Owning your own home for many people is a dream, but so many people are not able to do so. Once you have overcome those hurdles, it is plain sailing, right? Unfortunately not. There are pitfalls that you need to look out for and issues that are all too common. So where do you begin? Here are some of the biggest mistakes first time home buyers make.
To Rent, Or To Buy?
Despite all the benefits with owning a house, there are always unexpected costs there are associated with purchasing a home. It can make more sense financially to rent. There is online help where you can calculate the buying of a home in comparison to rent. With additional costs such as homeowners insurance or closing costs, that could be as much as a down payment. Bear in mind this could be before all of the maintenance fees that haven’t been factored into your budget.
Not Factoring In Your Debt-To-Income Ratio
This is one of the first things that money lenders look when assessing how you will be able to afford repayments on your mortgage. It is easy to load yourself with lots of debt before sinking your earnings into an investment like a house. That could mean the difference between getting approved or getting turned down. Look at what your expenses are on a day-to-day basis and conserving on the smaller things is a holistic approach to take to save unwarranted costs. For example, car payments and mobile phone contracts are more expensive than 10 years ago. So ask yourself if you really need those things. As soon as you establish your priorities you will be able to see if you are the right sort of person lenders will give money to.
Are You Putting Too Much Faith In Online Lenders?
It is recommended nowadays to research mortgages online as you can check to see what you are eligible for. However with the vast amount of complex definitions and wording it can lead to misunderstandings over fees, ownership costs and terms. Instead, work with lenders in person. That way the lending process can be spelled out in simpler ways for you. These people are professionals, and so they can help you a lot more than a form on the Internet can. Professionals can help you a lot more with things like how to Compare Conveyancing Quotes and other terms which may sound confusing.
Looking At The Home Without A Keen Eye
Inspecting the home inside and out can sometimes take a trained eye to see problems that may exist in a home. As well as this, checking the property can give the first time buyer a mini course on how to maintain it. As well as keeping an eye out for things like cracks, water damage or odd smells, make sure that you inspect part of the house like attics or basements. Also enquiring about conditions that are relating to local areas, for example sewage or subsidence. Identifying these problems earlier on will help you in the long run.
