3 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Purchase Your First Home

Buying property is very exciting. Although many people look forward to the day when they will own their home, buying a first home can be stressful. This is why preparing yourself is so important. Here are a couple things you should ask yourself before you purchase a home.

Can You Afford The Upkeep?

Determining how much home you can afford can be hard. If you have rented in the past a landlord has taken care of the all the extra costs associated with home ownership. They probably care for the yard, do repairs, pay for pest control, and any other maintenance. When you own a home, all these things are coming out of your pocket. Although new homeowners may know this logically, they might not actually budget it in. You should be realistic about the extra costs associated with a home. When you buy at your max amount, you might not be able to care for the house in the way that you need to. For example, is the yard large? Will you need to buy appliances? What will you do when your water heater breaks or the shower leaks? It is important that you are realistic about the extra costs and factor that into your budget. You might need to budget in buying yard tools, plumber and HVAC fees, and appliance replacement and repair. 

Is The Neighborhood Good For You?

When buying a home, many people look at the house only. Although the house is important, some people would argue that the neighborhood is even more important. You need to ask yourself if you can live in the house and neighborhood for the near future? Could you raise your children here? How are the schools in the area? Is the area safe? And so much more. Remember that you will live in the house, but you will also be a part of the community, so make sure it is a neighborhood and community that you love.

Are You Letting The Bank Tell You What You Can Afford?

When you go to the bank to get your loan, it is important that you have an idea of how much you want to spend. The bank may approve you for more than you thought. Thus, you may be tempted to buy a bigger home. However, even though the bank will lend you more, you will be the one who has to make the payments each month. This is why it is so important that you decide what you can afford and stick to it, no matter what the bank says.

By asking yourself these questions before you purchase a house, you can be sure that you are making the right choice for you. For more information about buying a home, check out websites like http://sgcityrealestate.com/.


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