Purchasing your first home sounds exciting, but once you begin looking you may feel a bit overwhelmed. You might start thinking that nightly Ramen noodles in your apartment are really working out just fine as a long-term plan. Don’t despair: Dani Beyer Real Estate is here to help you with some first time home buyer tips!
What type of home do you need? Think about your life and how the ideal home fits into it. Maybe you initially imagined yourself in a single-family dwelling, but there are a lot of other options, like a condo, multi-family building or townhouse that each offer a different set of benefits.
It’s also important to know how much work you’d like to put into your home. You can get a good deal on a house that needs a bit of work, but it’s a good idea to know whether you like doing home projects. You may have a fixer-upper fantasy, but don’t let HGTV binge watching override your reality of whether you actually enjoy or have the budget for a home that will require a lot of weekend projects or a major overhaul.
What features do you like? Make a list of a few priorities, like maybe you prefer a home that has mature trees or one that’s in a walkable neighborhood. You might like to live close to your place of employment, or you’d like to prioritize the house having a neighborhood pool. It may be hard to find a house that fits every one of your wants and needs, but making a list makes it easier to match a house as closely as possible. If you’re determined to have walk-in closets, you’ll save yourself time looking at that cute brick bungalow that barely has any closets at all.
For many people, checking out the local schools is a good idea, either because you have or plan to have children, or because it can be helpful for selling your house later. If you have a parent that lives with you, it may be a good idea to choose a home close to healthcare facilities. Dani Beyer Real Estate can help you make a list of your priorities and identify the homes that fit most closely with your needs
How much house can you afford? Sometimes a bank will offer a loan that’s much more house than you want to own. It’s a good idea to look not only at the monthly payment, but also property taxes, homeowners insurance, plus how much you’ll spend to maintain or upgrade the home. Get a clear picture of how much you’re willing to pay before you see a home and begin putting a pixie-dust frame around that wraparound porch and park-like lawn. It’s easier to get excited about the right home when you’re not comparing it in your search feeds to ones that are out of your price range.
Choose the right agent. Every one of these first time home buyer tips is made easier when you work with the right real estate agent. At Dani Beyer Real Estate, we know that buying your first home is often your first major investment. We take what could be an overwhelming process and make it enjoyable and even fun. We’ll walk you through every step, from identifying what you’re looking for in a home, down to the last walk-through inspection.
To find out more first time home buyer tips or to get started with one of our agents, contact us at Dani Beyer Real Estate. We look forward to helping you find your home!