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Be honest with yourself!
It’s a good idea to try to make an honest appraisal
of your financial and personal situation and look for homes that fit you
the best.
How much can I borrow?
Before you start looking at homes, it’s a good idea to find out how much you can
borrow and what deposit you’ll need. You can use my calculator, but remember this is only an
estimate and you’ll need to have a full loan assessment done to work out
the exact amount you can borrow, based on your income, your expenses and
your current level of debt.
Don't buy the first house you look at!
It’s a good idea to look
at as many homes as you can. This gives you the opportunity to compare
different homes and amenities.
Home Cost - what will it cost you to live there?
Ask your agent if
you can see the current owner’s electricity, gas and water bills for the
past year, to get an idea of what it will cost to live in the home. You
could find that the home is surprisingly energy efficient and economical
to live in or that you may not be able to afford the bills in that area.
Do your homework:
There are some things that you usually
don’t find out about a house and its location, until you live there. If
you’re serious about a particular home, visit it at different times of
the day and night, during the week and on the weekend.
Neighbors can make all the difference:
Know what the people in the
neighborhood are like.
Be realistic!
Remember you’ll probably never find a home that is
absolutely perfect for you in everyway. There’s always something that
you would change if you could. Be able to compromise.
Protect Yourself:
Make sure that the contract you put on a
house allows you to arrange financing, inspect the home and negotiate
any problems that you uncover.
Understand the Seller:
Make sure to know why the seller is selling
the home.
Get an Inspection:
It is crucial to have the home inspected.
You want to know exactly what you are getting, and what kinds of repairs
are needed.