1. Check Your Credit Score

Pull your credit report from all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and review it for errors. Your score determines your loan options and interest rate.

Tip: Visit AnnualCreditReport.com for your free annual reports. Dispute any errors immediately as corrections can take 30-45 days. A score of 740+ gets you the best conventional rates.

2. Calculate Your DTI Ratio

Divide your total monthly debt payments by your gross monthly income. Lenders want your total DTI below 36% (some allow up to 43% for FHA).

Tip: Include car payments, student loans, credit card minimums, and any other recurring debts. Do NOT include utilities, groceries, or subscriptions. If your DTI is too high, focus on paying down the highest-rate debts first.

3. Save Your Down Payment

Set a savings target based on your price range and loan type. Conventional loans require as little as 3%, FHA requires 3.5%, and VA/USDA may require $0 down.

Tip: Do not forget closing costs (2-5% of purchase price). For a $250,000 home with 5% down, plan for $12,500 down plus $5,000-$12,500 in closing costs. Consider Michigan down payment assistance programs like MSHDA.

4. Get Pre-Approved

Submit your financial documents to a lender and get a pre-approval letter. This shows sellers you are serious and tells you exactly how much home you can afford.

Tip: A pre-approval is stronger than a pre-qualification. Get pre-approved before you start touring homes. Our preferred lender, James Taveggia at Union Home Mortgage, can often get you approved within 24 hours. Get pre-approved here.

5. Select Your Real Estate Agent

Choose an experienced, full-time agent with a proven track record in your target area. Your agent should have strong reviews, local expertise, and excellent communication.

Tip: Interview at least 2-3 agents. Ask about their experience, average response time, and how many buyers they currently represent. The Daryl Wizinsky Team has 20+ years of experience and 253+ Zillow reviews. Find your agent here.

6. Build Your Wishlist vs. Dealbreakers

Create two columns: absolute must-haves (bedrooms, school district, garage) and nice-to-haves you can live without. Separately list your dealbreakers.

Tip: Be realistic. The perfect home rarely exists, but the right home does. Prioritize location and structural soundness over cosmetics, which you can always update later. Share your lists with your agent early.

7. Plan Your Home Search Strategy

Set up automated alerts on your agent's search portal, define your target neighborhoods, and commit to a viewing schedule. Stay organized by rating each home.

Tip: Use our home search tool at search.darylwizinsky.com to browse listings with your criteria. Tour homes at different times of day to check noise levels, traffic, and natural light. Take photos and notes at every showing.

8. Prepare Your Offer Package

Have your earnest money ready (typically 1-3% of purchase price), gather proof of funds or pre-approval letter, and discuss offer strategy with your agent.

Tip: In a competitive market, having everything ready to go means you can submit an offer within hours of seeing a home. Discuss contingencies, escalation clauses, and closing timelines with your agent beforehand so you can act fast when the right home appears.

Buyer Power Checklist

Track Your Buyer Readiness

1. Check Your Credit Score

2. Calculate Your DTI Ratio

3. Save Your Down Payment

4. Get Pre-Approved

5. Select Your Real Estate Agent

6. Build Your Wishlist vs. Dealbreakers

7. Plan Your Home Search Strategy

8. Prepare Your Offer Package

After You Check Every Box

Search Homes

Get Pre-Approved

Meet Your Agent

Need Help Getting Started?

More Buyer Resources

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