Thinking of buying a home in Kitsap? Make sure you know what to expect—whether you're a first-time buyer or a real estate aficionado. Here are the steps you need to know for buying a home.

Determine what you'll be able to afford in mortgage payments each month, as well as what you can invest initially as a down payment. This handy mortgage calculator can help you estimate your monthly payments.

Keep in mind additional costs like closing costs, fees, homeowners insurance, and taxes will all add to the overall costs. Be sure to check your credit score, and remember that just because you don't have a traditional 20% down payment doesn't mean you can't buy a home!

Finding a trustworthy lender and determining what type of loan you'll qualify for will help you figure out how much home you can actually afford. Get recommendations, check with the Better Business Bureau, and be sure to talk to at least three or four lenders before making a decision.

Need recommendations for lenders in Kitsap?Just ask us!

If you have a preferred location or neighborhood, find out the actual selling price of homes in that area—not just their listing price—to confirm whether you can actually afford that location.

You don’t have to work with an agent—but it is extremely recommended unless you are a highly experienced buyer or lawyer. Your agent should be someone you know you can trust, an expert on real estate in your area and neighborhood, and very proficient in working with buyers of your experience.

Looking for an agent in Kitsap? Find out more about our experience and how we can help you buy a home!

This is the fun part, where you get to visit open houses, tour homes, make notes, and really hone in on your perfect dream home! Make sure you keep detailed records of the homes you visit, noting things you liked, didn't like, pros and cons, etc. Taking pictures can also keep your memory fresh.

When you find your favorite home, work with your agent to determine a competitive but reasonable offering price. You'll want to choose a number that is comfortably within your price range but competitive enough that it won't cause the seller to immediately reject your offer.

Before you sign any paperwork, it's important that you carefully read over the contract with your agent or lawyer to ensure there are contingencies—that is, if something falls through with your mortgage, you aren't still obligated to buy the home.

Nothing's finalized yet, so make sure you're getting your money's worth! Ask your real estate agent to recommend a trusted home inspector to walk through the house and check for any potential defects or problems. If necessary, you can request that the seller repair any issues you find.

Work with your chosen lender to submit your mortgage application, review predicted closing costs, and have your home appraised. Common closing costs include attorney fees, title insurance, appraisal fees, home inspection fees, courier fees, government recording fees, and taxes.

It's time to close! You will be contacted by escrow to sign your documents, possibly several days before closing. Once you and the seller have each signed and the documents are recorded with the county on closing day, you're all done. Finally—the keys to your new home!

If you're thinking of buying a home in Kitsap, then it's time to contact Mike & Sandi. We're your local real estate experts. Not only can we answer all your buying questions, we can help connect you with the resources you need to make an informed decision so you're sure to find your dream home at just the right price.