First-time home buyer checklist for Mississippi

By Kaspar Caldwell, REALTOR® · Reviewed

Step-by-step first-time home buyer checklist for North Mississippi: budget, credit, pre-qualification, choosing a realtor, offers, inspections and closing.

Short answer

Check your credit, set a monthly budget, get pre-qualified, hire a local REALTOR®, tour homes in eligible areas, make an offer, inspect, appraise and close. With USDA, it can take as little as about 6 to 8 weeks from pre-qualification to keys.

Key takeaways

  • Know your monthly number, not just the price.
  • Pre-qualify before touring.
  • Always inspect, even on $0 down.

The checklist

  • Pull your credit and fix errors
  • Decide your comfortable monthly payment
  • Save for earnest money and inspections
  • Get pre-qualified
  • Choose a REALTOR® and sign a buyer agreement
  • Tour homes and compare
  • Make an offer and negotiate seller help
  • Inspect (home, termite, well/septic if rural)
  • Appraisal and final loan approval
  • Final walk-through and closing

Frequently asked questions

How much do I need saved?

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Even with $0 down, plan for earnest money, inspections and any closing costs the seller doesn't cover.