Most home buyers today are either single individuals or couples which can be explained by the fact that Millennials make up the largest share of the home buying market. Still there are plenty of single parents buying homes today. The major difference is that single parents sometimes find it more difficult to buy a home because they have to rely on a single income to support an entire family. If you are one of them dont despair. Itcan bedone if you keep in mind these 5 tips for a single parent buying a home in Atlanta . 1. Determine Must-Haves and Like-to-Haves First as a single parent buying a home in Atlanta you need to make the crucial distinction between what you have to have in a home and what youd merely like to have what you need vs. what you want. Getting clear on this early in the process can save you both time and money. A good way to begin is by making a list of must-haves for example number of bedrooms and baths square footage fenced yard kitchen size local amenities neighborhood character and so on. Next you can list the like-to-haves features that would be nice but arent essential like a deck in-ground pool or smart features. When you have these lists in hand your house hunting will be more effective and your negotiating leverage will be stronger. 2. Save for the Down Payment Unless you can qualify for a no-down-payment mortgage like a VA loan you will have to come up with a down payment of anywhere from 3% to 20% of the purchase price. So as a single parent buying a home in Atlanta who has to rely on a single income youll need to begin saving for the down payment now . . . or sooner. A good way to go about saving the down payment money is to open a separate savings account solely dedicated to that purpose. That way it will be much easier to resist the temptation to spend the money when an emergency arises or you come across that shiny new item you think you have to have. Also consider using one of the new online savings accounts like VARO that yield 2% on your money. Then once youve saved enough to cover a down payment its time to begin house hunting in earnest . . . after you do one more thing. 3. Get Mortgage Pre-Approval As a single parent buying a home in Atlanta you should definitely get pre-approved for a mortgage. And keep in mind that pre-approval is different from being pre-qualified. When youre pre-qualified a lender has examined your credit report and has decided that you may get a mortgage loan but nothing is guaranteed. Pre-approved on the other hand means that you have indeed qualified for a certain mortgage amount and the lender will in fact grant you a loan for that amount (assuming of course that your financial situation doesnt change in the meantime). Sellers will view you as a serious buyer when you have a pre-approval letter. It also means you will have more negotiating leverage when you get down to brass tacks with the seller. 4. Never Skip the Inspection Then when youve found a house youre interested in and have made an offer do not skip the inspection. The house may look perfect and the sellers agent may assure you that nothing is wrong with it during the open house but dont leave it at that. Pay for an inspection and walk through the house the inspector. Doing so can help you avoid costly surprises after you take ownership. 5. Get Professional Help Maybe the most important tip for a single parent buying a home in[ market_city] is to get help from professionals. For there will be a mountain of confusing paperwork filled with financial and legal technicalities. Your qualified real estate agent can help you navigate all this use her negotiating experience to get you a better deal and advise you along the way. We can help if you are a single parent buying a home in Atlanta ! Contact us today! 678-337-1165 The post 5 Tips For Single Parent Buying A Home In Atlanta appeared first on Fresh Start Home Sales. via Blog Fresh Start Home Sales https://www.freshstarthomesales.com/5-tips-for-single-parent-buying-a-home-in-atlanta/