What Is the First Step to Buying a Home in New Hampshire?

What Is the First Step to Buying a Home in New Hampshire?

The very first step to buying a house in New Hampshire — before viewing properties or making offers — is getting pre-approved with a lender.

Whether you’re buying in Plymouth, Thornton, Campton, Rumney, Ashland, Bristol, or any town across Central NH, a pre-approval gives you the confidence and leverage needed to compete.

Here’s exactly why this matters.

Why Pre-Approval Matters in NH

A pre-approval:

Shows sellers you’re serious

Gives you a verified budget

Speeds up the closing timeline

Helps you understand your loan type (FHA, USDA, VA, Conventional)

Strengthens your offer in competitive markets

Most NH homes, especially starter homes and cabins, receive strong interest. Pre-approval helps your offer rise to the top.

What You Need for a Pre-Approval

NH lenders typically request:

Last 30 days of paystubs

Last 2 years of W-2s or tax returns

Bank statements

Government-issued ID

Credit check authorization

A good NH lender can issue a pre-approval within 1–24 hours.

Q&A

Q: What’s the first step to buying a home in NH?

A: Get pre-approved before scheduling showings or submitting offers.

Keywords

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About the Author

Jim Johnson — Real Estate Agent

58 NH Route 25A

Wentworth, NH 03282

P: (857) 249-7392

W: www.JimJohnsonRealEstateAgent.com

Licensed New Hampshire REALTOR® with Three Hills Real Estate Services

Broker Email: info@ThreeHillsRES.com

Broker Website: www.ThreeHillsRES.com