Your Mid-Year Home Buying Check-In: Are You on Track?

By Sold Realty Group

It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the year. If buying a home was on your list of goals for 2025, now is the perfect time for a mid-year check-in to see where you stand—and how to get moving if you’re not quite there yet.

Whether your dream is a starter home in Queen Creek, a bigger backyard in Gilbert, or downsizing into a low-maintenance space, taking stock mid-year means you can adjust your strategy and still be holding the keys by the holidays.

Here’s how to assess your progress—and the steps you can take right now to stay on track.

🏡 1. Review Your Financial Game Plan

Buying a home isn’t just about browsing listings—it’s about being financially prepared to act when the right house hits the market.

Ask yourself:
✅ Have I talked to a lender yet, or just played with online calculators?
✅ Do I know my current credit score?
✅ Have I started gathering documents like tax returns, pay stubs, and bank statements?

If not, don’t worry—it’s not too late. Summer is actually an ideal time to lock in pre-approval because it sets you up for the busy fall season, when inventory is still active but many buyers pull back (especially after school starts).

💡 Pro insight: Even if you’re 6-12 months out, meeting with a lender now means you’ll get a clear road map—whether that’s boosting your credit score, paying off a small debt, or simply determining your comfortable price range.

🔍 2. Evaluate the Current Market (And What It Means for You)

The first half of this year brought interest rate shifts, inventory fluctuations, and more buyer incentives in some areas. Mid-year is the perfect time to see how this impacts your strategy.

• Rates may have adjusted. Even a small change can affect your monthly payment or what you can afford.

• Sellers may be more willing to negotiate. In many Southeast Valley neighborhoods, homes are taking slightly longer to sell than last summer—meaning you could get concessions like closing cost help or rate buy-downs.

• Or you may want to move faster. If rates dip again, buyer competition can surge, and waiting might mean paying more.

✅ Action step: We can run updated numbers based on today’s market so you know exactly how far your budget goes—and whether it’s smart to accelerate or wait.

📝 3. Refine Your “Must-Haves” vs. “Nice-to-Haves”

At the start of the year, your wishlist may have been broad. By mid-year, it’s time to tighten it up.

Ask yourself:

• Do you still want that giant backyard, or would a pool community work just as well?

• Is being close to work more important than extra square footage?

• Are you still set on new construction, or open to a beautifully renovated resale?

✅ Pro tip: Knowing your true priorities helps you move quickly when the right property appears—critical in competitive summer markets.

🚀 4. Get Pre-Approved (or Updated)

If you already got pre-approved months ago, great job! But know that most pre-approvals are only valid for 60-90 days. If it’s been longer, it’s time to refresh your paperwork.

• Rates or lending guidelines might have changed slightly.

• Your income or debts could have shifted.

• An updated letter puts you in the strongest position to write an offer immediately.

💡 And if you haven’t gotten pre-approved yet? That’s step one to being truly ready.

🌟 5. Check Your Timeline — And Plan Backward

Want to be in your new home by the holidays? Here’s a quick reality check on typical timeframes:

So if you start looking seriously by August or September, you’re perfectly on track to host Thanksgiving in your new kitchen.

✅ Action step: Let’s build your personal timeline together so you can see exactly when you should be house hunting, making offers, and moving.

🎯 The Bottom Line: The Year’s Half Over—But Your Home Goal Isn’t

Maybe you’re ahead of schedule, pre-approved, and ready to tour homes next weekend. Or maybe life delayed your plans a bit. Either way, there’s still plenty of time to achieve your 2025 goal.

At Sold Realty Group, we’ll meet you exactly where you are. We’ll help you:
✅ Get lender-ready
✅ Understand today’s Southeast Valley market
✅ Tour the right homes for your needs and budget
✅ Negotiate smartly so you get the best terms possible

🏠 Ready for Your Mid-Year Home Buying Check-In?

📞 Let’s chat! Whether you need a fast track or a gentle six-month plan, we’ll map out your next steps so you feel confident, informed, and excited.

✨ Your dream home is still within reach this year — let’s go get it.