For many first-time buyers, the idea of purchasing a home can feel overwhelming, especially when navigating mortgages, credit scores and down payments.

However, getting started may be simpler than it seems and more possible than many realize, according to Barbara Frederick, a financial service officer at Community State Bank in Morrison .

Credit: The starting point

No matter where you fall on the credit scale, a look at your credit score and history is the universal starting point.

“Credit is so important because it determines what type of loan you would have and what kind of down payments would be required,” Frederick said.

Not all buyers walk in knowing their credit score, so the bank starts with a soft pull, a method that checks their credit without affecting it – similar to what

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