18 Useful Steps For Moving Out Of Your Parents’ House

Have you been thinking about leaving the house you grew up in and starting a life of your own? It’s understandable if you have. Moving out of your parents’ house can be an exciting and rewarding experience. But before you make such a life-altering decision, it’s important to know the steps to take for success – especially if you plan on buying a house.

How do you know if you’re ready to move out and buy your own home? And if you are, what important factors should you consider? Read on to learn how to successfully move out of your parents’ house.

Before making any hasty moving plans, it’s crucial to determine that you’re ready for the commitment that comes with homeownership.

The U.S. Department of Housing’s (HUD) Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) explains, “Prospective home buyers often do not know or understand their financing options, and homeowners can encounter unexpected costs, struggle to maintain their initial payment plans, and encounter foreclosure rescue scams.”

To avoid these potential pitfalls as a first-time home buyer, it’s ideal to have:

• A stable source of income and employment: Since the average mortgage loan term is 15 – 30 years, a lender will want to see that you have a stable source of income and a solid work history. Be prepared to show evidence of a steady income, such as pay stubs and W-2s.

• A qualifying credit score: Your credit score is used to assess the risk involved with giving you a loan. Most lenders require a credit score of at least 580 to obtain a loan to buy a house. However, a score above 720 is likely to give you the best loan terms.

• Minimal or no debt: If you have a lot of debt, it can be harder to get a loan and make your loan more expensive. You may want to pay off your debt or pay it down before adding on the cost of homeownership.

• A thorough knowledge of the costs of homeownership: Homeownership is much more than a monthly mortgage payment. Before buying a home, make sure that you account for the down payment, cost of insurance, property taxes, closing costs, utilities, maintenance and other expenses.

So, you’ve determined that you’re ready for the financial responsibility that comes with homeownership. What should you do next?

It may be helpful to tell your parents and other loved ones about your decision. Your loved ones may express concerns about how moving out could affect your safety and overall well-being. They may also worry that you’re not ready to take such a big step.

If this happens, it could be a good idea to address their worries by sharing what plans you have in place to live safely and responsibly. If you keep your loved ones informed, they may be more willing to provide any needed help and you can also lean on their experience.

Moving out of your parents’ house can also impact your relationships. Your parents and other important people in your life may miss you or fear that your relationship will change in a negative way. For this reason, think about how you will stay connected with your loved ones after you move. Perhaps set aside time each week to call or visit them personally!

Once you’ve told your family and friends of your decision to move out, it’s time to start thinking beyond the hypothetical. Setting a deadline for your move is an effective way to go forward in the moving process.

When should you move out? That will depend on your unique situation. If you’re buying a home, you’ll want to think about factors such as the time of year, current housing market conditions, availability of homes and what’s happening in your personal life.

As we’ve already discussed, moving out — and buying a home — requires a great deal of financial planning. So, you will likely benefit from figuring out how much you can afford to spend each month.

This is especially true when buying a house. It is important to consider how a monthly mortgage payment will fit into your budget. You’ll also need to account for a down payment and closing costs, which we’ll discuss a bit later.

To calculate your budget, track your monthly expenses and then compare that figure with your monthly income. This can help you determine how much house you can afford and to set a target monthly payment.

Making an honest assessment of your budget can help you to decide whether to pay off debt or save for a house.

There’s a big world out there with many amazing places to live. So understandably, you might be unsure where you want to live and what place fits into your budget. To narrow it down, you may want to ask yourself questions like:

• Will I be able to find a job that supports my livelihood? Are there opportunities for career growth here?

• What goods and services do I need close by?

• What is the cost of living and housing?

• How close do I want to be to family and friends?

• What cultural and social aspects are important to me?

This is by no means an exhaustive list of questions, but it’s a way to examine what’s important to you in life and determine if a prospective place will align with your needs.

A down payment is the price you’ll pay upfront when you close your home loan. You can expect to pay at least 3% of your property’s purchase price. Your down payment amount will usually depend on the type of mortgage you choose, your financial situation and the type of property.

Saving for a down payment can be challenging if you’re a young adult who is buying a home for the first time.

