Buying a home is among the crucial financial decisions that you’ll make. If you want to buy a home, you know it can be exciting. With the vast range of options and priorities, you can get off track easily. For a first-timer, the process can be challenging. There are many steps, requirements, and tasks involved; hence, you may end up being confused and making a huge mistake that can be costly.
You might have read or heard stories of how new homeowners ended up regretting their decisions. This may have been due to rushing into the decision of buying the first home they fell in love with, regardless of its price range or state.According to CNBC, around two-thirds of millennials have regretted purchasing their current home. Bankrate did a survey and reported the top reason for homebuyer’s regret was financial frustrations followed by house physical characteristics.
Related: Home Management for Working Students
The buying process can be complex and time-consuming. However, to demystify the process, first-time homebuyer pointers can guide you through the buying process without forgetting the priorities. Having a prioritized list will help you eliminate the house options that are not ideal for you.
Things to know when buying a home
Affordability
This factor should be on top of your list before you even start searching for your ideal home. Buying a home isn’t about switching your rent. The wrong timing can be an expensive mistake for you. Therefore, consider doing a financial audit. Ensure that you are prepared for the purchase and any ongoing expenses after acquiring the home. An audit will help you determine whether you’re ready to purchase a home.
First, consider looking at your savings. You should know that there are up-front costs like down payment when buying a home. Therefore, you need to have an emergency fund. Consider having an emergency saving that can take you for three to six months after buying a home.
Second, review your spending. Check how much you spend every month on everything. This will help you determine the percentage to allocate to the mortgage payment. Third, check your credit. If you seek to get a mortgage loan, you should have a good credit score and loan payment history.
Wants vs. needs
When buying a home, you may be unable to find one that will meet your dream home “wish list.” You have to prioritize things you need versus things you want in your home. For instance, if you have kids and they don’t like the idea of sharing a bedroom, you’ll have to choose a home that has a room for everyone.
Another thing to consider is what your family members want and need in a home. If you may wish to sell your home in the future, you need to consider the resale value of a potential home. Consider the possible factors that may affect the resale value. Pay attention to factors that may not directly impact you. For instance, if you don’t have children, you may consider a home near a school.
While thinking of your wants and needs, think about things that can change. Some homeowners regret not purchasing a larger home. Of course, you don’t want to regret it after buying your home. You cannot change the square footage and the location of your home.
Related: Herb Business – Consideration for Home-based Herb Business
For instance, suppose you find a home that meets all your requirements, but its kitchen isn’t great. Then, you find another property that has a kitchen layout that you like but lacks other requirements. With that, consider the first one. The reason for this is that you can always remodel the kitchen.
Age, style, and condition of home appliances
One of the most expensive portions of a home is the appliances. It is expensive to replace appliances; you do not want to incur more expenses in getting new appliances. There are differences in properties that can be a deal-breaker for you. For instance, you may opt to cook on a gas stove than an electric range.
A kitchen should have several appliances. Therefore, check whether it has all the appliances you need or may have a provision for the appliances. Also, consider other things such as a water heater, washer, dryer, air conditioner, and fireplace, among others. Ensure that they have been properly maintained.
Age of the house
If you want to purchase a new house, then this factor is irrelevant. However, if you’re open to all houses in your price range, this factor is important.Although an older home may have an appealing character, it may need many upgrades and repairs. Therefore, ensure that you allocate time and budget for these projects.
Staying true to your priorities will help you find the right home for you. These ideas can help you have peace of mind when going through the process of buying a home.
