First time home buyer Georgia checklists all start in the same place: knowing what to do and in what order. Here is the list first, then the details, so you can follow along step by step.

• ☐ Check your credit reports and score
• ☐ Set a monthly budget, not just a price
• ☐ Save for down payment, closing costs and a cash cushion
• ☐ Get pre-approved
• ☐ Research assistance programs
• ☐ Hire a buyer’s agent
• ☐ Tour, offer, inspect, appraise
• ☐ Close with a Georgia attorney

1. Know your credit before you start as a first time home buyer Georgia

You can check your credit reports for free through the official annual credit report site. Look for errors and pay down high card balances before applying. Lenders look at your score, your payment history and your debt-to-income ratio. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Owning a Home tools walk through each stage of the process.

2. Budget the monthly payment

Your payment includes principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance and, with some loans, mortgage insurance and HOA dues. Add utilities and maintenance. Our affordability calculator and mortgage calculator help you test different prices.

3. Plan your cash

Plan for a down payment, closing costs, moving costs and an emergency fund. Not every loan needs 20 percent down, which is good news for any first time home buyer Georgia lenders see. Several loan types allow much less, and some assistance programs can help with cash to close.

4. Get pre-approved

Pre-approval from a lender tells you what you can borrow and shows sellers that your offer is serious. Compare quotes from more than one lender.

5. Look into Georgia assistance programs

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs offers the Georgia Dream program, which may help eligible buyers with down payment assistance. Income limits, price limits and requirements change, so check current terms on the DCA website or with a participating lender.

6. Choose an agent who knows the first time home buyer Georgia process

A buyer’s agent helps you find homes, write offers and negotiate. Ask how they communicate, which areas they know and how they work with a first time home buyer.

7. Tour, offer and inspect

Make a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves. When you make an offer, you will usually have a due diligence period to hire an inspector and negotiate repairs. Always get an inspection.

8. Appraisal, final approval and closing

Your lender orders an appraisal, finishes underwriting and issues a clear-to-close. In Georgia, a real estate attorney handles the closing. Do a final walkthrough, bring your ID and funds as instructed, and you will get your keys.

Common first-time buyer mistakes to avoid

• Shopping for homes before getting pre-approved
• Opening new credit or making big purchases before closing
• Skipping the inspection to win a bidding situation
• Forgetting to budget for taxes, insurance and repairs

How long does it take to buy your first home?

From pre-approval to closing, many buyers spend several weeks to a few months, depending on how quickly they find the right home. Once your offer is accepted, a typical contract period includes inspection, appraisal and underwriting, and often runs about a month. Starting early with your credit and savings makes the whole process smoother for a first time home buyer in Georgia.

Keep your finances steady while you shop. Avoid opening new credit cards, changing jobs without talking to your lender or making large unexplained deposits, because any of these can slow or complicate your approval.

Take the first step

Visit our buyers page, read our first-time homebuyers guide, or contact us. Call (770) 720-1515 to talk through your first time home buyer Georgia plan.

General information only. Confirm loan, program and tax details with a licensed lender or advisor.