(The Seventh is Through the Front Door)

Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or seasoned homeowner, purchasing a new place to live can be an exciting time. It can also be a little stressful.

The friendly experts at Visions can help take some of the pain out of the home-buying process with these simple steps.

In addition, Visions has a variety of mortgage products designed with you in mind. Whether you're concerned with down payments, thinking of a construction mortgage, or if it's your first time in the market, we have great rates and solutions for you so you can focus on the "fun part" of house hunting and home buying.

  1. Clean up your credit. Credit is always king, but it takes center stage during the mortgage process. Paying down your credit card balances, consolidating your debts, and getting rid of any derogatory marks will get both your credit score and debt-to-income ratio in better standing.
  2. Prequalify. Stop into one of Visions' convenient branches with 30 days of pay stubs, two years of W-2s or tax returns, and two months of bank statements. Prequalification is free for Visions members, helps you set a realistic price, and lets sellers know you're serious.
  3. Start shopping. You're ready – congratulations! It's a big decision, but a lot of fun to see how your dreams take shape.
  4. Apply for a loan. Call 800.242.2120, ext. 10470 to schedule an interview or apply online.
  5. Wait a little. Our mortgage processors will order a flood certification, an appraisal to determine the market value of the property, and a credit report. Upon approval, the mortgage department will issue a commitment letter agreeing to finance your home, which you should receive in seven to 10 business days after your mortgage file is processed. Review it with your attorney, sign it, and return it as soon as possible. Visions can help you clear up any outstanding issues in the letter.
  6. Close. The closing is the meeting where the credit union issues your mortgage, property ownership is transferred to you, and you get the keys. Visions prepares a closing checklist so you can work with your attorney to make sure nothing delays the process.