Home Buying Guide
Apply now or use our Pre-Qualifier to quickly determine which of HLC’s lenders can qualify you for a mortgage. Try as many scenarios you want!
Apply NowTo help you make a well informed financial decision, we have broken the home buying process down to 5 easy steps.
The Home Buying Process In 5 Steps
- Step 1: Understand The Housing Market
- Step 2: Select Your Home Buying Team
- Step 3: Calculate Your Costs
- Step 4: Present Your Offer
- Step 5: Closing Day
- Home Buying FAQ
Moving Checklist
Once your property has closed, a smooth move is a few steps away. With pre-moving day planning and our moving checklist you’ll feel organized and relaxed, when you unlock the door to your new home.
Step 1: Understand The Housing Market
Before you buy, it's important to look at the larger market conditions with your HLC mortgage professional. House price trends, mortgage interest rate movements and new home construction starts can all influence the market and therefore your purchase.
Your HLC mortgage professional can help you identify if it’s a buyer’s, seller’s or balanced market to ensure that you are making a sound financial decision.
How To Determine If It’s A Buyer’s, Seller’s Or Balanced Housing Market
The supply of homes on the market exceeds demand.
High inventory of homes. Few buyers compared to availability. Homes on the market longer. Prices tend to drop.
More time to look for a home. More negotiating leverage.
The number of buyers wanting homes exceeds the supply or number of homes on the market.
Smaller inventory of homes. Many buyers. Homes sell quickly. Prices usually increase.
May have to pay more. Bidding wars. Make decisions quickly. Conditional offers may be rejected.
The number of homes on the market is equal to the demand or number of buyers.
Demand equals supply. Sellers accept reasonable offers. Homes sell within an acceptable time period. Prices generally remain stable.
More relaxed atmosphere. Reasonable number of homes to choose from.