What are the Steps Involved in Buying a Home?
Let's break down the process step-by step
This video is also available with audio description. 
1. Do Your Research and Plan Your Home Buying Journey
You came to the right place to get started! Here is a summary of actions you might take to help you plan.
- Learn about the pros and cons of renting vs. buying in this article from Banzai.1
- Request a free copy of your credit report and review it for accuracy. If you spot any errors, check out the FTC website for more information on how to correct them.
- Check out My Home by Freddie Mac for helpful resources on buying and owning a home.
- Research different cities and towns through Livability, Neighborhood Scout, or a similar site.
- Try this Saving With a Purpose Coach from Banzai to develop a plan for saving for a down payment.
2. Take a First-Time Home Buyer Course (If Applicable)
We offer Citizens' Planning and Housing Association (CHAPA)-certified, in-person seminars throughout the year. CHAPA certification may be important because some affordable loan programs require a CHAPA-certified course to fulfill their home buyer education requirement. Our loan officers can advise you on which products require buyers to complete a CHAPA-certified course.
If you prefer a self-paced, online option, Fannie Mae HomeView is a free online course that fulfills the education requirement for some loan products, like CSB Home Achieve.
3. Get a Credit Approval
Getting a credit approval, or pre-qualification, is a great place to start if you are looking to understand how much home you can afford.
The estimated purchase price and loan amount that comes from this step will be based on the verbal information that you provide to the lender.
At CSB, it is backed by running your information through an automated underwriting system and we also pull your credit report for this process.
4. Find a Real Estate Agent, Search for a Home, and Make an Offer
This is the fun part! The process can seem overwhelming, so remember:
- Expect up to 60 days from submitting an offer to closing, and plan accordingly.
- If you need a recommendation for real estate agents, your CSB loan officer can provide the names of three qualified agents.
- The process can seem overwhelming, so keep your head up and don't get discouraged if an offer isn't accepted.
5. Secure Financing for Your Home by Completing the Mortgage Application Process
Let our local team of experts walk you through the process! Check out Your Mortgage Journey for a complete walkthrough of the application process, from credit approval through closing.
6. Welcome to Home Ownership!
Our goal is to build lifelong relationships with our customers and be your go-to partner for improving and maintaining your financial well-being. Give us a call if you're ever interested in refinancing your mortgage, leveraging the equity you have in your home for a loan or line of credit, or purchasing a second home.
Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit
As you build equity by making payments on your home, you can leverage that equity using a loan or line of credit for things like minor home repairs and renovations, debt consolidation, or college tuition.
Other Residential Lending Needs
Please reach out to a mortgage loan officer for more information on construction loans, combination mortgages, and other products and services we offer.