FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER GUIDE

How to Buy Your First Home

One Step Closer to Homeownership

Becoming a homeowner has tremendous personal and financial benefits, especially for a first-time homebuyer. In addition to the pride of homeownership, wealth building, and tax deductions, owning your home also gives you an opportunity to build community in your neighborhood.

Let’s get you started on your journey to homeownership!

Homebuying Benefits

Long-term stability

Tax benefits to owning

Build equity and wealth

Appreciating assets

Predictable monthly payments

A secure retirement

How We Add Value

Community lender

Award-winning service

Certified Pre-Approval

17-Day Close Guarantee

Modernized process

Wide variety of loan programs

Financial guidance for life

Getting Started

Buying your first home is an exciting journey that begins with a few key steps to set you up for success. A little preparation can make the process smoother, from assessing your finances and understanding your budget to securing a mortgage pre-approval.

Assess Readiness

Map out your long-term goals, evaluate your current financial health (credit score, savings, income), and commitment to owning a home.

Get Your Finances in Order

Now is the time to tuck away extra savings, check your credit score, and commit to a monthly budget.

Book a Consultation

Meet with a loan officer to assess and understand what you will need to buy a home financially. I can give you an idea of the cost of homeownership and help you identify a homebuying budget.

Create Your Homebuying Wishlist

Determine your top priorities for your home. Know and understand that this may not be your forever home so focus on what will make the home enjoyable for you for the duration you live in it.

Apply for Pre-Approval

Home shopping with a pre-approval allows your offer to standout and compete with other offers. Find out what mortgage programs and options exist next!

Homebuying Process

Getting pre-approved for a home loan can not only speed up the home buying process but puts you in a better position when making an offer.

Get Started

Exploring Mortgage Options

Finding a great home loan involves careful consideration of your needs, finances, and history. We have unique loan options so that you can dream big.

| CONVENTIONAL MORTGAGE

Offers 3-5% down payment options

| FHA MORTGAGE

Has a minimum down payment requirement of 3.5%

| VA/USDA MORTGAGE

Both offer down payment options as low as 0%

| SPECIALTY LOAN PROGRAMS

Down Payment Assistance

Low Down Payment

Community Lending

Jumbo Loans

All-In-One Loan

ITIN Loans

Buy Before You Sell

Alternative Doc Programs (Bank Statement, Profit & Loss, 1099s, etc.)

To see if you’re eligible for these mortgages or want to learn more about them, check out our loan programs below.

All Loan Programs

Move-In Checklist

Moving into your first home is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with many details to manage. A move-in checklist can help make the transition smooth and stress-free, covering everything from essential supplies and security checks to setting up utilities and organizing your space.

Are You Renting?

Check your lease for how much notice you need to provide your landlord and to avoid paying a late notice fee.

Coordinate Your Move

Hire movers or schedule your moving truck rental and be sure you have plenty of helpers on move-in day.

Schedule Cleaners

Your lease (if renting) may require you to get a deep clean done and you may also want your new home professionally cleaned with floors steamed.

Set Up Utilities and Services

Move your utilities including electricity, water, gas, internet, and other services to your new address. Remember to cancel your renters insurance too!

Purchase Your Essentials

Purchase smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, lights, and tools for minor repairs.

Change Your Address

File a change of address with USPS and update your mailing address across your accounts.

Do’s and Don’ts
of Homebuying

Get Pre-Approved Before Looking for a Home

Research the Area You Want to Buy In

Communicate with Your Homebuying Team

Provide Documentation in a Timely Manner

Call Us With Any Questions!

Don’t Make a Major Purchase

Don’t Apply for New Credit Cards or Take Out Other Loans

Don’t Change Bank Accounts

Don’t Look at Homes Outside Your Price Range

Don’t Change Jobs

First-Time Homebuyer FAQ

Do you sell my information to third-parties?

We do not sell your data. However, the three credit bureaus can sell your details to other mortgage firms once we run credit. You may get calls from other lenders; kindly decline and mention you’re already working with another lender. Consider avoiding these sales calls by registering on the Opt-Out Prescreen website at optoutprescreen.com or call 888-567-8688.

Who is considered a first-time homebuyer?

Anyone who has not owned a primary residence property in the past three years.

How do I securely provide my documents?

The best way is through our RWM Fluid App portal where you completed the application. You can either log in via desktop or download the mobile app for easier access.

Why do I need to provide everything upfront?

Purchasing a home has many moving parts, and we want to set you up for success. We pre-underwrite our loans to ensure your offer is strong. In order to achieve an underwriting pre-approval, we must request documents upfront, which also saves you time once you’re under contract.

What documents do I need to provide?

Once you have completed your application, our team will update your portal with all the required documents. We don’t want you to gather anything unnecessary, so we customize each needs list to our client and scenario.

What if I don’t have an answer to a question on my application?

Fill it out as much as you can and give your loan officer a call when you encounter any questions that aren’t clear or applicable. Your loan officer will walk you through the process and they can always add to it later.

Learn More About Mortgages

Applying for a Mortgage: How to Get Started

July 29, 2021

How to Get Started When Applying for a Mortgage If you’re reading this, you’ve probably decided to buy a home!…

Understanding What Determines Mortgage Interest Rates

June 18, 2021

How Are Mortgage Rates Determined? Are you currently renting? If so, you’ve probably heard homeowners try to tell you that…

What Are Closing Costs on a Mortgage and How Do They Work?

May 13, 2021

What Are Closing Costs? When you purchase a home there are fees associated with the transaction that are referred to…

Mortgage Lending Simplified

Download the free RWM Home Loans Fluid Mobile App today and get started on your journey to homeownership.

SECURE DOCUMENT SCANNER

FAST & EASY PROCESS

REAL TIME LOAN UPDATES

Constant communication of needs and issues. Drafting of key documents in timely way. Friendly interactions and commitment to service.

Noah B.

Good communication, great staff and high level of professionalism.

James G.Company Name

The team was tremendously attentive to our every need and only had our goals and best interests in mind. Would work with them again anytime.

Brian S.Company Name

Everyone on the team was really professional, helpful and dedicated to make the whole process as smooth as possible. Whenever we had a question or concern, we always received a prompt reply.

Andriry K.Company Name

Extremely responsive, website was brilliant, clear list of what we needed and stayed on us until it was complete, knew who to send us to for tax transfer from our previous house. We will definitely refer our friends and family to RWM.

Kirk C.Company Name

The communication on the process and the ability to sign documents electronically was a life saver. The availability and speed of answers were great.

Angelina B.Company Name

You helped me understand all my options, which made me feel more confident in the decision I had to make. You were on top of everything that had to be done and kept things moving in an efficient way.

Julie M.Company Name

The team was easy to work with and willing to answer all of my questions. They even worked with a notary in North Carolina so I didn’t miss my vacation.

Melody T.Company Name

Everything was fully explained from the beginning, and I felt like we worked as a team when we went step by step in our journey of getting financed for our first home.

Ana E.Company Name

Buying a house can be overwhelming but when you have someone you trust it makes it so much easier. We felt assured that we were in good hands and that we would get to the finish line during the escrow process.

Cassandra C.Company Name

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