Checklist for Home Buyers: 25 Steps From Credit Check to Keys

This home buyer checklist covers 25 steps in order, from checking your credit to changing your address after closing. Work through it in five phases: prepare, get preapproved, search, offer and escrow, and close. Each step lists what to do and why it matters.

Use it as a working list. Print it, or copy it into your notes app and tick items off. It is written for California buyers, with notes for Sonoma, Napa, Marin and the wider Bay Area where local rules or costs come into play.

For an explanation of how the stages fit together, see our companion guide to the homebuying process in California.

Phase 1: Prepare (3 to 12 months before buying)

1. Pull your credit reports. Get them free at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors now, since corrections take time.
2. List your monthly debts and income. This gives you a rough debt-to-income ratio before a lender calculates it.
3. Set a full monthly budget. Include principal and interest, property tax (in California, a base 1% of the purchase price plus local assessments), insurance, HOA dues and a maintenance reserve.
4. Save for three buckets. Down payment, closing costs and an emergency fund. Keep them in accounts you can document with statements.
5. Check assistance programs. CalHFA’s first mortgages and MyHome down payment loan may help if you qualify. Ask a CalHFA-approved lender about current availability.

Phase 2: Get preapproved (1 to 2 months before searching)

6. Gather documents. Pay stubs, W-2s or tax returns for two years, recent bank and investment statements, and ID.
7. Talk to two or three lenders. Each must send a Loan Estimate within three business days of your application. Compare rates, points and lender fees.
8. Know which loan limit applies. FHFA’s 2026 one-unit conforming limit is $832,750 in most areas and up to $1,249,125 in high-cost areas. Above that, you need a jumbo loan.
9. Get a written preapproval letter. Ask the lender to issue letters that match each offer price so you do not reveal your maximum.
10. Freeze big financial changes. No new credit, large unexplained deposits or job changes without telling your lender.

Rates move weekly. Freddie Mac’s survey showed an average 30-year fixed rate of 7.32% for the week of October 22, 2026. Our financing page covers loan types in more depth.

Phase 3: Search (typically 1 to 3 months)

11. Sign a buyer representation agreement. California has required one since January 2025, no later than your first offer. Read the compensation terms and the expiration date (three months maximum).
12. Write your must-haves. Three non-negotiables and three nice-to-haves keep the search focused.
13. Shortlist towns. Compare commute, price per square foot and property types. Start with our property search.
14. Tour with a checklist. Note roof age, water heater, HVAC, windows, water pressure, signs of moisture and drainage.
15. Check insurability early. Ask an insurance agent for a quote on any home you are serious about, especially in wildfire-exposed areas.

Phase 4: Offer and escrow (about 30 to 45 days)

16. Price the offer from comparable sales. Your agent should show recent closed sales, not just active listings.
17. Choose your contingencies. Decide how long you need for inspections, appraisal and loan approval. Read how contingencies protect your deposit.
18. Wire the deposit safely. Call escrow at a number you looked up yourself to confirm wiring instructions.
19. Read every disclosure. Transfer Disclosure Statement, Natural Hazard Disclosure, seller questionnaire and any HOA documents.
20. Order inspections. A general home inspection first, then specialists for roof, sewer lateral, pest and chimney. For rural homes, add well and septic.
21. Track the appraisal and title. Review the preliminary title report for easements or liens. If the appraisal comes in low, decide with your agent whether to renegotiate.
22. Remove contingencies in writing. Only after inspections are complete and your lender confirms the loan is on track.

Phase 5: Close and move in

23. Review the Closing Disclosure. You must receive it three business days before closing. Compare it to your Loan Estimate.
24. Do the final walkthrough. Confirm repairs, appliances and condition. Test faucets, lights and the garage door.
25. Handle the move. Bind homeowners insurance, transfer utilities, update your address with USPS, the DMV and your bank, and change the locks. Set aside money for the supplemental property tax bill the county sends after reassessment.

Local extras for wine country and rural buyers

For Sonoma-specific steps, see how to buy a home in Sonoma County.

Questions people ask

What should I do first when buying a house?

Check your credit and build a full monthly budget. Those two steps tell you what you can afford before you talk to a lender.

How far in advance should I start preparing?

Many buyers start three to twelve months ahead, depending on how much saving or credit work they need.

What documents do lenders ask for?

Typically two years of income records, recent pay stubs, two to three months of bank statements, ID and details on any debts.

Can I skip any of these steps?

Some are optional, like specialist inspections a home may not need. Steps that protect your money, such as reading disclosures and verifying wire instructions, should never be skipped.

Keep this list next to our guide to home buying mistakes to avoid. When you are ready, tell us about your search and we will help you work through it step by step.

Sources & notes

• FHFA, Conforming Loan Limit Values for 2026
• Freddie Mac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey (October 22, 2026)
• California DRE, Changes to Real Estate Representation
• CFPB, Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure
• CalHFA, Homebuyer Programs
• Orange County Fire Authority, Civil Code 1102.19 summary
• General information only, not legal or lending advice.

Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.