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As a potential home buyer, it’s critical to understand where you are in terms of finances and what features of a house matter more to you than others. You never want to go blind into house shopping – the more prepared you are, the better!

Credit Score

Knowing your credit score is a major first step in the home-buying process. This will help you in your home and loan search; you can request a free copy of your credit score from Annual Credit Score or Credit Karma.

But remember, keep inquires to a minimum, or talk to your lender beforehand.

Number Game

How much home can you afford? Before you make an offer, consider the cost of your mortgage payment as well as homeowners’ association dues, taxes, and insurance.

These user friendly calculators from Bankrate and Alliance Title will help you run the numbers and stay informed while you make the important decisions about your home purchase.

• How much home can I afford?
• How much will my monthly payments be?
• How much are closing costs?

You’ll want to be preapproved by a lender first, before you talk to an agent. This will help you and your agent know where you stand in terms of finances. Check out our mortgage shopping how-to article, here!