A checklist for buying

1. I

   Understand your starting point

   • Look at what you have saved, and what you could comfortably pay each month
   • Check what homes are actually selling for where you are looking
   • Pull your own credit report so nothing on it is a surprise later
2. II

   Talk with Drake

   • Ask the questions you think are too basic to ask
   • Say anything unusual about your income or history out loud, early
   • Find out which programs are worth looking at for you
3. III

   Get pre-approved

   • Gather your documents in one go — this is the main thing that sets the pace
   • Understand what the letter does and does not commit you to
   • Note when it expires
4. IV

   Define your budget

   • Separate what you can borrow from what you want to spend — they are rarely the same number
   • Account for taxes, insurance, and any HOA, not just the loan
   • Leave something in the account for after you move in
5. V

   Start the home search

   • Work with an agent who knows the areas you are considering
   • Keep your finances still — no new credit, no job changes, no large purchases
   • Tell Drake if your price range moves
6. VI

   Make an offer

   • Send your pre-approval letter with the offer
   • Understand your contingencies before you sign, not after
   • Tell Drake the moment an offer goes out
7. VII

   Inspection and appraisal

   • Book the inspection promptly — contract timelines here are usually short
   • Expect the lender to order the appraisal
   • Read the inspection report properly, including the boring parts
8. VIII

   Underwriting

   • Answer document requests quickly — this is the biggest thing in your control
   • Still no new credit, large deposits, or job changes
   • Ask where things stand rather than reading the silence
9. IX

   Final review

   • Read your Closing Disclosure carefully when it arrives
   • Compare it against the Loan Estimate you were given
   • Ask about anything that looks different from what you expected
10. X

    Closing

    • Arrange your funds in the form and by the deadline escrow specifies
    • Do a final walkthrough of the property
    • Bring photo ID

Steps overlap in practice — the inspection, the appraisal, and underwriting usually run at the same time rather than one after another, which is why the middle of a purchase feels busier than this list looks.