First-time homebuyer? Here are 6 questions to ask yourself

The summer home buying season is upon us, and the housing market is especially daunting for first-time buyers. Home values have been soaring. Bidding wars are common. For novice home shoppers, it all can feel a bit intimidating. 

If you’re a first-time buyer, here are six questions to ask yourself.

1. What's your credit score?

Mortgage rates remain at rock-bottom levels. But to lock in the most favorable rate, you’ll need a credit score of 760 or above.

Your credit score is the single most important factor in determining your rate. Ralph McLaughlin, the chief economist at Haus.com, has analyzed millions of mortgages issued in recent years. He discovered that raising your credit score lowers your rate more than reducing your debt-to-income ratio or boosting your down payment.

2. What's your plan for the future?

Put another way, how long do you plan to stay in the house? In general, if you expect to be in the same place for less than three to five years, buying doesn’t make as much sense. That’s because real estate commissions and mortgage closing fees can eat into your proceeds when you sell the property.

One wild card: Home prices have been appreciating quickly. If the strong growth in home values continues, then owning a home for just a couple of years can pay off. However, predicting the path of home prices is nearly impossible.

3. How much do you have for a down payment?

This issue isn’t a deal killer, but it does make a difference. If you can put down 20 percent — $60,000 on a $300,000 home — you’ll avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI). If your down payment is less than 20 percent, you’ll have to pay PMI.

Loan programs through the Federal Housing Administration and the Veterans Administration allow you to make small down payments — 3.5 percent for FHA loans, and nothing down for VA mortgages. However, those loan programs carry higher fees.

4. Can you handle the costs of insurance, property taxes, and maintenance?

Getting into a home is just the start of the financial commitment. Once you’re a homeowner, you’ll have to pay not just principal and interest but also homeowners insurance and property taxes.

And owning a home means you’re now responsible for an endless array of expenses — lawn care, repainting, AC service, appliance replacement. The bottom line? Make sure you build the extra costs of homeownership into your budget.

5. Are you ready for some high-stakes homework?

If you answered the first four questions favorably, you’re ready to buy. But in a competitive market like today’s, you’ll need to spend quite a bit of time touring homes and studying property values.

Doing plenty of homework will give you a better feel for the market.