How to buy a house in Georgia

If you're trying to figure out how to buy a home in Georgia, it's a good idea to take a gander at Georgia housing market trends. Whether you're relocating to the Peach State or are a first-time buyer in the state, you might find the milder climate and lower cost of living appealing.

Whatever the reason may be, understanding the steps to buying a house in Georgia can help make for a smooth homebuying process. Here, we'll walk you through how to buy a house in Georgia:

Georgia’s housing market: At a glance

Understanding the housing market in Georgia

Getting your head around the particularities of buying a house in the Peach State can help you gauge where to buy a house in Georgia. Let's take a closer look:

Median home price is $369,000

The median price for all home types as of October 2025 in Georgia is $369,000, which is lower than the national median of $439,917. If you're looking to buy a single-family home, the price is slightly higher at $379,700. Condos and townhouses are less expensive, on average, with medians of $296,400 and $ 361,590, respectively.

Some of the key factors that influence how much the homes may cost include:

• The type, size, and features of the home you purchase
• Living in a major city, such as Atlanta or Augusta
• Living in a rural area like Dahlonega or Warner Robins
• The fair market value of the home

To get a better idea of how much home you can afford in your ideal neighborhood in Georgia, you can use the home affordability calculator from Rocket Mortgage®.

Market trends and inventory

Let's take a look at Georgia housing market trends. According to Redfin, there is an increase in interest among people moving out of the state.

For example, when it comes to buying a house in Atlanta, between September and November 2025, 28% of Atlanta home buyers searched for a place to move out of the city, while 72% searched for a place to stay within the metropolitan area.

Home buyers in Los Angeles searched to move to Atlanta, followed by New York and Washington. When it comes to current Atlanta residents, Nashville, Tennessee, was an appealing destination to move to, followed by Boston and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Especially if you're new to the state, working with a REALTOR® or real estate agent can help you navigate the ins and outs of the housing market and help you land the best home for you.

Summer and fall are peak shopping seasons

The season can significantly impact the home buying process, affecting available inventory, pricing, and competition. So, when is the best time to buy a house? Generally speaking, homes are cheaper in the winter months, while the spring is a hot time to buy.

How to buy a house in Georgia

Here, let's walk you step by step on how to buy a house in the state of Georgia:

Step 1: Check your credit and set a budget

In figuring out how much house you can afford, you can use a mortgage calculator to help you determine a budget. You'll need to put in the house price, estimated down payment, loan term, interest rate, and location. You also can include estimated taxes and insurance, which play into the total cost of the house. Playing around with the numbers ahead of time can give you a good idea of what you can expect to pay for your home purchase.

If you're a first-time home buyer, you'll want to be well aware of all the up-front costs. That way, you won't be caught off guard by unexpected costs and can plan accordingly. Common up-front costs include the down payment, closing costs, and moving costs.

It's a good idea to check your credit. Some loans have minimum credit scores borrowers must meet to qualify. Borrowers applying for a conforming conventional loan no longer need to meet a specific minimum credit score, although their overall credit history will still be taken into consideration. Generally, the better your credit, the greater the chance your lender will offer you a lower interest rate.

You also will want to look at your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), which shows how much of your income is taken up by debt payments.

Step 2: Decide on the type of financing you want

The most common types of mortgages will have different requirements, options, and mortgage rates. Plus, a 30-year fixed mortgage will have different mortgage rates than a 15-year mortgage.

When shopping for a mortgage, do some comparison shopping and explore the different financing options.

Step 3: Apply for preapproval

When you get mortgage preapproval, you'll receive a letter from the lender estimating how much you can borrow based on a cursory review of your finances.

Every lender has a different preapproval process, so you'll want to ask what documentation is needed. Once you receive preapproval, it's typically valid for 30 – 60 days.

The main benefit of mortgage preapproval is that it lets agents and sellers know you're ready to buy, which can give you a leg up in a hot housing market.

Step 4: Hire a REALTOR^® or real estate agent in Georgia

An experienced and knowledgeable REALTOR® or real estate agent based in Georgia can help you through every step of the home buying process. Plus, they can help you find a home that meets your criteria and is within your budget.

To find and vet a real estate agent, start by asking within your network of friends and family if they have any referrals. You also can check online reviews. When interviewing agents, ask them about their process for working with clients. Ideally, you'll also want to get references.

