More and more people are now getting into the trend to buy a house instead of just renting one. But buying a house is no walk at the park. It requires proper decision making, coupled with practical knowledge in real estate policies, real estate market value, the economic scenario, and even simple accounting.
The following is a list of some of the most practical things you should consider when you are set to buy your own house.
Table of Contents
Your financial status
One’s finances is the most basic consideration when buying a house. Unless you have a huge savings in the bank for cash payment, you’ll have to assess if your salary can accommodate additional monthly mortgage or else you would end up scrambling through additional loans and credits. Assess and manage your financial status because this will be the base criteria for all the other application (such as loan application) you will need to furnish later on.
Your credit report
Most home buyers apply for a loan to help them ease out the finances they will be using when buying a house. Loan companies require their applicants to present their credit reports. Also called FICO score, a credit report determines one’s capacity to pay as an applicant for a loan. If your FICO score is below 620, you may need to consider setting aside your plan to buy a house. Having a bad credit report is a disadvantage for a loan applicant because he/she will surely be getting an impractical interest rate in the whole track of the loan duration. If you still do not know your credit report, you can get it for free through online softwares.
The house you are eyeing for
Is the house you are dying to buy really worth your money? Some houses, especially the previously-owned ones, may be needing renovations and refurbishing in most areas. If you will be spending too much on these repairs, you may need to find a new prospect house. Still, you must allocate a fortune (say, 5% of the purchasing price of the house) to be used for maintenance of your new house.
Neighbourhood
In picking a house’s neighbourhood, you should consider some things. Here are some:
Transportation
The nearer you are to public transportation services, the faster you would be going about. If you don’t have a car or don’t plan on buying one, relying on public transportation means getting a house with convenient commute.
Distance to Kids’ Schools and Care Services
Same as above, if you would rely on public transportation services, living an area near your kids’ school is one way to go. If you have younger kids, having a day care center in the community would be a plus.
Access to food stores
Having grocery stores and restaurants in the area you would be living in means you won’t starve. 😀 Kidding aside, shopping for food convenience is one bonus, but knowing that you will get your food craving easily from your home can give you a good feeling every time.
Maintenance and Upkeep
Maintaining and keeping a home (and the lot it is build on) can also cost a lot once accumulated. Once you see that something needs repair, do it soon enough to not further the damage. Getting a home insurance is one way to prepare for this.
Talk to a real estate agent, or get recommendations from your relatives and friends when you are set to buy a house. Use these guide in hope that they can better inform your decision.
agree, buying a house isn’t like buying a toy, its really need a strong and proper decision..
thanks for this tips!
if i am going to buy a new house, i will opt for a newly built house, repairs and refurbishing will eat a lot of money and in my opinion it will not be wise
I still haven’t considered buying a house since I don’t have the financial stability yet.. But some day I’ll get there.. 😀
Thanks for these tips, I will keep this in mind when we decide to buy our own house, as of now, we’re living with my mom.:)
agree, buying a house is not that easy especially with many factors to consider like the ones you’ve mentioned. It boils down though to one factor, your financial stability.
You are absolutely right!
Buying a house or building your dream house is
not as easy as 123 or abc. It really requires money and stability.