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Video: presentación generada por IA de Chris Bongirno, NMLS 1550873. Se carga desde YouTube al tocar.
September 7, 2026 · 3 min read · Video approved and published (RHL-LC-0003) · article text: author sign-off pending
Buying a first home is six steps in a fixed order — get preapproved, pick the program, find the house with your agent, go under contract, clear underwriting, close — and most of the stress comes from doing them out of order. This checklist puts them in order and tells you what to have ready for each one.
Before you look: get preapproved
Talk to a loan officer before you talk to a real estate agent. A preapproval tells you what you can borrow, what program fits, and what your real cash to close will be, so you shop the right houses and your offer is taken seriously. Have your ID, two years of W-2s or tax returns, thirty days of pay stubs, and two months of bank statements ready. Read our guide, How to get preapproved for a mortgage.
Step two: pick the program with your loan officer
Most first-time buyers in Montana, Colorado, and North Carolina end up on one of three paths: a conventional loan, an FHA loan, or a VA loan if you've served. On top of any of them, your state's housing agency may offer a down payment assistance program, and your loan officer will tell you whether you qualify and what it changes. This is a conversation, not a form.
Step three: find the house with your agent
Now you're ready for an agent, and you already know your price range. Tell your agent your preapproval amount and the number you're comfortable with; they aren't always the same. Keep your loan officer in the loop on any house you're serious about, so the numbers get run before you write the offer.
Step four: go under contract
Your offer is accepted, your earnest money goes to the title company, and the clock starts. Your loan officer orders the appraisal and the full credit report. Send documents the same day they're requested; the single biggest cause of a late closing is a document that sat in someone's inbox.
Step five: clear underwriting
An underwriter checks that everything in the file is true and that the house is worth what you're paying. Expect a few follow-up questions; that's normal. During this stretch, don't open new credit, don't finance anything, don't change jobs, and don't move money without a paper trail. Call your loan officer before you do anything that touches your income, savings, or credit.
Step six: close
You'll get your Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing. Read the cash-to-close number and compare it to your Loan Estimate; if it changed, ask why. Wire your funds only after calling the title company at a number you already have; never act on wiring instructions from an email. Bring your ID. Sign. Get the keys.
What to have ready
Photo ID and Social Security number or ITIN · Two years of W-2s or tax returns; thirty days of pay stubs; two months of bank statements · If self-employed: two years of returns and a year-to-date profit and loss · Gift letter and paper trail, if family is helping · Homeowners insurance quote before closing · Your loan officer's phone number, saved in your phone
Preguntas frecuentes
Do I need a big down payment?
No. Most first-time buyers put down far less than they assume, and down payment assistance programs can cover part or all of it. Your loan officer will show you the options for your situation.
Should I find the house first or the loan first?
The loan. A preapproval takes about twenty minutes to apply for and makes every step after it easier.
How long does the whole thing take?
From accepted offer to closing, most purchases in our markets close in about thirty to forty-five days. Getting preapproved first is what keeps it on that schedule.
Programas relacionados
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