Ready to Buy?  You are entering into a very exciting time!  And one that involves a lot of consideration and planning.  It can become stressful.  That's where I come in!  I am here to help guide you through every aspect of the transaction.

Homebuyers can overlook some important considerations in all of the excitement, leading them to make potentially costly mistakes. The best way to avoid these mistakes is to be aware of them right from the beginning. 

1) Don't Overstretch your budget

When we first meet I can help you understand what priced home you can afford.  If you don't already have a loan officer, I can offer suggestions.  Getting pre-approved is essential.  It will help you understand what your payment will be and will give you a framework for what priced properties you should look at. Don't overstretch your budget!  You don't want to get into a home and then find your house payment is so high that you can't afford to enjoy life.  Just because you can get a loan, doesn't mean you should.  I recommend you look for homes at about 10-15% below your max pre-approved amount. It is always better to play it safe.

2) Consider Your homeownership costs

Homeownership comes with many hidden costs. Property taxes and homeowners insurance will be part of your monthly payments.  But you will also have utility costs, maintenance costs and possible a Home Owners Association payment that are going to come with your new home. If you don’t take these costs into account when coming up with your budget, you might have a difficult time making all of your monthly payments on the house.

3) DO HOME inspections

This is an area where you do not want to cut corners.  The importance of getting professional inspections when buying a home cannot be overstated. It can save you thousands.   At a minimum, you need to get a Property Inspection, a Sewer Scope and a Radon test.  A house may look like it is in great shape and worth every penny, but a professional inspector can provide an unbiased opinion of the true condition of the home. This information can help you back out of a bad deal, or, if you’re willing to make the repairs, negotiate a concession on the price of the home.  

4) consider the resale value

 If you love the home and you plan to stay there for many years, why give any thought to selling it one day? Any number of life changes could mean needing to move again in the future. The time may come when you will want or need to sell the house, so ensuring that it has good resale value before you buy may help you out in the future.  Some things to think about might be its location; schools; amenities close by & access to transport.

5) Get Professional Help

When buying a home and particularly, when buying a newly built home, get professional help.  Find a great Real Estate agent who is a Realtor with a good track record and years of experience.  Get someone advocating for you who will assist you throughout the process and be there after you purchase the home too.  Remember, when buying, it costs you nothing!