Top Home Buying Tips for First Responders

With all the information available online, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially if you’re a first responder making your first home purchase. No doubt you can handle stress given your job description, but the pressure you have to face when entering the housing market is on another level.

When applying for a loan, you must deal with tons of paperwork, negotiate with sellers, and study how loans work. 

Before taking the plunge, we’re here to help.

Nuline Funding of California works with first responders and helps them become homeowners. Stick around as we share tips and ways to save if you are a first responder new to home buying.

5 Tips to Help You as You Start Your Home-Buying Journey

  1. Work with a real estate agent

Entering the housing market on your own is not a good idea. Working with an experienced and trusted real estate expert can ease your stress. They are here to guide and advise you throughout your home-buying journey. Their expertise is an invaluable tool that can help you save thousands of dollars on your home purchase. 

  1. Get your finances in order

Before buying your first home, you must look at your finances and determine what you can afford. You need to do your homework by writing and documenting your income, debts, and expenses to give you a clear picture of how much you can spend without going over your budget. 

If you have difficulty saving up for a down payment, you can apply for first responder housing assistance in California.

  1. Apply for Pre Approval

Getting pre-approval before making offers on houses gives you the added firepower you may need, especially in a competitive housing market. A pre-approval letter shows that a lender has agreed to loan you a certain amount for a home. 

Keep in mind that pre-approval lasts 90 to 120 days, so you need to close on a deal within that timeframe.

Apply for a first responder home loan and get ahead of the competition.

  1. Begin House Hunting

Once you’ve settled the abovementioned things, we now go to the fun part: house hunting.

When looking at a prospective home, look at your checklist and see if it fits the bill. Price is a significant consideration, then you look at the neighborhood, proximity to work, and school if you have kids. 

  1. Check both online and offline listings

Looking at online listings can be convenient, but seeing the property up close is different. If a home seems interesting, schedule a visit with the seller. List down questions for the seller once you meet. 

Don’t be emotional when you decide. Get the opinion of your spouse and kids and your real estate agent before signing on the dotted line. They may be able to spot red flags that you may have overlooked due to the excitement of seeing your dream home in the flesh.

If you are decided on the purchase, you can ask us about mortgage options for first responders.


* Specific loan program availability and requirements may vary. Please get in touch with the mortgage advisor for more information.