Tips for first-time homebuyers
We’re your partner for guiding you through the rewards of buying your first home.
Ready to make the move toward home ownership? Congrats! The homebuying process can be exciting, but it can also be daunting. Associated Bank is here to make this journey as easy and straightforward as possible. You’ll be holding the keys to your first place before you know it!
Your pathway to buying a home
For more details, read though our First-Time Homebuyer’s Guide.
Step 1: Prepare your finances.
Avoid any speedbumps along the way by checking up on your credit score and saving for a down payment.
Step 2: Pre-qualification vs. preapproval.
There are differences between the two. Pre-qualification helps you determine how much home you can afford. Preapproval is more in-depth but shows you’re serious about buying.
Step 3: Determining your “must-haves.”
What’s important to you? Location? Number of bedrooms? Do you want a place that’s move-in ready or are you good with a fixer-upper? Making a list can make your search simpler and faster.
Step 4: Shopping for a home and making an offer.
Homes can come and go quickly. A real estate agent can be a big help, from the search to writing up the offer. And applying for your mortgage through Associated Bank’s Excellend® online application is easy.
Step 5: Closing day—welcome to your new home!
Congratulations! Your offer’s been accepted and the closing date scheduled. Still a little more paperwork and a few more forms to sign, and you’ll be good to go.
Save $500
If you're a first-time homebuyer, you can save $500 on closing costs¹ with an Associated Bank mortgage loan. Simply mention this offer to your Associated Bank mortgage lender when you apply.
Looking for more information?
LEADING LENDER
IN THE MIDWEST
FOR OVER A DECADE²
Call 800-236-3617
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.,
Saturday, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m
Offer expires December 31, 2025. Show this offer to your Associated Bank mortgage lender at time of application. Your loan must close by February 28, 2026. Offer applies to a purchase money mortgage. One discount per mortgage loan; cannot be combined with any other mortgage loan discount offers and is subject to change (at Associated Bank’s discretion) at any time without notice. Some mortgage programs and products are excluded from this offer, including but not limited to lot loans, construction loans, simultaneous seconds and refinances. (1319)
The Leading Lender in the Midwest designation is based on originated, closed-end mortgage loan count, gathered from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data compiled annually by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The results of the data were obtained through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Mortgage Database (HMDA), July 2024. (1171)
