After helping a lot of Georgia families buy their first home, the same handful of mistakes come up again and again. The good news: every one of them is avoidable.
The ten
- Shopping before getting pre-approved. You need to know your number first.
- Settling for a weak pre-qual. Get a real, document-backed pre-approval.
- Assuming you need 20% down. Plenty of programs need far less.
- Forgetting closing costs. Budget the full cash-to-close, not just the down payment.
- Maxing out the approval. Buy the payment you're comfortable with, not the ceiling.
- Making big financial moves mid-process. No new credit, no large deposits, no job changes.
- Skipping the inspection. Waiving it to win can backfire expensively.
- Not comparing lenders. The first quote isn't always the best one.
- Ignoring property taxes and insurance. They vary by county and move your payment.
- Going it alone. A good agent and lender are free guidance — use them.
Notice how many of these trace back to the pre-approval. Start there, with a lender who reviews your real documents, and most of this list takes care of itself.
Let's get your first purchase right
I walk first-time buyers through every step in plain English. Reach out and we'll start with a no-pressure conversation about where you stand.
This article is general education, not a commitment to lend or an offer of credit. Program availability, terms, rates, and qualification guidelines vary by lender and are subject to change; all loans are subject to underwriting and final approval. Market figures are approximate and change over time. For guidance specific to your situation, reach out directly. Garrett Potz, NMLS #631592 · Affinity Home Lending, Company NMLS #1181151 · Equal Housing Lender.