Part 1: How to Make a Good Buying Decision
Establish a Realistic Budget. The costs of owning a home are more than meets the eye. In addition to mortgage, taxes and insurance, a little savings should be set aside for maintenance and unexpected emergencies. Remember, you will eventually need to repair or replace many items in the home, including appliances, HVAC and roof.
Buy What You Need. While real estate is often considered an excellent investment, it’s important to purchase only as much home as you actually need. Bigger isn’t always better; sometimes it’s simply more expensive. Higher taxes, bigger insurance bills and more maintenance can eat away at even the best budgets.
Plan for Growth. First-time home buyers can also be too modest when it comes to purchasing their first house. If you intend to start a family, you may quickly outgrow the home. Plan for growth to ensure that you will be as happy in the home tomorrow as you are today.
Understand Long Term Appreciation. Although you don’t want to base the purchase of your home solely upon appreciation, at least not for the short term in this current market, it’s equally important to understand how the future value of your home is likely to impact your ability to move up later in life. When the time comes to sell, rent or exchange the current property, a home with long-term appreciation provides greater buying options in the future. Search for neighborhoods expected to rise in value over time.
Work with a Reputable Agent. A great real estate agent or broker is often worth his or her weight in gold, which is why you will typically find that investors would never think of going it alone. Unfortunately, many first-time buyers are under the mistaken impression that they can save money by helping the seller eliminate or reduce the commission. Research shows that this is rarely the case. Most agents help negotiate a lower sales price and ensure that funding, necessary paperwork and other important legal considerations are all taken care of.
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