First Time Home Buyer Checklist
Start with a monthly ownership budget and cash for closing, then compare lenders, choose your team and evaluate the home. Before closing, review the inspection, insurance and loan documents. After you receive the keys, secure access, test alarms and organize your home records. Use these 29 steps to track the decisions and questions that still need an answer.
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Reviewed
Before you start searching
- Review your credit reports and resolve errors
Check your information before applying. Ask lenders how your credit and finances affect the options available to you.
- Set a monthly budget for the full cost of ownership
Include the mortgage, taxes, insurance, association fees, utilities, maintenance and repairs. Leave room for other goals.
- Separate cash for closing from your emergency and repair reserves
Plan for the down payment, closing charges and moving costs without spending every dollar of savings.
- Ask a lender about pre-approval and its remaining conditions
Confirm what was reviewed, when the letter expires and what still needs approval. A letter is not a final loan guarantee.
- Write down your maximum comfortable payment and purchase budget
Use your own cash flow and savings needs. Revisit the limit when taxes, insurance or repair information changes.
Build your team
- Compare buyer’s agents and clarify representation and fees
Ask about recent local experience, communication, written agreements and how the agent will handle inspection decisions.
- Compare Loan Estimates from multiple lenders
Compare the same loan type and term, including payment, rate, fees and cash to close. Ask about unexplained differences.
- Confirm who will review your contract and handle closing
Ask your agent or closing professional which legal and settlement services your location and transaction require.
- Investigate insurance availability and obtain property-specific quotes
Check coverage, exclusions and deductibles before committing to a budget. Ask about separate flood or other hazard coverage.
House shopping
- Separate non-negotiables from optional improvements
Record your needs before touring. Keep essential repairs separate from projects you would simply like to do.
- Review local hazards and ask for available property disclosures
Gather the records relevant to this address. Ask the appropriate local authority or professional about missing information.
- Check commute, services and neighborhood needs yourself
Visit at different times and verify the features you rely on. Do not assume a listing answers every practical question.
- Check property taxes, association charges and assessments
Ask how a purchase could change these amounts. Keep written estimates with the home’s other decision records.
- Record questions and visible concerns from each tour
Use photos where permitted and bring unresolved concerns to your inspector. A walk-through does not replace an inspection.
Offer and inspection
- Understand your contingencies and contract deadlines
Ask your agent or attorney what each condition protects and what happens if you waive it or miss its deadline.
- Schedule an independent inspection promptly
Leave time to understand the findings and arrange follow-ups. Check the inspector’s experience and local licensing requirements.
- Ask which areas and tests are outside the inspection scope
Decide with qualified professionals whether additional evaluation is needed for this property. Record inaccessible areas and unknowns.
- Organize the inspection findings and unanswered questions
Use HomeScore’s Inspection Analyzer to help review your report, then confirm significant findings with your inspector or specialist.
- Use written findings and quotes to discuss repairs or credits
Separate urgent concerns from routine upkeep. Ask your agent or attorney which options your contract permits.
Before closing
- Confirm outstanding lender conditions and any rate-lock deadline
Keep requested documents organized and discuss financial or employment changes with the lender before closing.
- Review your Closing Disclosure against the Loan Estimate
For most mortgages, you must receive it at least three business days before closing. Ask your lender to explain changes.
- Arrange a final walk-through with your agent
Check agreed repairs and included items against your contract. Record unresolved issues before signing.
- Verify payment instructions using a trusted phone number
Call a known closing contact before sending funds. Treat emailed changes to wiring details as a reason to verify again.
- Confirm identification, funds and insurance documents with your closer
Use the closing professional’s own checklist and confirm when you will receive access to the property.
Keys and your first week
- Take control of keys, access codes and connected devices
Make an access plan for the home. Update locks and codes as appropriate and review who can control connected equipment.
- Locate shut-offs and keep utility emergency contacts accessible
Ask a qualified professional to explain anything unfamiliar. Record locations without opening panels or disturbing equipment.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Check placement, age and manufacturer instructions. Set reminders for testing and replace alarms when their instructions require it.
- File insurance, closing and service records together
Confirm coverage and payment dates. Keep contact details, warranties and receipts where you can find them during a problem.
- Create your home plan and choose one useful next action
Add your home to HomeScore, review what is known and mark missing details as unknown. Start with the issue that matters most.
Buyer checklist questions
What should a first-time home buyer do first?
Set a realistic ownership budget before browsing homes. Record monthly costs, cash needed to close and the savings you want to retain. A lender can explain financing options, while your own budget determines what feels sustainable.
How much should I save beyond the down payment?
Allow for closing charges, moving costs, immediate work and an emergency cushion. Use lender estimates and property-specific quotes as they become available. Keep planned repairs separate from money reserved for unexpected expenses.
Does pre-approval guarantee my mortgage?
No. Ask what the lender has verified and which conditions remain, including the property review. Keep the letter’s expiry and any rate-lock terms visible in your checklist.
Is a home inspection the same as an appraisal?
No. An inspection examines the home’s condition; an appraisal addresses its value for lending. Review inspection scope and findings separately, and ask for specialist follow-up when a concern remains unresolved.
What should I do after a home inspection?
Read the report, collect questions and discuss important findings with the inspector. Get appropriate follow-up and written estimates before making repair or credit decisions within your contract deadlines. Carry unresolved maintenance items into your ownership plan.
What changes after I get the keys?
Shift from purchase decisions to access, safety, records and maintenance. Use the after-closing guide for the first 30, 60 and 90 days, and the moving checklist for move-in logistics.
Sources and how to use this checklist
This checklist organizes the buying journey; your contract, lender and local requirements determine the deadlines. HomeScore’s contribution is the handoff from buying to ownership: keep the inspection findings, known system details and first maintenance decisions in one home plan. The sources below support the budgeting, inspection, closing and alarm guidance. No checklist guarantees loan approval or a problem-free home.