The purchase of a home can be stressful and time-consuming.
Making a smart decision on the location, cost, size, and long-term commitment of a home can impact you emotionally. For many first-time home buyers, the experience can be daunting. Below are some ways to cope with the home-buying process. These tips can help you relax and make the best of your home shopping and buying experience.
Take a look around the neighborhood – Get a better understanding of the area and route your regular commute through the neighborhood so that you can assess what you will have to deal with on a daily basis.
Make a good bid – Be realistic on the amount you can afford and base your number on what the property is worth. Review the values of other homes in the area and aim for an average price per square foot.
Give your house a physical – Hire a good inspector to examine the home as it will be important to know how much money you can save in the long term when you investigate repairs that may be needed. You will also be able to negotiate the purchase price based on how many things need to be fixed.
It’s all about timing – Don’t wait too long to buy a home as real estate is constantly fluctuating. You may miss out on the home of your dreams!
Get pre-approved first – Before you hit the block shopping for a home, you must know how much you can afford. In fact, many real estate professionals will not show buyers homes without a pre-approval in hand. No point in showing you the house of your dreams if you can’t afford it!
Limit unnecessary purchases – Keeping your expenses to a minimum and your credit report free of activity is advantageous when you’re in the market for a new home.
Whether you’re just thinking about buying a home or are ready to apply for a loan call on your Credit Union for advice on what to do next. We will hold your hand through the entire loan process and save you money along the way. Learn about our mortgage company here.
