Homebuyer Checklist

This is the fourth in a series of videos and articles inspired by Mars Bank’s First Time Homebuyer live events highlighting our homebuyer checklist. Sign up today for our free online first time homebuyer seminar

Bryan McClaine, a mortgage loan officer at Mars Bank, credits his mother with an important life lesson: “One of the most important lessons I learned was from my mother. It is, you never go grocery shopping when you’re hungry. When you do, you end up putting more items in your cart that you don’t need. The same principle applies when you’re looking for your first home.”

Determine Wants vs. Needs

Make a list of the things that you must have versus the things that you just want, or might like to have in your new house. Take the list with you when you’re looking at a house online or in person. This can prevent you from having an impulse or emotional reaction drive you towards a purchase choice. A checklist helps you look at the home from a rational standpoint.

Establish Goals with a Real Estate Agent

It is important to communicate to your real estate professional what you’re looking for in a house. Work off of the list that you put together for what you must have in a home. Don’t deviate from that, but also make sure your real estate professional knows about the things that you would like to have in a house. Maybe you’ll find everything all in the same home!

A goal you definitely want to communicate with your real estate is what size of the home you need. It’s a good idea to know ideally how many rooms you want to have, the location, and the price. Most importantly, know that the real estate professional brings their knowledge and their professional skills to the table to help you find homes that fit your requirements.

At Mars Bank, we want to help you navigate the homebuying process. Finding that perfect home for you and your family is a big decision and we are here to help you along the way. Contact Mars Bank today to speak with a representative!


Register for our free online First Time Homebuyer Seminar!