The decision to buy a home is one of the most important but stressful decisions we ever make. Owning a home is a dream that most of us have had all our lives. What we don’t dream about though is the stress of the search and the hunt for a loan. Hopefully these tips will help you on your way.
Buying a house should be number one on your list of purchases. Don’t let other material things get in your way of saving up for one. Cars, TVs and computers are all very nice to have the latest and greatest, but don’t let those keep you from saving as much as you can towards buying your home.
Remember that what is outside the property you want is just as important as what is inside. The perfect piece of real estate inside can quite easily be in a noisy area, far from where you need to be or near schools that are not right for you and your family. Not having the right location can cost you in the long run.
Children do not necessarily have to have their own bedrooms. Some kids actually enjoy sharing a bedroom with a sibling. It may save you some money when you are buying a home, to not have to find a home that has enough bedrooms, that will give each of your kids, their own rooms.
When looking at houses to buy, look at how you talk about the houses. If you notice that you are always comparing all houses to one particular one, or you keep talking like it is yours, it means that you are most interested in that house. This becomes a big clue that you may have found your dream house.
Try not to over-analyze. You will want to be careful when buying a house. Just don’t be too cautious. If you spend too much time weighing the pros and cons, you can miss out on some really great deals. You may end up having to settle for something that is far less desirable.
When dealing with a lender to finance a home purchase, make sure everything they have told you is written down in your contract before you sign it. In most cases, verbal contracts are worthless. Remember, if it’s not on the paper, it doesn’t count. Unscrupulous lenders may even switch out rates between what they tell you and what appears on the contract.
Look for rental properties in student areas. A college or university neighborhood is a great place to look for a rental property to purchase. In most cases, the vacancy rate will be minimal, and most of the time students pre-pay their rent for the semester or even the entire year. The one drawback is that some students only want 3 month leases; however, if you form a relationship with the school’s housing office, you will most likely have no problem at all finding tenants.
Mortgage
Do not try to buy a home unless you work at a place that offers job security. Many people make the mistake of buying a home when they have a job that is not very stable then they cannot make the monthly mortgage payments when they become unemployed.
When it comes to paying property taxes and hazard insurance on your property, you have two options. The first option is to have the cost of those two things added to your monthly payment and the mortgage company will pay them for you. On the other hand you can handle making these payments on your own, if you wait until the last minute you could owe a huge sum of money all at once.
When deciding if you can afford to buy a house or not, you have to keep in mind taxes and closing costs. Some property taxes are quite steep and range from around two hundred dollars or more a month. So even if the mortgage itself is in your budget, the added expenses might not be.
Figure out exactly how much your mortgage payment is going to be, and add up all of your other bills. Create a budget on papers where you can look at everything and make sure that you can afford the new home you are trying to buy. If your budget says you can afford it and live within your means, then it is a go!
If you had previously fallen on hard times, and had your home foreclosed on, there are ways you can once again be a homeowner. Mortgage companies such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may back another home loan for you in as little as three years depending on the circumstances surrounding your foreclosure.
Before you purchase a home you should educate yourself as to the rights you have as a potential homeowner. The borrower of a mortgage has certain rights that change from state to state, so make sure that you are in the best possible position and research the laws in your state prior to purchase.
A down payment is not the only out of pocket fee that you are going to face when taking out a mortgage on a home. There are additional fees such as the closing cost, and some fees that may be charged by the realtor, that you may be charged before the home is yours.
Understand the language that mortgage companies are using when trying to determine if you qualify for a loan. The more you understand, the more you will feel confident and comfortable with the process that you are going through. It will also help you understand how much you can afford and if it can fit with your lifestyle.
Mortgage Rates
At a time like this, when mortgage rates are at an all time low, don’t let yourself get talked in to an adjustable rate mortgage. It will save you a little bit of money now, and could cost you huge in the future, if interest rates go up again.
Get a good mortgage broker. There are many lenders available for a mortgage if you have decent credit, and it can be very confusing if you are going it alone. A mortgage broker has experience and connections to find you the very best rate available. The value of the home you are purchasing is only part of the cost, and even a small difference in mortgage rates can make a huge difference in savings.
Now is the best time to buy a home because of interest rates. The mortgage rates are at an all time low and you should take advantage of this. These rates will rise in the months ahead. You should buy a home now to avoid paying higher interest rates later on.
Although buying a home can be a nerve wracking process, the end result of having the home that you have dreamed of makes the process worth it. Learn all you can about the process of buying real estate before you head out on your search. The more you know, the easier it will be.
