Here are 10 action items to take NOW to buy your new home in 2021! Why Now? Why 2021? Interest rates are still at all-time lows. You can afford more now than you could when rates were in the 4-5% range like they were when I bought my first home. Let's make you a homeowner in 2021! Renting Sucks! Get your financial house in order. Do you know your credit score? Is it good, as in over 600? The higher, the better in terms of your mortgage rate. If you have some room to work on your score NOW is the time to start. Moving your score up takes time, and the sooner you start, the better it will be when you get pre-approved. Save money for a down payment. Gone are the days with zero down payments. I would budget for 5-10% for 2021. Save NOW! Reach out to a Mortage Lender. I can help you with this. Having a conversation with a professional can eliminate any surprises. A lender can also give you a ballpark range of your budget and how to improve your underwriting status. Let me know if you do not have a preferred lender. (Always work with a local lender) Find your new neighborhood. Now is a great time to preview neighborhoods you think you might like. Covid will not last forever, so keep in mind a post-Covid world, like commute times. Preview houses to get to know the market. Let me know if you want to see some houses you think you would want to live in. I am available for previews, and there is zero cost. If you have a dog, walk the neighborhood. Pull your current lease and review it. When is your lease up? Is there a move-out notice? Any penalties? Organize. Create three piles; keepers, give-away, and trash. Remove all the trash items now. Sell or give away items that you no longer want but somebody else would (I recommend selling them for cash). Organize the items you want to keep. Get my buyers worksheet; it has all the stages you will encounter, basic cost calculators, my preferred vendors, and more. Download my app and register, this will get you the best buyer's experience on the market today. Your preferences, your process, your app, it's all here! https://www.kw.com/download/KW122NWQS And the most important thing is to communicate with me what your plan is. The real estate market is shifting weekly, and you want to be in the best position possible to buy a new home. Competition can be fierce! Be prepared! I can help! Travis Bryenton Accredited Buyers Representative (less than 1% of all REALTORs') Best of Zillow Premier Agent (Top 1%) REALTOR Keller Williams Buckhead https://www.travisbryenton.com/testimonials