Georgia allows dual agency, which means the seller and buyer can agree to have a single real estate agent or broker represent them during the sale of the home. While this can streamline the process, it also may present conflicts of interest.

Step 5: Start house hunting

You can begin shopping for homes using online real estate platforms such as Redfin, or you can search listings through a multiple listing service portal created by your agent. You'll need to take some time to attend open houses and virtual tours of the homes that interest you.

When narrowing down your list of potential homes, consider a few key factors. This includes:

• School districts
• Local amenities
• Neighborhood features
• Homeowners association fees
• Commute times
• Property taxes
• Homeowners insurance

Step 7: Make an offer and negotiate

You'll work with your real estate agent to make an offer on a house in Georgia, including how much to offer, what contingencies you want, and how much earnest money to offer. Earnest money is a deposit you make to the seller to show that you're serious about buying the property.

Once you put in your offer, the seller can accept it, reject it, or make a counteroffer. In the case of a counteroffer, your agent can serve as a go-between during negotiations.

As a buyer, key contingencies and inspections you should ask about include an appraisal contingency, which allows you to cancel the purchase without penalty should the home be appraised for less than the agreed-upon purchase price. It's also common to request a home inspection contingency, which allows you to back out of the sale if the home inspection reveals the need for significant repairs.

Once you and the seller agree on the terms, you'll both sign a purchase and sale agreement to make the agreement official.

Step 8: Continue with the mortgage closing process

Once your offer is accepted, you begin the closing process. Inspections and appraisals will be scheduled. You'll apply for a mortgage, wait for the results of the title search, and purchase a homeowners insurance policy.

You'll need to pay closing costs in addition to your down payment to finalize the sale. Closing costs typically total between 3% and 6% of the home's purchase price. These can include origination fees, settlement fees, title searches, prorated property taxes, third-party fees, government fees, and appraisal fees. Some closing costs are negotiable, or you can shop around for the best deal.

At least 3 business days before closing, you'll receive a Closing Disclosure from your lender with the final estimate of your costs. At closing, you'll pay closing costs and your down payment, and sign documents to fund your loan and take legal ownership of your Georgia home.

FAQ

Let's look at some of the commonly asked questions about buying a house in Georgia:

How much money do I need to buy a house in Georgia?

The median home sale price in Georgia is $369,000. The amount you need depends on how much house you can afford, how much you'll need to pay in closing costs, and any relocation fees. It can be helpful to explore down payment assistance programs and first-time home buyer programs in Georgia.

What is the minimum credit score to buy a house in Georgia?

The minimum credit score required to get a house in the Peach State depends on the type of mortgage you tend to apply for. You no longer need a specific minimum credit score for a conforming conventional mortgage, though your credit will still be evaluated. Rocket Mortgage requires a score of at least 580 for an FHA loan, though other lenders offer FHA loans to borrowers with a minimum score of 500. VA and USDA loans do not have specific minimum credit scores. However, lenders may impose their own credit score requirements.

Do I need a real estate agent to buy a home in Georgia?

You don't need a real estate agent to buy property in Georgia, but working with an experienced agent or REALTOR® can make the process easier to navigate.

How long does it take to close on a house in Georgia?

Closing on a house in Georgia can take anywhere from 30 to 60 days, and the process includes mortgage approval, title checks, home inspections, and gathering the necessary documents.

The bottom line: The Peach State wants you to call it home

Being a homeowner in Georgia can have vast appeal. To narrow your search, you'll want to understand the steps involved in buying a house in Atlanta, or anywhere else in Georgia, including finding an affordable home, saving for closing costs, setting a budget, choosing the right type of financing, and making a successful offer.

To help you land on the proper type of home loans for you, you can talk to a Home Loan Expert at Rocket Mortgage.

¹ The 3% down payment option is only available on certain conventional loan products and is not available in all states. Additional terms and conditions may apply.

² To qualify for this offer, you must meet all standard FHA eligibility requirements. In addition, your total mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, cannot exceed 38% of your income, your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio cannot exceed 45%, and you must have 12 months of verifiable housing history immediately prior to your application, no late payments 30 days or greater in the last 12-months, and no derogatory marks on your credit report. Not available on jumbo loans. Asset statements may be needed, no more than 1 day of non-sufficient fund fees are allowed in the most recent 2 months prior to application. Additional restrictions/conditions may apply.