So you think you’re ready to buy a house? First off, that’s wonderful, and we hope you find the home of your dreams.
Now, we just want to make sure you’re making the right decision. Don’t just buy a home to buy one — buy a home you’re going to love to live in.
These home-buying tips can help you do exactly that.
Ask yourself this question: how much house can I afford?
You have to be realistic with yourself during this process and crunch the numbers. The last thing you want (or need) is to purchase a home you can’t afford, even if you’re approved for a loan.
$1,030 is the median monthly mortgage payment for homeowners. Of course, that number increases in areas like Los Angeles or New York.
See how much money you can afford to spend on a home without stretching yourself too thin. Once you figure out how much you can realistically spend on a home, then the real fun begins.
But don’t forget about closing costs.
Reflect on your wants and needs
What do you want in a home? A backyard swimming pool? A house on the hills? A home with enough bedrooms to support a growing family?
While all the bells and whistles might seem appropriate, it’s best to see what you really want and need in a home. It’s also important to note that you can always make home improvements over time.
As an example, if a fixer-upper is more in your budget, then you can incorporate double hung window replacement and other improvements over time to really make your home … well, your home.
Decide where you want to live
Where do you want to live? In the city, the suburbs, in the mountains, out in the middle of nowhere?
Maybe you want to buy a home that’s in a good neighborhood because you want to raise a family and you want your kids in a good school district.
Unlike renovating your home when you want to make improvements, you can’t just pick up your house and move, which is why this is one of the most important decisions for you to make.
Where can you envision yourself living? If you’re a city person, then it might make more sense to buy a condo in the city as opposed to a large home in the middle of nowhere. Your home is important, but where you live should also play a big role in this decision.
Figure out what type of house you want to live in
There are many types of houses. A house can be a ranch, bungalow, mansion, apartment/condo, townhouse, and many other styles.
You might be in the market for log cabin homes for sale, and if a log cabin home is your dream house and main priority, then you might base all of your decisions on where you can buy one in your budget. A log cabin home could be ideal for someone who wants to live in the mountains and have an outdoorsy lifestyle.
You clearly need to make a lot of decisions when it comes to buying a home. First and foremost, you have to figure out how much you can afford to spend on a house — and not just initially, but in the long term. You also have to decide what you want in your home and what your values are, as well as where you want to live and what type of home you want to live in.
Finding the home of your dreams takes time. We hope the tips above can help you during the home-buying process.
