You don’t need to know everything before you begin. Start with a comfortable budget, gather your questions, and build a team that explains the next step before you take it.
Start with your everyday life
Write down what a home needs to do for you before you start saving listings. Separate your essentials from features you could add later.
- List your space, accessibility, commute, and parking needs.
- Choose a monthly spending range that leaves room for savings and life outside the house.
- Include property taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities, and any association fees in the conversation.
Get ready for a lender conversation
Review your finances and ask the lender what documents they need. Preapproval helps you understand your search range; it is not a final loan commitment.
- Gather recent income records, account statements, and identification using your lender’s secure process.
- Discuss the down payment, closing costs, and the cash you want left after closing.
- Ask PHFA or an approved counselor about education and current assistance options; eligibility and funding vary.
Build your plan for the search
Agree on a search area and decision process with Gabriela. At each stage, ask what needs to happen next and what deadline applies.
- Discuss representation, services, and compensation before signing an agreement.
- Keep a shortlist of needs and compare homes using the same criteria.
- Plan for inspections, financing, insurance, and the final walkthrough after an accepted offer.
Do this
- Ask for plain-language explanations of unfamiliar terms.
- Keep lender documents organized in one secure place.
- Leave some flexibility in your moving timeline.
Skip this
- Treat the highest approved amount as your personal spending target.
- Assume every assistance program is a grant or available to every buyer.
- Send financial documents through an unverified email link.
ONE SMALL STEP AT A TIME
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Helpful sources & next reads.
Check the original resources for current details and requirements.
CFPB: Prepare to shop for a mortgagePHFA: Pennsylvania homebuyer counseling