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you wanna buy a house, but don't know where to start?
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items Sections
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figure out where you're starting
get your money together
find out what help you qualify for
find your people
understand the mortgage before you sign
figure out where you're starting
Free. If buying a house is somewhere on your calendar but you don't know what to do first, start here. I put together a 12-month plan to help you work through the preparation without trying to do everything at once. You get one step by email each wee...
The 12-Month Homebuyer Plan
Free. No credit pull. Before you start applying for mortgages, get a better idea of where your credit stands. The Lender Check takes about 2 minutes and 10 questions, and it shows you what a lender may flag so you know what needs attention first. It ...
Lender Check
Free official site. Before you pay somebody to tell you what's on your credit report, go look at it yourself. This is the official place to request your credit reports, and checking your own report doesn't hurt your credit score. It does not give you...
AnnualCreditReport.com
get your money together
Affiliate link. You need to know what your money is doing before you decide how much house you can afford. YNAB can help you organize your spending, plan for bills, and give your house savings a job instead of just hoping there's money left over. The...
YNAB Budgeting App
Affiliate link. Your down payment isn't the only thing you're saving for. You'll also want to think about closing costs, moving expenses, and the money you need left over after you get the keys. This is a Money.com comparison page of savings accounts so your house fund has somewhere to live. Rates and offers change, and I haven't picked a favorite bank for you, so read the terms before you open anything.
High-Yield Savings Account Options
Affiliate link. Totally optional. You do not need credit repair to qualify for a mortgage, and you can dispute errors on your credit reports yourself for free. If you're thinking about paying a company anyway, compare your options first and read the ...
Compare Credit Repair Services
Free. This goes deeper than the Lender Check. The Lender Check takes a couple of minutes and shows what may stop you from getting preapproved. Credited takes about 10 minutes and gives you a plan for every account on your credit, with the steps and t...
Credited
find out what help you qualify for
My paid tool. Before you assume you have to save every dollar of your down payment and closing costs by yourself, look into homebuyer assistance. Granted helps you find programs that may be worth exploring based on your situation. Every program has i...
Granted: Home Grant Finder
Affiliate link. If you're a veteran, an active-duty service member, or otherwise potentially eligible for a VA loan, please don't overlook this option. VA loans can offer major benefits, but not everyone qualifies, and you'll still want to compare th...Money.com comparison page, not one lender.
VA Home Loan Options
Free government resource. A useful place to learn about homebuying programs and the process from an official source. It's especially helpful when you're trying to figure out which questions to ask before you commit to a loan. HUD does not automatical...
HUD Homebuying Information
find your people
Affiliate link. This is a Money.com page that compares mortgage lenders. It is not one lender, and I haven't personally vetted every lender on it. You do not have to take the first offer. Compare a few lenders and look at your total monthly payment and upfront costs, not just the inte...
Find a Mortgage Lender
Free referral. Tell me what you're looking for and I'll help match you with an agent. I may earn a referral fee if you work with an agent through this page. It doesn't cost you extra. You can still interview more than one agent before you decide.
Find a Real Estate Agent
Free to find. This is a CFPB tool that helps you find HUD-approved housing counselors near you. Counseling is often free or low cost, but some agencies may charge a fee, so ask before you book. A counselor can walk you through your budget, credit, an...
Find a Housing Counselor
understand the mortgage before you sign
Free. A Loan Estimate is the three page form every lender must give you after you apply. It shows your rate, monthly payment, and closing costs. This page explains it section by section, so you know what you're looking at before you compare offers.
CFPB Loan Estimate Explainer
Free. Once you have loan estimates from more than one lender, put them side by side. This CFPB page shows you what to compare, including rate, fees, and total cost, and how to use a better offer to negotiate with another lender.
Compare Your Mortgage Loan Offers