Buying a home is a goal for many adults and households, and if you can manage it, owning your own property is a great investment and privilege. But it can be daunting, and a lot can go wrong. If this is your first home, here are some steps to guide you through the process.
Define Your Needs and Budget
The first step is to work out what you need from your home and balance it with what you can afford.
When considering your needs, think about your future needs as well. Your family now might just consist of, well, you and maybe your significant other. But are you planning on having children or pets that need space? Do you work from home and need a dedicated workspace? Do you have a car that needs a driveway or garage?
Is this your forever home or just a stepping stone?
These are just some of the questions you should ask yourself. You need to balance your wants, needs, and potential needs with your budget as well.
Be realistic about what you might be able to achieve. Maybe your perfect property doesn’t exist. Or maybe it’s way out of your budget. If you work all of this out in advance, you save yourself heartbreak later down the road.
Find a Property
Only when you’ve got your needs and budget defined, you should start looking for a property. If location matters, that will automatically save you some time by narrowing down your options.
It’s a good idea to have options. Even if a house looks okay on the website, it might not suit your needs. A few different options gives you a place to work from. A realtor can also help you narrow down the choices.
You should always look at the property in person to check for nasty surprises. A home inspector can also check the property over for any issues.
Get a Mortgage Ready
When working out the budget for your property, it’s a good idea to contact a mortgage broker. Most people need a mortgage to be able to buy a house, but if you can afford to pay in cash, all power to you.
The amount of money you can borrow depends on a number of factors, including your income and credit score. Just because you can borrow a certain amount, it doesn’t mean you should go for the most expensive property you can theoretically afford.
It also pays to shop around for better deals on your mortgage. You might be stuck with a certain interest rate for years, so you could save a lot of money by making sure you have a smarter mortgage. If you can save cash for a larger deposit, you will also get a better deal and might cut some time off your mortgage payments.
Yes, it can take some work and shopping around, but by investing a bit of time, you can take some of the money and stress out of the whole process.
