I know just how exciting it is to begin searching for a new home in Shrewsbury. It’s always fun to make a list of all of the features you want inside, where you want to live and imagine what your home’s exterior will look like. We can easily get caught up in the little details of home buying and just as quickly, get carried away!

The real estate market is full of motivated buyers this year, many more than there have been in past years, but that doesn’t mean you should skip a few steps to get ahead of them.

Consider the following your must-do list before you begin house-hunting in Shrewsbury this summer.

File Your Taxes

With tax day now behind us, you’re already a step ahead— unless, of course, you filed an extension. Lenders will want to see your most recent return to show your income prior to you buying a home. If you’re making payments or filed an extension, you will still be required to provide this documentation in some way.

Prepare Other Documents

Your tax return is not all a lender will want to see. Other documents like W-2’s, 1099’s, and old tax returns may be requested to show your income for the past two years. Remember, the more you can show your Worcester County lender, the better! They want to know you have the funds to cover at least two months of a potential mortgage payment.

Know Your Credit Score

Many Massachusetts homebuyers skip this step and that is a big mistake! Your credit score will have an affect on the mortgage rate you qualify for and oftentimes, it can take months to correct a credit report with errors, so do your research now. Always try to raise your score before applying for a mortgage.

Get to Know the Market

This is where your real estate agent comes in handy! We are here to answer any questions you have about where to live or what home prices are like in Northborough, Westborough, Worcester or Shrewsbury, to name a few. Once you know how much you can comfortably afford, then you can begin searching for homes in your price range.

It’s going to be a busy summer here in the Shrewsbury area and if you’re planning to buy a home, now is the time to get organized! Feel free to contact me with any questions about preparing to buy a home or available properties in the area.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Maribeth McCauley Lynch
THRIVE Real Estate Specialists
Direct: (508) 641-9323
Maribeth@thriverealtors.com

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