It’s a new year and a new decade! If your goal for this year is to make a big move to a new home you might feel overwhelmed, and have no idea where to start. 

Make these 3 things your New Year’s resolution , and you’ll be ready to buy a home sooner than you think. 

Get your Finances in Order

Having a successful home purchase starts with some simple financial planning.

If you are 6-12 months from buying a home you have plenty of time to make a few changes that can have a big impact on your negotiating power. The first step is taking stock of where you are, and using that information to create a budget you can live with. 

Once you’ve set your budget in goals you can start saving, or saving more than before. Set this money aside in a special account. It’s harder to spend it if it’s harder to get to it. 

If you’re considering changing jobs, decide soon. It’s better if you’ve been in your new position for a few months when you apply for your loan. 

I’ll dive deeper into this topic soon, with an easy budgeting questionable and details about how much you need in the bank to buy a home. 

Pro tip: this is also a great time to ask for a raise! Instead of wishing you had more cash flow, ask for it and see if you can get to your goal a little faster

Take the next Step

Improve Your Credit Score

This is the time to take a look at your credit score and do some work to improve it. With only a few months of effort you can make a big difference in your score. 

Run a free report on your credit and review the information. If you find any errors contact the agency to have them fixed. 

Payoff debts, review your credit ratio, or set up automatic payments to bring up your score. I’ll be diving deeper into the details of what you’d want to focus on an why in a follow up post. 

Pro tip: because of compound interest, your home loan is your biggest expense when buying. If you can reduce your interest rate it can save you tens of thousands of dollars!

Take the Next Step

Write Down Your Vision

Most people know they want a change, but aren’t very clear about what kind of change.

Dedicate an hour or two and take inventory of what you love and hate about where you are now. Consider what routines you enjoy, what behaviors you want to nurture.

What do you want your life to look like? Finding a home to support the life you want starts with having a clear vision.