Deciding to buy a home is an exciting milestone, but it can also be a time of great uncertainty. How does one financially prepare ahead of applying for a mortgage? What do I need to know about down payments or closing costs? Am I even financially ready to buy a home? These are all great questions to have—and luckily, we partnered with Bank of America to bring you expert answers.
\xa0
We reached out to Kathy Cummings, Senior Vice President of External Partnerships at Bank of America, to give us the scoop on all the best money moves for when you’re planning to buy a home. “Owning a home can be a key part of building a lasting family legacy and reaching your financial goals,” says Cummings. Whether you’re just now starting to think about homeownership or you’re actively hitting up every open house in your target neighborhood, here are a few “do’s” and “don’ts” that can help make your dream of home ownership a reality: