2 Things You Should Know About Buying A House
Buying a house can be so fun. There are so many people who have a positive experience when looking for homes for sale and in the end are pleased with their purchase. However, there are others that regret their decision. Here are some things that you should know about making your home buying experience positive.
1. Stick To The Numbers
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when buying a house is that they don't give enough attention to the numbers. They simply search for the house based on what they want and not what they truly can afford. Before you even go to the bank determine how much you are willing and able to pay for your mortgage each month. Get this number to include your insurance, taxes and any other expenses due monthly, such as HOA. Then even when you go to the bank to get preapproved for the loan you won't be blinded if they tell you they will loan you more money. Just because they are willing to give you more doesn't mean that you actually can afford a biggest payment each month. You need to stay within the budget that you created. Otherwise you will easily become house poor.
When looking at houses, don't even look at houses outside of your budget. This is very dangerous. You may fall in love with a house that is too much for you and then nothing else will measure up. It is not helpful to "dream" when you are actually buying the house. Dream before and after, but while you are actually shopping, stick to the realistic houses that you can afford. This will make you happier with your purchase.
2. Do All The Prep Work Before
Depending on the housing market you live in, you may have to act fast when you find a house you like. You don't want to be rushed into the decision, so if you need to do some research, make sure it is all done before you go house shopping. Decide what area you will and won't live in, know the floor plan that you want, and have everything ready with the bank, so that when you do find the house that you love, everything is ready to make an offer right then and there.
As you can see there are some things that you can do to make sure that you are prepared to buy a house.