What to Do Before You Buy a House in Las Vegas

If you’re thinking about making 2021 the year you buy a house in Las Vegas, you’re not alone! I’m sure it’s no surprise that we’re in a very busy market right now, and buyers are moving to Las Vegas from all over the country to take advantage of the affordable cost of living, warm weather, and work opportunities.

If buying a house is one of your goals this year, here are a few things to start working on in the meantime! Becoming a homeowner (whether you’re a first time home buyer or a seasoned pro) is a big to-do, and doing these things before you get too far into the process will set you up for success.

(Update: I just made a YouTube video all about this, so if you’d rather watch that, you can find it here! Things to Do Before Buying a Home)

Work on paying down any existing debt

I’m talking about things like credit card debt, car loans, etc. While it’s still totally doable to buy a house even if you have other debt, putting as much of a dent into it as you can will definitely help when it comes to saving (and paying) for a home!

Save as much money as you can

I talk a lot about the fact that you don’t have to have a huge savings account to buy a home (in fact, I have a whole video about the whole 20% down myth on my YouTube) - and I’m not saying that’s not true. But still, saving as much money as you can helps a lot when it comes to paying for home buying expenses. I know it’s hard, but making some sacrifices now to help you save money to buy a house is so worth it in the long run!

Don’t make any big life changes

If you’ve been thinking about leaving your job or financing a new car, please hold off if you can! Now isn’t the time. Drastic changes like these obviously have a big impact on your financial situation, and can easily throw off your ability to qualify for a mortgage. Try to avoid any shifts for now!

Get pre-qualified/pre-approved with a mortgage lender

This is a super important step in the home buying process, and I know it doesn’t sound very fun, but trust me on this. Don’t go out and start looking at homes until you’ve at least talked to a mortgage lender and have at least some idea on how much of a home you can afford from them. It’ll save you a lot of time and potentially disappointment getting your hopes up about a home you really can’t afford (been there!).

Buying a house in Las Vegas (or anywhere!) is a huge step, and there’s a lot that goes into it! If you want to know more about what buying a house might look like for you, feel free to send me a message - no strings attached.

Oh, and one more thing! I just finished up my free home buying guide on a few things you need to know before buying a house - check it out here!

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Tips for Home Buyers

Tips for Home Sellers

Tips for Renters

New Construction Houses

Las Vegas Housing Market

Living in Las Vegas

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