
Buying a home. It’s a quintessential part of the American Dream and, to this day, still one of the main goals to which millions of Americans aspire. But it is no small decision, and it’s something that takes a great deal of research and preparation to build towards. Buying a house is a difficult process whether it is your first or third time, so you can imagine how daunting it is to try to figure it out yourself without any prior experience.
One of the main things that you are likely concerned about when entering the housing market for the first time is the price. Naturally, you want to keep the costs as low as possible, without sacrificing on the things that are really important to you. Here are some ways to keep the costs down and save money on your first home purchase.
Shop Around for a Good Loan
It is not exactly a thrilling process to visit different banks and lenders to find a good mortgage on a house, but it is one of the most important parts of buying a new house. Don’t be tempted to simply take the first offer that you receive on a loan. Instead make sure that you shop around and be discerning in your final decision. You also need to make sure that you have a realistic budget set aside, for how much you can spare each month without harming your finances seriously.
Know Your Limits
Lenders will decide your loan amount based on your credit and tax information, but occasionally they will approve loans that are slightly above what you can really afford. It is important that you know what you can and cannot afford before you even go to the mortgage lender. You don’t want to end up with a house purchase that is going to put you in severe debt for the rest of your life. For this reason, you need to stick firm to your upper limit. It is also important to remember that, even if you see a good deal on a bigger house, there are things like higher utility costs to take into consideration.
Use a Realtor
You may have heard talk of the web making things so much easier when it comes to buying houses in this modern age. And while, yes, it is definitely a lot easier to buy and sell a house yourself today, it would be a mistake to forgo a realtor altogether. Especially for a first time home purchase, a realtor can lend expertise and knowhow that in invaluable to a novice, not to mention they will do most of the hard work for you. How does paying for a realtor save you money? They are likely to get you a much better deal on a property than you could ever get on your own.
Don’t Limit Your Search
Some people have preconceived ideas about what they want their first house to be like, but sometimes you have to realize that when you are entering the market for the first time you may have to make certain compromises. Of course, there are some things that are essential to each home buyer, so the best technique is to work with your realtor to put together a list of things that you would like (but are not necessarily deal breakers) and a list of your non-negotiables.
Decide What It’s Worth Spending On
This is another thing that your realtor can help you out with. Think about the things that you want out of a house, and which things you are will to pay for. For example, a home inspection and a home warranty are things that you will want to budget for, while extensive renovations might be something that you want to avoid. Again, it comes down to personal preferences, but all of the aforementioned are the kinds of decisions you will want to think about before you choose a house.
Photo: Flickr: reynermedia