First-time buyer checklist for East Texas

Buying your first home is a long list of small, doable tasks. The trick is knowing what comes next. Print this, stick it on the fridge and check things off as you go.

Before you start shopping

• Decide on a monthly payment you're comfortable with, including taxes, insurance and any HOA dues, not just the loan payment.
• Pull your free credit reports at annualcreditreport.com and dispute any errors.
• Add up savings for the down payment, closing costs and a cushion for after you move in.
• Gather recent pay stubs, W-2s or tax returns, and bank statements. Self-employed? Expect to share more history.
• Talk with a lender and get pre-approved, not just pre-qualified.
• Ask the lender which loan types you may be eligible for, and what each would mean for your down payment and monthly cost.

Choosing where to live

• Make a short list of areas, then drive each one at commute time and on a weekend evening.
• Confirm the school district for any address directly with the district.
• Note whether a home is inside or outside city limits. It changes taxes, utilities and trash service.
• Look up the property on the county appraisal district website and note each taxing unit.
• Check the FEMA flood map for the address at msc.fema.gov.

Touring homes with an East Texas eye

• Signs of foundation movement: sticking doors, cracks in brick or drywall, uneven floors.
• Drainage and grading: where does water go in a hard rain?
• Big trees: limbs over the roof, roots near the foundation or sewer line.
• Age of the roof and the HVAC system.
• Water and sewer: city service, a water supply corporation, a well or septic?
• Internet options at the address, especially outside town.

Offer to closing

• Review the contract with your agent: price, earnest money, option period, closing date and any requests.
• Schedule your inspections right away during the option period. Add termite, septic, well or foundation checks if the house needs them.
• Get homeowners insurance quotes early, and flood quotes if the map or the neighbors suggest it.
• Compare your Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure line by line. (Here's how to read a Loan Estimate.)
• Keep your finances steady: no new credit cards, car loans or big unexplained deposits without asking your lender.
• Verify wiring instructions by phone using a number you already trust. Never use contact details from an email alone.
• Do a final walkthrough before closing.

After you get the keys

• File your homestead exemption with the appraisal district.
• Change the locks and garage codes.
• Set up utilities, trash and mail forwarding.
• Start a simple maintenance calendar: HVAC filters, gutters, pest control and a yearly look at the roof.
• Keep your closing documents somewhere safe.

The best first-time buyers aren't the ones who know everything. They're the ones who ask questions early.

If you're working through this list and want a second set of eyes on the money side, send KT a note. Happy to help you figure out where you stand.

General information for Longview-area readers, not financial, legal or tax advice. Every situation is different; talk with a licensed professional about yours.