Tips For Your First Real Estate Purchase
by Luke Fields
Many people find themselves overwhelmed when they start considering their first real estate purchase. There are so many options to look at when looking for a home, it can be hard to know where to start. Making a solid investment in real estate is the key to protecting yourself financially. Here are some tips to help you make your first real estate purchase:
Budgeting
Budgeting is essential when shopping for real estate. It is always best to meet with different lenders and shop mortgage rates to see what kind of loan you actually qualify for. You don't want to have a monthly payment that stretches you thin. Making yourself aware of all the financial responsibilities that come with homeownership will help you make informed decisions. Learning about private mortgage insurance, property taxes, and other fees is a great way to start. You don't want to experience buyer's remorse on a home purchase. Buying and selling real estate is an expensive process, so doing it right pays off.
Location
Researching the location of your first real estate purchase should be a big priority. The location can provide you with more satisfaction with your purchase and better long-term property value. Property value is affected heavily by the location of the home you own due to demand. Buy real estate that has top schools, parks, amenities, and safety ratings. This drives up the popularity and demand for your home. Parents often prioritize the school search as they search for a home — this is always a great place to start when looking at different neighborhoods. Look up school district boundaries and maps online or head to district offices to ask for this information.
Low Maintenance vs High Maintenance
While shopping for real estate, you can find large or small yards, pools, and homes with massive square footage. All of these features can be seen as huge benefits if they fit your budget, but you need to think about what this means for you. Large yards require a lot of your time to care for them and tools to help get it done. The bigger the house you buy, the bigger your utility bills may be and the more space there is to clean and maintain. If these responsibilities seem to big, consider buying something smaller or more manageable.
Use these tools to help you shop for your first home. Taking the time to know what you want and what you can afford will make the process easier!
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About Me
Welcome to my website. My name is Larry Silva, and I want to talk a bit about private mortgage insurance. You may have heard the term PMI mentioned when you were in the process of purchasing real estate. When I first heard my lender talking about PMI, I was very confused. It was my realtor who sat me down and explained what private mortgage insurance was and when someone is required to purchase it. He told me that PMI is not lifelong insurance; it can be cancelled when the mortgage principal balance reaches a certain point. Once it was explained to me, private mortgage insurance was no longer a mystery or a confusing concept. I would like to pass on what I learned and hope that you find it to be of value.