Paul Sundin, certified public accountant and CEO of retirement services company Emparion, says, “For young adults who [have a newfound control] over their finances, the hardest part will be adjusting their spending habits to save for a down payment. Regardless, this is a prerequisite and a defining factor on whether or not buying a home will be possible.”

To save for a down payment, Sundin advises young adults to consider cutting costs in any way possible. He suggests using shopping coupons to save on groceries and looking into payment plans you have that can be adjusted. This includes things such as your car insurance, renters insurance, health insurance, cable, internet or cell phone plan.

Sundin also urges young, first-time home buyers saving for a down payment to evaluate the cost of their memberships and subscriptions.

“Young adults must also learn how to maximize the existing perks and benefits that come with their Amazon, Netflix, Spotify, and similar subscriptions to ensure they're worth more than they cost. Otherwise, membership must be re-evaluated,” says Sundin. “The savings generated from these actions can help build the down payment fund faster.”

You can also expect to pay your lender processing fees, otherwise known as closing costs. Typically, closing costs will be 3% – 6% of your loan amount. For example, if your home costs $300,000, you’ll probably pay somewhere between $9,000 - $18,000. This amount will vary based on several factors including loan type, which we’ll dive into soon.

Down payment and closing costs are just two factors to consider. First-time home buyers should also be prepared for other home buying costs like property taxes, utilities, maintenance and more.

Your credit score is a three-digit number that reflects your credit history. A good credit score — usually considered to be 700 or higher — can help you get the best loan terms when buying a house.

If your score isn’t where you’d like it to be, focus on the following:

• Paying your credit card bill on time

• Reducing your debt

• Avoid applying for new credit

Even if you prepare well for your move, unexpected events can arise that make living on your own harder. If you happen to lose your job or incur some other major expense, it’s important to have an emergency fund.

An emergency fund is the money you set aside in the event of an unforeseen event. It’s best to refrain from using this money on things that aren’t absolutely necessary. So, if tough times come, you’ll have funds to use until you get back on your feet.

Before moving out and living on your own, consider growing your emergency fund. Although the size of an emergency fund will vary based on the individual, generally it should contain enough to cover 3 – 6 months of your living expenses.

Getting a mortgage is an important part of the home buying process, so be sure to research your mortgage options as well as the qualifying credit score and required down payment for each type of home loan.

Let’s briefly discuss some of your home loan options. 

Conventional Loans

Many home buyers opt for a conventional loan. This is a mortgage loan that’s not backed by a government agency; instead, it’s funded by a private financial lender and is then usually purchased by a government-sponsored enterprise like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The requirements for conventional loans vary, but they usually have stricter requirements than government-backed loans like FHA or VA loans.

To qualify for a conventional loan, you’ll usually need a credit score of 620 or more. And some first-time home buyers can get a low down payment of 3% with this type of mortgage. A down payment of less than 20% will add private mortgage insurance to your monthly payment until you reach 20% equity. 

FHA Loans

Unlike conventional loans which are not backed by the government, an FHA loan is backed and insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Since this is the case, the requirements for this type of loan usually aren’t as strict.

FHA loans have low down payment options and lower minimum credit score requirements, which may appeal to first-time home buyers. However, you will have to pay a mortgage insurance premium for the life of the loan unless you make a down payment of at least 10%, in which case it will come off after 11 years.

VA Loans

A VA loan is another type of government loan. Backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), this type of loan is available to eligible veterans, service members and surviving spouses.

VA loans do not require down payments. There’s also no monthly mortgage insurance, along with lower interest rates and no specific minimum credit score. However, the minimum median credit score for a VA loan from Rocket Mortgage^® is 580. 

USDA Loans

A USDA loan, backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides affordable homeownership opportunities for those living in rural areas. If you qualify for this type of loan, you do not have to make a down payment and will likely pay lower interest rates. However, you’ll still need to pay closing costs.

Rocket Mortgage does not offer USDA loans.

An important step when buying your first home is getting preapproved for a mortgage. A lender will assess your income, assets and credit score to determine how much money you can borrow to buy a home.

Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is also an important factor in the preapproval process. Your DTI is a percentage that is calculated by adding up your monthly minimum debt payments and dividing it by your gross monthly income. Lenders want to make sure that you’re in a financial position to take on debt, so they’ll be looking for a lower DTI.

