How to Buy a House for First Time Home Buyers in 2020

Your Dream Home Awaits.

Buying a home is a huge investment — and it’s even more so when you’re making a purchase for the first time. Naturally, you want to ensure that your decision is a sound, wise one. And for first-time homebuyers, it’s normal to have plenty of questions, such as:

• Where should I start?

• How do I know if I’m ready to make such an important investment?

• How do I set a budget for it?

• What factors should I consider when shortlisting potential homes?

• Should I get a real estate agent to help me?

• Am I even qualified to buy a house in the first place?

Fortunately, this course on how to buy a house can address all those questions and more. This comprehensive, 10-step program teaches first-time homebuyers and newbie real estate investors the ins and outs of the purchasing process, from start to finish.  

Through this course, you get to:

• Find the right agent for your homebuying needs.

• Easily get pre-approval for home loans.

• Get the best bang for your buck and find the best home for your budget.

• Become financially savvy and make mortgage payments without breaking a sweat!

• Learn how to do DIY home maintenance to up your property’s market value.

• Watch instructional videos and listen to lectures that walk you through the entire process of buying a home, from budgeting, bidding, to closing the sale.

  
  

And that’s not all! On top of those mentioned above, you get these bonus perks:

• Get the advice of professional real estate agents. Have a question? Ask away! The course provides practical tips and suggestions from professional, licensed real estate agents.

• Monitor your progress. After finishing a section, take a quiz to see if you’re ready to move on to the next step.

• The course comes with Action Steps, complete with worksheets and forms, to spur and guide you on your homebuying journey.

• Gain access to external resources. Professional advice and tips from trusted sources such as government agencies and realtor sites are easily accessible.

• Stay updated. By enrolling in this course, you’ll get lifetime access to periodically updated material on homebuying and real estate.

At A Glance: Course Overview

Don’t be intimidated! This course is specifically designed to be newbie-friendly, especially to those unfamiliar with homebuying jargon and the processes involved in purchasing property. Don’t worry about being left behind either. This course is totally self-paced, so you can take your sweet time learning the ropes on how to buy a house.

In just 10 easy steps, you’ll finally realize your dream home! 

Step 1 – Understanding the Basics

• When is the right time to buy a house?

• What does due diligence mean?

• What’s the difference between renting and buying?

• What are the requirements in purchasing a home?

• What are my rights as a homebuyer?

  
  

Step 2 – Finding the Right Agent and Lender

• Do I really need to hire a real estate agent?

• Where do I begin looking for the right real estate agent for me?

• How do I get started on home loans?

• How should I look for lenders?

• What makes a good lender?

Step 3 – Getting Pre-Approval 

• What does pre-approved mean?

• Why do I need to get pre-approved?

• What loans, grants, and programs are available for first-time homebuyers?

• What are my options for home loans?

• What is a good faith estimate?

• What’s the difference between fixed and adjusted rates?

• How do mortgages work?

• What’s the significance of loan durations?

• Which loan duration is best for me and my budget?

Step 4 – The Search

• How do I begin house-hunting?

• What’s a fixer-upper? Should I settle for one?

• What’s the difference between foreclosure and short sale?

• What are probate properties?

• What should I watch out for when I’m looking at homes?

• What are the make-or-break factors I should keep in mind when house-hunting?

  
  

Step 5 – The Shortlist

• How should I finalize my search for the perfect home?

• What type of property is best for me?

• What are the pros and cons of each type of property?

• What are housing cooperatives?

• What are the must-dos and no-nos when drafting my shortlist of potential houses?

  
  

Step 6 – Budgeting and Funding

• How do I get started on applying for a home loan?

• What happens during loan processing?

• What is home loan underwriting?

Step 7 – Making the Offer

• When is it the right time to make an offer?

• What factors do I need to consider before making an offer?

• What mortgages am I qualified for?

• My offer was accepted. What’s next?

• What do I need to know before signing the contract?

• What are contingencies for a home purchase?

• Do I need to get a home warranty?

• What is a pre-inspection agreement?

Step 8 – Getting Insurance

• Why do I need to get home insurance? How does it work?

• How extensive is the insurance coverage for exterior and interior damages?

• How extensive is the insurance coverage for loss of personal belongings, as well damages caused by me and/or my family members?

• What kinds of home insurance are available?

  
  

Step 9 – The Closing Process

• What do I need to know about the home closing or settlement process?

• What happens during a home inspection?

• What should I look out for during a home inspection?

• What warrants a renegotiation of home pricing?

• What other details should I take note of before finalizing the deed of sale?

  
  

Step 10 – Settling Into Your New Home

• What should I expect before, during, and after moving in?

• What’s the difference between a bi-weekly and monthly payment?

• What goes into the home maintenance checklist?

  
  

Buying a home is an intricate process. Aside from budget, there are other factors at play: location, insurance, size, shape, people to deal with (agents, lenders, sellers, etc.), and more. With so much going on, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Thankfully, with this course on how to buy a house, you’ll be a whiz at purchasing your dream home in less than 3 months!

While this course is being offered to US residents only, there are no other prerequisites for taking up this course. As long as you are willing to learn everything about buying a house and are committed to becoming a smart, savvy homebuyer, you are fully welcome to avail of this course.