Renting vs buying your home calculator

There’s a lot that goes into buying a house. If you’re looking to start the process, here are some helpful steps to get the ball rolling.

Gather your personal info: Preliminary preparations like talking to your bank, making sure you have a down payment, and knowing your credit score help you know if you’re even ready to buy a house.
Do your research: Look up listings in areas you’d like to live and get a feel for the pricing in that area. Look at houses you think you’d like and check those prices. Figure out what you’re looking for so you know what to expect.
Get pre-qualified: This will let you know how much you can actually spend. Getting pre-qualified for a mortgage is an easy way to do this.
Find an adviser, and a good one at that: Having a professional in your corner can make a huge difference, especially if this is your first time buying a house. Odds are, they’ll know more than you will, and they can provide useful insight throughout the process. You can find real estate agents online, but it’s also recommended that you ask trusted family, friends, and acquaintances for recommendations.
Shop and make an offer. Tour, take notes, take pictures, and ask questions! You have to start looking at houses to buy one, so get out there! Take it seriously, pay attention, and relax a bit, this is the fun part!

Renting vs Buying a Home