Homebuying Checklist for Beginners

 The journey to homeownership is an exciting endeavor, especially if you are a first-time buyer. However, it can also feel overwhelming when you start your search for your dream home. Aside from choosing a lender and securing your mortgage, there are a number of things to consider as you begin your house hunt.

That is why we have compiled this checklist to kickstart your research and help you narrow down your list of new home wants and needs.

What to consider when buying a house?

Before you start venturing out to open houses, there are a few key things to consider before beginning the homebuying process. Though they are not specific to understanding your housing needs and wants, it is still important to make sure you are ready to become a serious homebuyer.

1. Ensure that you are financially prepared for the cost of homeownership.

2. Check your credit score and get your financial documents ready.

3. Create your homebuying budget.

4. Choose a lender who can help you find the right mortgage for your needs.

5. Get pre-approved for your home loan.

6. Find a top-notch real estate agent you are comfortable working with.

It is important to take your time during these initial steps in order to gain more homebuying confidence. Understanding what you can afford will help you narrow down your list of potential homes. Plus, it will help to build your homebuying dream team because they will be key sources of knowledge in finding a home, putting in an offer, and moving onto closing day.

Homebuying checklist

Once you have determined you are ready to buy a house and are prepared for the financial responsibilities, it is time for the fun part: outlining your new home needs and wants.

Everyone’s situation is unique, so you can expect your top housing considerations to be a bit different from someone else’s list. However, this checklist will be a useful tool in helping you determine what is most important to you when it comes to finding a house that you want to turn into your home.

Location

• Overall location of home—city and state

• Neighborhood type

  • Suburban

  • Enclosed community

  • Urban

  • Homeowner association (HOA) neighborhood

• Location proximity to your place of employment

  • Do you need public transportation?

  • What are the traffic patterns during your hours of commute to work?

• Near good schools

• Near shopping

  • Grocery stores

  • Retail locations

  • Malls

• Near family and friends

• Amenities nearby

  • Pool

  • Gym

  • Stadiums or arenas for sporting events

  • Trails

  • Access to mountains, beaches, or parks

• Safety of neighborhood

  • Streetlights

  • Gated Community

  • Sidewalks

  • Crime statistics for the area

  • Neighborhood watch or patrol

• Natural disaster considerations

• Flood zone

• Earthquake, tornado, hurricane, or fire zone

• Availability of emergency road routes

• Any noise issues with location—trains, flight paths, schools

• HOA and costs

Curb appeal

• Style of the home and neighborhood

• Parking

• Drainage concerns

• Steep driveway

• Slope of property

• Size of property

• Outdoor living areas

• Deck

• Patio

• Sun coverage

• Location of the sun compared to outside areas

• Pool

• Outdoor kitchen

• Garden

• View

• Condition of the windows

• Yard maintenance needs and costs

• Age of home and potential repairs over time

• Condition of house

• Foundation

• Roof

• Siding

• Windows

• Gutters

• Fences

• Electrical systems

• Additional structures like sheds

• Tree location on the property? Does their location pose a risk to the house? Will they require trimming?

• Pests or insects in the area

Home interior and layout

• Overall floor plan—is it open air? Do you need more rooms?

• Number of bedrooms needed today and within the next 5 to 7 years

• Number of bathrooms needed today and within the next 5 to 7 years

• Location of bedrooms—do you need a master bedroom on the first floor?

• Location of bathrooms and access

• Do you need extra rooms like playrooms, exercise rooms, or other?

• Storage needs or access to storage

• Number of closets

• Fireplace

• Size of home in square footage

• Cost to heat and cool

• Overall lighting

• Natural lighting

• Finishing touches like molding, trim, or stairs

• Plumbing fixtures and condition of plumbing within the home

• Flow of the home

• Entertaining needs

• Attic space

• Basement

• Crawl space

• Ceiling height

• Number of floors

• Flooring options

• Carpet

• Tile

• Wood

• Condition of the flooring—does it need to be replaced?

• Ceiling fans

• Accessibility of laundry room

• Room sizes

• Bedrooms

• Kitchen

• Living areas

• How does your current furniture fit in this layout? Do you need more or new furniture?

• Kitchen

• Appliances and their age

• Style of appliances

• Countertops

• Layout or flow of kitchen

• Eating areas

• Cabinet space

• Pantry

• Location of sink

• Gas or electric

• Lighting

• Soft close drawers and cabinets

• Access to systems like plumbing, HVAC, electrical

Accessibility

• Do you want stairs within the home? If so, do the steps lead up or down? 

• Accessibility for wheelchair or other mobility devices

Other items to consider

• Pet needs

• Type of pets allowed

• Room to roam

• Condition of the overall neighborhood houses

• Neighbors keeping up with their homes

• Local economy strength

• Is this your forever home?

• Will this home last you 5 to 7 years?

• Growing old in the home—can the home be easily upgraded to allow mobility device access and other such needs?

• Home safety for young children

This list is meant to serve as a starting point to help assist in determining what you are looking for and what is important to you. Consider ranking each of these items in order of importance to you. This will allow you, and perhaps your real estate agent, to best understand where to focus.