A mortgage preapproval makes it easier to shop for a home, but you’ll still need to get a full approval once you find a house and give your lender a purchase agreement.

It’s no secret that buying a home has a lot of moving parts. So, to make things easier for you, consider hiring a real estate agent or REALTOR^®.

“Conducting a real estate sale can be overwhelming if you lack the expertise and experience, making it much harder to be successful,” says Shania Patrick, a licensed real estate agent based in Michigan.

Real estate agents and REALTORS^® are both licensed professionals who guide buyers and sellers through real estate transactions. However, a REALTOR^® is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR), a highly esteemed organization.

Patrick goes on to explain: “Real estate agents represent their clients with their best interest in mind and are committed to providing the best possible outcome. Your real estate professional can provide the necessary resources and education in financing, marketing, and building real estate connections.”

Consider working with our friends at Rocket Homes^SM  to find an agent who’s right for you.

Shopping for a new home can be one of the most exciting parts of moving out. But before you start house hunting, it’s helpful to know what the process entails.

Your house search will generally consist of five steps:

• Step 1: Determine your budget and get preapproved

• Step 2: Make a checklist of your must-haves and dealbreakers

• Step 3: Check house hunting websites and apps

• Step 4: Connect With A Real Estate Agent Or REALTOR^®

• Step 5: See houses in person

Once you’ve found the right home for you, it’s time to make an offer! The process of making an offer will vary for each buyer. But usually, you’ll want to:

• Decide how much you want to offer

• Decide on any contingencies

• Draft your offer letter

After making your offer, you can usually expect to hear back in 1 – 3 days. Then, the closing process typically takes anywhere from 30 – 45 days.

Even the thought of packing your belongings for the move can be overwhelming. To make packing less stressful, you’ll want to break the whole process into smaller projects. Focus on one room at a time, organizing and decluttering as you go. You may even find it helpful to create a “keep,” “sell,” and “donate” pile to avoid bringing excess items into your new home.

We know that moving can be a stressful experience. But having a moving plan is a good way to make the moving process a bit easier. You’ll want to prepare at least a few months in advance for your move. Consider making a moving checklist to stay organized and ensure you’ll have everything you need for the big day.

You’ll also want to know how much your move will cost. While moving costs vary based on the specific situation, Move.org says a full-service move can cost anywhere from $1,200 – $29,000, with the average moving price being $9,060.

If you’d like to save money and move on your own, be sure to rent a moving truck and enlist family and friends to help!

During the hectic moving process, you may overlook some of the smaller tasks that need to be done. About a month before your moving date, make sure to notify your utilities and other service providers of your address change.

Remember to contact:

• Electricity and gas providers

• Water and sewage treatment providers

• Internet, phone and cable providers

• Medical and dental service providers

• Home, auto, life and other insurance providers

• Banks and credit card companies that mail statements to your home

• Your children’s schools

• Newspaper, magazine and other subscription providers

• Home alarm system providers

You’ll also want to alert the U.S. Postal Service of your address change in order to receive mail at your new home.

It can be exciting to think about how you’re going to furnish your new home. Maybe you’ve even been shopping for decor that’ll create a certain aesthetic. But when you first move in, it’s important to buy the essential items first.

You’ll likely need items like cleaning and home maintenance supplies, toiletries, groceries, kitchen appliances, furniture and more.

There are often things you forget, so be sure to consult our moving checklist to make sure you’ll have everything you need for the move.

While you want to enjoy your newfound independence once you move out of your parents’ house, you’ll likely want company at your new place from time to time.

The good news is that in such a digital age, there are plenty of ways to stay connected no matter where you live. You might consider calling, texting or video chats to check in with your loved ones. If you live close, why not make plans to hang out in person? And if you now live farther away, arrange a time to visit if possible.

Moving out of your parents’ house is a milestone that can be rewarding but also a bit scary. If you follow the practical steps we’ve discussed in this article, you may be well on your way to living the independent life you’ve always dreamed of.

If you’re ready to take the leap and buy your first home, start by using the Rocket Mortgage Home Affordability Calculator to find out how much home you can afford. You can also give one of our Home Loan Experts a call at (833) 326-6018.