Buying a house can be one of the biggest and most exciting purchases you make in your entire life. It’s not surprising, then, that you’re going to want to make sure that you make the right decision for yourself and your family when choosing the right property. There are all sorts of factors that will determine whether a house is the right one for you and your needs. You’re also going to want to make sure you avoid having to move again in the near future. The best way to achieve this is to take time when it comes to planning. Here are some areas of focus for you to start out with!
Create a Budget
The first step you’re going to need to take when it comes to buying a house is knowing your budget. Your budget will determine exactly how much you can afford to spend on a property and will guide your entire search. Without a budget, you could set your heart on a property that’s out of reach, or find that you could’ve got more than what you settled on. To come up with your budget, follow the steps below. Alternatively, professional mortgage advisors will be able to help.
- Figure out your outgoings – consider your day to day living costs. Around your mortgage payments, you’ll have to pay things like council tax, energy bills, water bills, insurance policies, car payments and more.
- Figure out your disposable – how much disposable income do you want? You may find that you need more disposable income if your kids have expensive hobbies or you like to engage in a lot of activities.
- See what’s left – the amount left from your monthly income will determine how much you can afford to spend on your monthly mortgage payments.
- Understanding the local market will surely help you devise a good budget. For instance, Canadians looking into houses for sale in Calgary, Alberta always do thorough research on the prices so they can set a limit, and see the house that is right for them. Make sure to be properly informed on all aspects of a local market before finalizing your budget.
Know What You Want
Having a good idea of what you’re looking for can help you to whittle down your property hunt early on, rather than wasting time viewing properties that clearly don’t meet your needs. There are countless elements that can determine whether a property is suitable for you or not. Some key ones to consider include:
- Area – where do you want to live? Does your family want to stay or move close to family and friends? Do you want to be closer to work? Do you want to move into the catchment area of a good school?
- Size – how big do you need your property to be? How many rooms do you need? How many bathrooms do you need? How big should each of these rooms be?
- Outdoor space – do you need a back garden? This tends to be a good idea when you have children or pets.
- Parking space – do you have a car? You might need to consider where you’re going to park. Do you want a garage? Or will on street parking suffice?
These, of course, are just a few starting blocks on your journey to securing a new home for your family. But hopefully, they’ll act like springboards, helping you along the way!
