home buying
First-Time Homebuyer Checklist
A step-by-step checklist covering credit readiness, budgets, pre-approval, and closing basics for first-time buyers.
Author: OnPoint Education Team · Published 2026-07-01 · Updated 2026-09-15 · OnPoint Community Credit Union
Know your full housing budget
Beyond the purchase price, plan for a down payment, closing costs, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and utilities. A realistic monthly housing number should leave room for savings and other goals.
Get your documents and credit ready
Lenders typically review income, employment, debts, and credit history. Gather recent pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements, and resolve credit report errors early so surprises do not slow pre-approval.
Understand the path to closing
Pre-approval, shopping for a home, offer, inspection, appraisal, and closing each have their own timelines and costs. Ask questions about rate locks, contingencies, and what you must bring to closing day.
How this helps OnPoint members
This education article is published by OnPoint Community Credit Union (also known as OnPoint Credit Union / OnPointCU) for people banking in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Pair what you learn with calculators, rates, and products—then manage accounts through OnPoint login.
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