Steps to Your Home

The following is a list of ten steps you should take to reach your goal of homeownership. By working with LEDC early on in the initial steps you will be able to navigate the process more easily and with important resources on-hand.

1) Attend homebuyer group education
The homebuyer education seminars and workshops will provide you with new insight on the home-buying process, with particular emphasis on your options in the District of Columbia. Click here for a class calendar!

2) Make an appointment with LEDC.
Are you ready to move from renter to owner today, or are you still considering your options? In either case, speaking with an LEDC housing counselor can help you understand the homeownership decision and the steps you need to take in order to continue the process. Click here for more information on what you can gain by meeting with a housing counselor.

3) Gather documents for HPAP
If you apply to the Home Purchase Assistance Program, you must gather the proper documentation. Click here for a detailed list of the requirements.

4) Apply for HPAP
After you have learned how much assistance you qualify for and after you have gathered the correct documentation, you should make an appointment with an LEDC housing counselor to help you fill out and submit the HPAP application.

5) Get pre-approved with a bank
Once you have completed our Homebuyer Education and Counseling, you can begin shopping for a mortgage loan. LEDC partners with many lenders who offer mortgage products. LEDC’s counselors can also guide you through the loan process so that you do not fall victim to a predatory lending practice.

6) Find a real estate agent
Having a real estate agent on your side can save you thousands of dollars. However, not all real estate agents will represent you the way you want them to. Through LEDC’s Homebuyer Education and Counseling you can go into the marketplace equipped with questions and resources for understanding the role of realtor and how to select one. 

7) Find a home
Finding a home is a step which should be completed with a realtor that represents your interests. Your HPAP approval and homebuyer education will help you, along with a trusted realtor, find a house within your means that will represent a solid investment for years to come.

8) Get a home inspection
A home inspection will give you the security of knowing the structural condition of the property and help you negotiate repairs or the purchase price.

9) Final walk-through
LEDC strongly recommends clients to view the property to verify its condition one day prior to closing.

10) Closing
After you have gone through the proper steps for your home purchase and received education and counseling from LEDC, you will know what to expect the day of your closing. You will enter your closing knowing that you are buying your first home and making a sound investment for the future.