Buying a home for the first time can seem like an overwhelming task. You're making the biggest financial decision of your life, and there is so much to consider. It helps a lot to understand the process from beginning to end. In this article, I'll walk you through the entire process of buying a house in Bristol Connecticut so that your entire home buying experience will go more smoothly.

Step #1 - Getting Your Mortgage Pre-Approved

As we both know, lenders aren't nearly as lenient as they used to be. It's important to find both a good lender and a good loan officer to handle your loan, preferably before you even go out to see properties.

The loan officer will usually want to know what your assets are, what your credit score is and your debt to income ratio.

Step #2 - Finding a Home You Like

The next step in the process is to find a home in Bristol Connecticut that appeals to you. Make sure you see a good number of houses before you make your decision, so that you know what the options are.

Step #3 - The Offer and Negotiation Process

Crafting a good offer is vitally important. It's important to work with a real estate agent who understands how to choose contingencies, clauses, the right amount to offer and good negotiation strategies.

Once you've made your offer, the seller will usually make a counter offer. It's rare that the seller will accept your offer up front. Once you both come to an agreement on the price and terms, the contract becomes binding.

Step #4 - Completing the Home Purchase

Once the contract has been agreed on, then you must complete the home inspection and the seller will make any necessary repairs.

Then your loan will be finalized with your loan officer. Finally, closing or escrow is where all the documents are signed, the deed and title are signed over, the seller is paid and the keys are handed over.