The UR TEAM 3-Step Homebuyer Checklist
Most buyers start backwards. They fall in love with a house before they know what a bank will lend them, and it costs them thousands. This is the exact checklist we walk every UR TEAM buyer through, in the order that protects your money.
- Numbers first, before you shop
- Shop what you can actually afford
- Offer to keys without the surprises
DRE #01979726 · NMLS #1371923 · Equal Housing Opportunity
Watch the three minutes that save you thousands
Why the order matters, and what happens when a buyer skips straight to the house.
What's inside
Three steps, in this order. Each one has the items that actually decide whether your offer wins and whether closing goes smoothly.
Your Numbers
Do this before you look at a single house.
- Pull all three credit reports and dispute errors before a lender pulls them
- Gather two years of income documents: W-2s, tax returns, and recent pay stubs
- Self-employed? Gather two years of 1099s, K-1s, and business returns
- Gather two months of bank and investment statements for down payment and reserves
- Add up the real monthly number: principal, interest, taxes, insurance, HOA, and maintenance
- Ask for a real pre-approval, not a quick pre-qualification guess
- Ask what the loan costs to close, not just what the payment is
- Check down payment assistance and first-time buyer programs before assuming you need 20%
- Ask about gift fund rules if family is helping with the down payment
- Set your walk-away number: the payment you are comfortable with, not just the one you are approved for
- Do not move money, open new credit, or finance a car while your loan is in process
Shop What You Can Afford
Now that the number is real, the search is the fun part.
- Set up alerts so you see new listings the day they hit the market
- Compare price per square foot, not just the list price
- Read the full listing remarks and seller disclosures, not only the photos
- Visit at different times of day for traffic, noise, and parking
- Check the big-ticket systems: roof, HVAC, water heater, electrical panel, and foundation
- Confirm what conveys: appliances, fixtures, and whether solar is leased or owned
- Ask about the HOA: dues, reserves, rental restrictions, litigation, and special assessments
- Check insurance availability and cost, especially in fire or flood zones
- Verify school boundaries and your commute if either one matters to you
- Ask whether the seller's loan is assumable, because an assumable FHA or VA loan can come with a much lower rate
- Look at what actually sold within a mile in the last 90 days
Get the Keys
Offer to closing without the surprises.
- Write the offer with proof of funds and a pre-approval letter that matches the offer price
- Understand every contingency you keep or waive, and what waiving actually costs you
- Schedule inspections in the first days: general, plus termite, roof, sewer, and pool if applicable
- Review the appraisal and know your options if it comes in low
- Lock your rate and write down the expiration date
- Respond to lender document requests within 24 hours to keep the file moving
- Review the Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing and compare it to your estimate
- Do a final walk-through the day of closing to confirm the home's condition
- Bring valid ID and wire funds only after calling the title company to verify instructions
- Keep your closing paperwork: Closing Disclosure, deed, insurance policy, and any warranty
One team from your first number to your last signature
UR TEAM has licensed mortgage professionals and local real estate agents under one roof, working the same file at the same time. Your offer goes in fully backed and ready to close.