The end of the year is right around the corner, but it’s not too late to make your dream of homeownership a reality. Whether you’re looking to host the holidays in your new home or just want to wrap up 2024 with a big accomplishment, there’s still time to get the keys in your hand. Here’s your checklist for buying a home before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st.

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1. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

Think of pre-approval as your golden ticket to the homebuying process. Not only does it show sellers you’re serious, but it also gives you a clear picture of how much home you can afford, what your payments will be, and how much cash you will need to close on your dream home.
Here’s what you’ll need to gather for your pre-approval:

• Proof of income (pay stubs, W-2s, or tax returns if you’re self-employed)
• The last two months of recent bank statements
• State issued photo ID
• A quick credit check. I have several options for this but a hard credit pull is required once you go under contract.

Pro Tip: Start this process early to avoid any surprises. If you’re not sure where to begin, I’m here to walk you through it step by step!

Second Pro Tip: If you don’t want to get 50 phone calls from pushy online mortgage lenders, I recommend you sign up for OptOutPrescreen.com. This is the official Consumer Credit Reporting Industry website to accept and process requests from consumers to Opt-In or Opt-Out of firm offers of credit or insurance. Do this at least 7 days before you allow your credit report to be pulled. This prevents the 3 credit bureaus from selling your contact information to 50+ shady lenders.

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2. Check Your Credit and Tidy It Up

Your credit score plays a big role in determining your interest rate. The higher the score, the better the rate. You should do these items months in advance, so if you want to close before the end of the year, you might want to skip this.

• Pay off small debts: Every little bit helps!
• Do not open or close any existing accounts, this will drop your score.
• Dispute inaccuracies: Make sure your credit report reflects your true financial picture. Only do this if you have 3 months to work it out. It will take the credit bureaus at least this amount of time to respond. Too many open disputes will get your loan denied.
• Avoid new credit lines: Now’s not the time for a new credit card or car loan.

If your score isn’t quite where you want it to be, don’t worry—we can still find a loan program that works for you. We can work with scores as low as 500.

If you want to get a look at your credit without impacting it, you can go to www.annualcreditreport.com. If you want to monitor your credit report and take advantage of the latest technology to safeguard or repair your credit go here: IDIQ Credit Monitoring and Restoration Services.

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3. Know What You’re Looking For in a Home

The clearer your vision, the faster the process. Ask yourself:

• How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?
• What neighborhoods fit your lifestyle?
• Are there must-haves like a big backyard, a home office, or a great school district?

With a clear wishlist, your real estate agent can help you zero in on options quickly—especially since homes tend to sit on the market a little longer during the holiday season.

Pro Tip: Realtors have access to many more listings than Zillow or Redfin. Don’t waste time there, talk with your realtor and receive targeted listing based on what you want.

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4. Build Your Dream Team

Buying a home takes a village. Surround yourself with professionals who’ve got your back, like:

• A trusted mortgage lender (hint: that’s me!) I can connect you with all of these.
• A knowledgeable real estate agent
• An attentive home inspector
• A knowledgeable homeowners insurance broker.

Having the right people in your corner makes the process smoother and less stressful. Plus, it keeps everything moving quickly so you can hit your end-of-year goal.

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5. Be Ready to Act Fast

The housing market tends to slow down as the holidays approach, which means less competition—but that doesn’t mean you can hesitate.

• Have your finances in order: Pre-approval in hand? Check!
• Be prepared to make offers: Once you find the one, you’ll want to move quickly.
• Schedule inspections and appraisals ASAP: These can take time, so plan ahead.

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A New Home for the New Year

Buying a home is a big deal, but with the right plan (and the right team), you can make it happen before the end of the year. If you’re ready to start the process, reach out today. Let’s get you pre-approved, find your dream home, and celebrate New Year’s Eve in your new living room!

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Call/Text: (214) 945-1066

Here’s to ending the year with a bang—and a new set of keys in your hand!