Buying a home is a big dream for many people and a major milestone.
The road to a home purchase can feel both exciting and challenging, and at times nearly impossible, and therefore requires a whole lot of planning.
House hunting is difficult as you’re looking for a home that works for your needs and it’s also one of the largest financial investments you’ll make. Therefore, to help you start on the right foot, we’ve created a guide because there are some things to think about before buying your own house.
Write A Reasonable Wish List
Before you go out into the real estate jungle, it’s important to think about what features your first home should have. What area do you want to live in and what type of house do you want? How big should the house be? Do you need to be close to public transport or the grocery store? Also, find out the final prices for the type of house you want. Can you afford it? Make sure to set up a reasonable wish list.
Attend Showings
Start by listing requirements you are not willing to compromise on, such as the number of rooms, renovation needs, or proximity to work – it will be easier to narrow things down and make the final choice. Even if you’re not quite sure what you’re looking for, it can be smart to start going to different showings and open houses. You learn by looking, comparing, and asking questions about different spaces and can also more easily realize what it is you are looking for and what you are not looking for.
Something to keep in mind when buying a house is that it can take time, so start well in advance before you are in urgent need of your first house.
Hidden Costs
Before making an offer on a house you fancy, it’s essential to be well-prepared in advance so everything about the home-buying process can run smoothly. The most important aspect is your finances and since buying a home is a costly affair, try to get informed and become aware of all costs that may cross your path.
For instance, when you take a home loan, you have to pay back the total amount borrowed as well as interest over time. The interest rate will be the same for the life of the loan with fixed-rate mortgages. However, the rate can fluctuate with adjustable-rate mortgages which can lead to an unexpected cost as you might be in a situation where you cannot afford your mortgage down the line.
You can use a mortgage calculator to determine your total monthly expenses for the house you’re looking to buy so that you can protect yourself. In addition, you might need to take out mortgage insurance in case you’re unable to settle your loan which ultimately leads to more costs.
Renovation Costs
Once you have found a house that you are interested in, it’s good to look closely at the house’s exterior and things that can cost a lot to get in good condition.
If there’s a lot that needs to be renovated, it may be a good idea to bring a builder on a tour of the house to get an estimate of how much needs to be fixed and the approximate cost. Then you can more easily decide if you can afford to buy the house and get it in the condition you want.
Placing a Bid
If you’re not alone in wanting the house, the bidding may be in play. An offer is submitted by phone, via email, or text message. In most cases, the highest bid wins the deal but this is not always the case, as it’s the seller who ultimately decides who is allowed to buy.
In attractive areas, the final price can be significantly higher than the original price. It may be wise to set an upper limit on what you want to pay before bidding. Your bid isn’t binding until the contract is signed.
Upon Signing the Contact
Once you sign the papers and move into your new home, remember that homeownership comes with unexpected expenses so make sure to have an emergency fund so you’re not caught off guard when these costs come knocking on your door.
Make sure to always take excellent care of your home as regular maintenance can significantly decrease your repair costs.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve just purchased your new home or are about to do so, there are a myriad of things to consider and plenty of decisions to make. However, if you have a proper plan in place, and a checklist in mind while house hunting, you’ll have a stress-free experience and have things work out in your favor.