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A Place for Buyers: Preparing for your New Home Buying a home in Central Ohio is an exciting milestone, but it can also be a complex process, especially for first-time homebuyers. Whether you’re searching for affordable homes, looking for  suburbs such as Delaware, Pickerington, or Lewis Center, or trying to secure first-time homebuyer programs, being well-prepared can make your home-buying journey smooth and stress-free. Here are essential tips to help you navigate the process and find the perfect home. Before you start house hunting, it’s important to assess your financial situation. Lenders will look at your credit score, income, and debt-to-income ratio to determine how much you can borrow. A higher credit score can help you qualify for low mortgage rates, potentially saving you thousands over the life of your loan. Additionally, start saving for a down payment on a home. While some first-time homebuyer loans allow for low or even zero down payments, having savings can improve your loan terms. Programs like the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) down payment assistance can also help with upfront costs.