Even though we’re a few months away from the end of 2018, it’s never too early to start preparing to buy a home in 2019. Here are four great tips that will make sure you’re ready when the time comes.

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Here are four steps that you can take right now to make sure that you’re ready to buy a home in 2019:

1. Check your credit score. This will range anywhere from 300 to 850. To qualify for the absolute best mortgage rates, you should aim to have your score be 740 or higher.

2. Resist the temptation to open new credit cards or lines of credit. Even though you’re bombarded with applications to get a new card on a daily basis, not doing so will help you in the long run and make sure that you’re the most qualified candidate to get a great loan with a great rate when the time comes to buy.

Hiring the right agent is the most important step.

3. Find out what you’ll need for a down payment. Talk with your mortgage lender and determine just how much you’ll need to buy. If you’re going to be a little short, consider asking families for monetary gifts for this purpose during the holiday season. Most of them will be so excited to get in on the process of helping you buy a home and would love to contribute to that goal in lieu of presents.

4. Hire the right agent. This is probably the most important step. When you hire the right real estate agent, they’ll be able to counsel you and take you all the way through the loan process. They can connect you with the right mortgage lender, make sure you get approved, and take you step by step through the rest of the process. That’s exactly what we do on The Smith Team.

When you work with us, you’re in good hands. We would love to help you with your home purchase in 2019. If you have any questions for us or want to learn more about what we can do for you, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email today. We look forward to hearing from you soon.