First Time Buyer

Our Experts Make the Process Easier

Buying your first home is a huge step ... a major milestone in life. It will very likely be the largest purchase you've made and it is imperative you get it right. And there has never been a better time than right now to take that step.

Mortgage rates are historically low, but every day you wait there is a chance that will change while material and labor costs are certain to increase, increasing the price of your dream home. Take advantage of the benefits of buying a new Keystone Home and home ownership today!

Buying a new home can be complicated, but our experts are trained and experienced in all aspects of home buying and can help you at every stage of the process, from choosing where you want to live, which floor plan you like and how you want to pay for your new Keystone Home.

Choose Your Community

The first step is deciding where you want to live. We build our new homes in great neighborhoods in great communities from Augusta to Savannah, so we offer a variety of plans in a variety of locations. We also offer our Build On Your Land program allowing you to choose exactly where you want to live. The perfect home should give you what you want at a price that's right for you without ever compromising quality and style. That's why we build in popular areas, each with dozens of flexible floorplans and plenty of style options to fit any budget.

Determine What You Can Afford

Very few first-time home buyers are able to pay cash for a new home, so it is very likely you will need a mortgage to buy your first dream home. Good credit is the key to making this process simpler. If you have any concerns at all about your credit, you need to start working on the issue a few months before you start house hunting.

A good rule of thumb is to keep your mortgage, along with your taxes and insurance, between 25 and 30 percent of your income. Other experts advise that your home cost no more than two and a half times your annual salary.

The first step is to request copies of all three of your credit reports (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide credit reporting companies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. To order, visit annualcreditreport.com, call 877-322-8228. Or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

Since credit scores can be driven by a variety of factors -- including outstanding debt, on-time bill payments, and other elements -- it’s important to take steps in advance to make sure you have a favorable credit score. The higher your credit score, the lower your interest rate will be.
 
We have partnered with the area's most respected lenders and one of our Sales Consultants can help you get for a free pre-qualification or contact a loan officer for a more in-depth look at your buying ability. Many lenders will offer suggestions for improving your credit score before you make your formal application.

Don't fret over the down payment

At one time the standard for getting a mortgage was a 20 percent down payment, but that's not the case any more. If you qualify, there are programs that require 0 to only 3.5 pecent as a down payment.  But remember, the more money you put down on your purchase, the less you’ll have to finance and, ultimately, that means less money spent on interest payments. Many of these low-down payment options require you to carry mortgage insurance, a monthly cost you can avoid with a more substantial down payment. Which loan type is right for you? One of our approved lenders will discuss which option would be best for you.

Let our trained sales consultants help you

Our friendly and knowledgable sales consultants are experts in helping first-time buyers. They know their area, our communities, our home plans, home sites, design options, financing and, of course, Keystone Homes. It is our goal to guide you through the process so you can make the best decisions with confidence!

Prioritize your preferences

Once you've gotten past the financial hurdles and determined how much you can spend on your new home, it's time to get down to the business of creating your dream. You may be buying your first home for today, but remember, this might be your home for many tomorrows in the future. There are so many choices, from the simple things like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms to available luxury upgrades to smart home technology. Do you want a large backyard, or an oversized stainless refrigerator? A screened back porch or a cabinet upgrade? These are the decisions our consultants can help with.

Have a plan before choosing a plan

One of the many advantaged of new construction is that you get to fit the plan to your lifestyle rather than fitting your lifestyle to someone else's plan. But that takes preparation. Think about how you live right now. Think about your apartment or rental home and consider the features you like and dislike. Think about tomorrow and the tomorrows to come.

Here are somew suggestions and tips:

• Focus on the blueprint; don't think about design features first, think about where the walls and halls are
• Understand there are benefits and drawbacks to every house plan
• Decide on specific space requirements and how that space should be divided
• Will your home be big enough (or too big) in five to 10 years?
• Do you want separate rooms, or prefer an open concept?
• Consider your lifestyle. Like to entertain, or spend quiet nights at home? Do you need an office or a project room? Determine how you want to use and experience your space
• Imagine yourself in your new home; watch our videos then close your eyes and walk through your new home in your mind
• Consider energy-saving designs suited to the climate
• Think about windows and views and morning and evening sun
• Take any special furniture pieces or family heirlooms into account
• Think about outdoor features; from patios to porches to decks, explore the possibilities for creating outdoor living areas.
• Last but not least, work within your budget. Understand how much you can afford to spend on the home you build.

Consider the pros and cons of the different layouts you like. A large window in the family room may provide natural light and beautiful views. Yet, your heating and cooling bills may be more expensive. A large open style family room may be loud while your kids watch tv or people are talking, making it hard to focus if you need a quiet space.

By considering all these things, narrowing down the perfect floor plan will be a lot easier. Click here to view our current floor plans and house styles, visit us here. And remember, our consultants are here to help you every step of the way.

Now, it's time to make your dream come true

Now that all the planning and financial negotiations are behind you and all the papers are signed, it's time for our team to create your dream home. Just be patient. Building a new home can be exhilirating and stressful at the same time. Things will move very fast at times and then slow down to a crawl. But our process is proven, time-tested and always results in a quality Keystone dream home for you and your family.