Buying your First Home, Determine Your Housing Needs and Price Range What you need in a house depends on the following items: 

• the amount of mortgage you can qualify for -- what you can afford to pay
• Finding the right home
• what's available in the local real estate market
• the size, the age, and activities of your family
• the amount you have available for a down payment

Visit the Area and See the Homes Available:

• take house hunting trip as soon as possible
• request an overall area tour first to get a feel for new area, different neighborhoods, styles of homes, etc...
• eliminate homes as you are looking at by determining your needs first.

Your offer should include price, closing date, contingencies, inspection and closing costs and personal property conveyed with sale Closing Process:

• all conditions fulfilled, contingencies removed
• title to the property will be passed from the seller to you
• sign the deed of trust/mortgage; note; VA, FHA, lender forms, settlement sheets
• pay balance of down payment and closing cost with cashier/certified check
• costs vary depending on type of mortgage, but include: financing costs (discount points, mortgage insurance premium, VA funding fee); escrows; title search and insurance; transfer taxes and recording fees; appraisal and credit report; homeowner's insurance; real estate taxes; prepaid interest; survey; termite inspection; other customary or lender-required fee
• you can negotiate with seller to pay any of these costs