Before you begin shopping for your home, you will need to prepare a few things. 

Financial File

To be prepared for a purchase you should create a file that contains all your important financial documents. This will allow you to secure financing for your property. Your file should contain most of the following documents. 

• Financial statements
• Bank accounts
• Investments
• Credit cards
• Auto loans
• Recent pay stubs
• Tax returns for two years
• Copies of leases for investment properties
• 401K statements, life insurance, stocks, bonds, and mutual account information.

Credit Score

Your credit score will impact your buying process significantly.  We recommend contacting a mortgage lender so they can check your credit rating and determine how much you are able to borrow. We are happy to recommend experienced, knowledgeable lenders that are familiar with the local real estate market.  Be mindful of any major career changes or large purchases. Doing so could prevent you from being able to close on a property even after being pre-qualified.