Buying Your First Home?
Buying a house is the biggest investment most of us make, so it is important to get it right.
Your first home may not be your dream home, but it could be an affordable first step on the ‘property ladder’.
There’s no point owning your own home if you can’t keep up with the mortgage repayments. Sometimes ‘the worst house in the best street’ is the way to go – particularly if you are good at DIY!
A few tips before you get started on your journey to home ownership:
Know how much you can afford:
There is no point looking at houses that maybe above what banks would be prepared to lend you only to have your hopes dashed.
Get Pre-Approved:
Pre-approval will help you to understand how much you can expect to borrow from your lender. Knowing your spending range can help to narrow your home search to properties within your price range. It can also give sellers a little more confidence in your seriousness when making an offer.
Prioritse your Wants and Needs:
Working within a budget, sometimes you have to make some compromises. Knowing what you really need can help narrow your home search options and also make decisions easier when it comes to making an offer. Create a checklist of your needs and wants. Don’t forget to include things that aren’t actually a part of the house, but could be just as important, such as the neighborhood, work commute, schools, etc
Use the Internet:
There are some great sites that can help with your search for a great property; Trademe.co.nz realestate.co.nz to name a couple also you could download their apps to your smartphones so you get all you need on the go!
The bottom line is buying your first home can be an exhilarating experience, provided you do some research, stay within a comfortable budget and work with reputable professionals who will guide you through the process.
Good luck! 
June 10 2012 12:55 pm | Uncategorized