If you’re thinking about buying next season, then kudos to you for checking out Everyhome.com to see what’s out there! There are a few other easy ways that you can put yourself in the best possible position to purchase your new home:

1. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a local real estate agent for a little advice and suggestions on how to efficiently begin the home hunting process! A good agent will be flexible, trustworthy, patient , and will understand that you’d like to wait a bit to purchase a home (*cough cough* this describes our EveryHome agents!). Unless you sign a “Buyer’s Agency Agreement”, you’re not locked in to working with a specific agent, so feel free to call or email a few and get their advice!

Heather’s happy buyers!

2. Keep an eye on your finances, and check your credit scores to ensure that there are no errors. If your scores all appear as expected, the next step is to tackle any debt that you may have (new ability-to-repay requirements require a debt-to-income ratio of 43 percent or less).

3. Nail down your budget by mocking up your monthly expenses and considering the mortgage payment that you can comfortably afford. You’ll want to have a little extra set aside each month for household expenses—after all, you’ll be your own landlord!

4. If you currently own your home and will need to sell it, it’s a good idea to contact an agent to get a good sense of your home’s current value and any minor improvements that may help it to sell even quicker.

---