that won't bury you in debt over the years.

4. Your Home Search Should Include Surrounding Areas

If you're a homebody, then the home itself will be a major factor when it comes to your sale. However, you should also pay attention to the surrounding area as well.

Does the neighborhood feel safe? Will you have plenty of nice stores and activities nearby when you feel like getting out of the house?

5. You Can Always Tweak to Create Your Dream Home

You can't be too nitpicky when you're browsing homes. You'll never find a home you adore unless you build one from scratch.

Learn to be lenient and focus on homes that have great potential rather than turning away good homes that need small improvements.

Being a first home buyer comes with all kinds of emotions. After absorbing these tips, you can get ready to face any worries you may have and find a stunning new property to call home in Omaha.

If you're ready to start your first-time home buying journey, contact us today.

Have your home needs changed in the past year? Perhaps you’ve outgrown your present home, or need to downsize to a more suitable home. If you’re ready to make a move, let’s connect and talk about all the amazing opportunities that are available to you!

Tips For First Time Home Buyers In Omaha, NE

by Nancy Heim-berg

First Time Home Buying Tips OmahaThere are few events in life more exciting, momentous and nerve-racking than buying your first home. You may be combing the web for the ideal school district or find yourself driving around neighborhoods trying to picture which cul-de-sac you could settle into. However, there are also moments where, especially for first time home buyers, you may feel overwhelmed and confused by the process. 

In an effort to settle some nerves and calm potential anxiety, we have focused this blog post on discussing tips for first time home buyers:

-Our first tip for you is to start saving early for your down payment. It is common to put around twenty percent of the purchase price down, so starting to save early on can help be a big asset. Your future self will thank you!

-Check on your credit. Many people don’t realize how big of a factor their credit score is on the approval process for a mortgage loan. Staying on top of your credit score and improving areas that need some work will help you when you to go apply for a mortgage. 

-Figure out how much you qualify for before you start house shopping. The worst feeling is to get emotionally attached to a home you can’t afford, so knowing where you stand and what you can afford will make the process a little smoother. 

-Prior to starting your home search, take a few minutes and write out a list of the non-negotiables you want in your home. This can be anything from location to square footage – anything that you can’t live without in your next abode. It will not only force you to narrow in on what you are looking for, but it will also help your realtor get a better idea of what to start showing you.

-Find the right realtor. You will find throughout the home buying process that your realtor becomes your new best friend. We can’t stress enough how important it is to have a knowledgeable, hardworking, honest and committed agent by your side. It really will make all the difference. 

-Our last tip for you is to have fun and enjoy the process! 

 

The fun doesn't have to stop here! If you want more home buying tips check out our "Omaha Nebraska Home Buying Tips" page here

For first time home buyers, the feelings of excitement for their new abode can often be accompanied (and at times overshadowed) by feeling nervous and overwhelmed by the whole home buying process. Fear not, this is totally normal! However, with a little knowledge under your belt, the whole process can begin to feel more familiar - thus calming the nerves – and allowing you to get back to enjoying the experience. And as you may have guessed, that is exactly what we are going to be chatting about in today’s blog. Below we have listed ten tips to help first time home buyers understand and navigate the home buying process with ease. Enjoy!
 
1.) The first tip is to attain a copy of your credit report. There are numerous online websites you can get this from to better understand the health and history of your credit so there are no surprises.
 
2.) The second tip is to improve your credit score if necessary. There are various ways to do this such as paying down high balances on cards that are currently open.
 
3.) The third tip is to get pre-approved before you start your house hunting search. This will allow you to understand what you can afford and thus search areas/neighborhoods accordingly. The last thing you want to do is fall in love with something that is out of your budget range. 
 
4.) The fourth tip is to see if you qualify for an FHA loan, which is a government-backed mortgage that is insured by the Federal Housing Administration, and popular for first time home buyers.
 
5.) The fifth tip is to know and fully understand your down payment options. 
 
6.) The sixth tip is to hire an experienced real estate agent to represent and work with you during the home buying process. This is a very crucial step as you will be working closely with your agent and you want to be sure they are familiar the local market and understand your wants/needs.
 
7.) The seventh tip is to budget for all homeownership expenses. Many people only focus on what the house itself with cost, but sometimes do not consider all the other costs that will arise. Again, you want to do your best to alleviate all surprises for the future.
 
8.) The eighth tip is to understand your debt-to-income ratio, and to make adjustments where needed.
 
9.) The ninth tip is to check for first-time home buyer grants and programs to see if you can take advantage of any that are being offered. 
 
10.) And finally, our tenth step is to fully understand the different types of loans that are available. This will ensure that you are making the right decision for you and your family. 

Displaying blog entries 1-3 of 3

Syndication

Categories

Archives

Share This Page

Contact Information

Photo of Heim-Berg Team Real Estate
Heim-Berg Team
Berkshire Hathaway
331 Village Pointe Plaza
Omaha NE 68118
(402) 677-9024
(402) 679-7108 | (402) 830-6123
Fax: 402-493-4805

Stacey OHara CMG financial 515-306-2360

 

©2015 BHH Affiliates, LLC. Real Estate Brokerage Services are offered through the network member franchisees of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Most franchisees are independently owned and operated. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc®. Equal Housing Opportunity. Equal Housing Opportunity Realtor License