Buy a Home
Whether you are buying your first home or moving into a new home, these tips will provide answers to your questions and guide you through the home financing process. When you are ready to get started, our mortgage loan officers will use their mortgage knowledge and experience to partner with you every step of the way.
Getting Pre‐Approved
Getting pre‐approved for your home is one of the most important steps in purchasing a new home. A pre‐approval will help determine what you can realistically afford before you begin looking at homes. A Johnson Financial Group pre‐approval is a fully underwritten loan approval that includes verification of your income, credit and down payment funds. So, when you are ready to make an offer on a home, the seller knows your offer is solid. The final step in the process is to find your home.
A pre‐approval requires you to provide these documents:
- Your social security number to obtain your credit report
- Pay stubs, W‐2's and possibly full tax returns for income documentation
- Bank and asset statements for verification of liquid and retirement savings
- Any other necessary information based on your individual situation; for example, business tax returns, current real estate holdings, etc.
A good first step in the mortgage process is to determine a monthly mortgage payment that will fit into your current budget.
As part of the home buying process, we will request a credit report which will include your credit score. Your loan officer will look at the score to determine how likely it is that you will make prompt payments. It is also the primary driver for determining the interest rate you will pay on your mortgage loan. In addition, you should review your credit report, check for errors and fix them.
Typically, down payments are as low as 3% of the home price. Keep in mind, if your down payment is less than 20%, you may need Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). We offer several low down payment options from which you can choose.
Looking at your complete and current financial picture can help you determine the right loan program for you. Here are a few factors to consider:
- Anticipated changes in finances
- How long you intend to keep your house
- How comfortable you are with your mortgage payment changing
Our mortgage loan officers will help you find the loan program to best align with your finances, life goals, and your future plans.