http://loganhedgepeth.cbadvantage.com/blog/sort_entrydatetime-desc/ We've all heard that buying a home is 'The American Dream'. At some point or another, that same dream will have you wondering if you should've just kept renting. It might be that your water heater broker in the dead of winter, or one of your pipes burst. Maybe your HVAC unit quit working in July. It's going to happen! BUT, if you plan properly... and think ahead.... it'll be just another bump in the road. Here's what I'd tell my friends before buying a house: Start By Preparing Your Finances. Besides your down payment, you should be sure to have money saved in case of unforseen circumstances. There's always a cost for things we don't think of. Don't use all of your savings trying to get the smallest payment possible. Some things you may want to think about that can be easily missed: switching the locks after closing because there's no telling who has a key, your first trip to the grocery store because you could spend a pretty penny on just the necessities, yard tools (to avoid that HOA fine), and of course, an emergency fund. A common rule of thumb for home maintaince is to save 1% annually of your homes purchase price for repairs, and 3-4% on older homes.    2. Get Pre-Approved (Not Pre-Qualified!)Be smart with your pre-approval. Just because you get approved for a certain amount, it doesn't necessarily mean you should look for houses in that amount. That number is a maximum. Don't set yourself up for failure trying to buy the biggest house you can afford. You'll end up house poor, living paycheck to paycheck, where all you can afford is to stay inside. Make sure you still have room in your budget for things for yourself. It's important to leave room for things that support your lifestyle. Traveling and shopping are just to name a couple.    3. Don't Focus On The Style, Focus On The BonesMost homes are professionally staged, which can cause us to get caught up in the decoration. What you don't know, is that sellers are recommended to take any kind of personalization down, so buyers can imagine themselves in the home. If you're touring a property and see a family photo of the current owners, you would probably be turned off from the home. It's hard to imagine yourself in a space where someone else is living. With that being said, the furniture, decor, paint, etc. can ALL be changed and replaced. What you should focus on is the structure, the foundation, the roof, etc.    4. Don't Skip The Home InspectionAfter your offer gets accepted, you'll want to have several different inspections done, including a home inspection. I would never recommend anyone skip a home inspection! But, at the end of the day, it's your choice. Even new construction homes get a home inspection, and there is always something that comes back. Home inspections are important because they could save you thousands. Sellers aren't always truthful, or they may not necessarily know about a certain issue, and a home inspection will discover it. They look for things like roof leaks, foundation cracks, proper drainage, and MUCHHH more.  There's nothing more rewarding than the feeling of homeownership after working so hard to get there! This is definitely not an all inclusive list, but it's enough to get your wheels turning! Reach out to me if you have questions. My number is 252-425-5523. And secondly, let me know when you're ready so I can be your guide!! http://loganhedgepeth.cbadvantage.com/blog/1381/what-i'd-tell-my-friends-before-buying-a-house/ Thu, 22 Jan 2026 04:23:28 -0500