Determine Your Wants and Needs Before Buying

Searching for your new home can be a time consuming process, especially if you have not determined in advance the parameters of your search. Take some time to develop your own list of needs and wants, and prioritize them.

Although you may have determined your search parameters in advance, buyers often find that their expectations may get further refined during the search determined by factors such as availability, supply and demand.

You must differentiate between your true needs and what you would like to have, your wants. Once you have a clearer view of what your house will need to have, the next step, actually looking for a home – will be easier for you and your AMSI agent.

Keep in mind, that your budget is a big factor and will impact, which needs, and moreover, which wants, you can actually realize.

Get our checklist on how to determine your wants and needs.

Fore more info about buying real estate visit http://www.amsires.com/buying_a_home.php

First Time Home Buyer Guide

What steps to take when buying a home

1. Get your finances in order and check your credit score. The higher your credit score is, the better the chances to qualify for a better mortgage rate and type of loan.
2. Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Before you start your search you have to see if you qualify to buy a home.
3. Determine your wants and needs before you start house hunting. Finding the right house can become a long process when you don’t determine in advance what your wants and needs are.
4. Once you find your dream house you need to write an offer with help of a real estate agent. Your agent will help you to negotiate the price.
5. Inspections, a home inspector will let you know what condition the home is in and what kind of repairs are needed before you buy the home.
6. Closing progress/Escrow. The period between offer acceptance and the final settlement is known as escrow, which can take several weeks

Don’t buy if you can stay put

If you cannot commit to stay put for at least a few years, then owning is probably not for you, at least not yet. With the transaction costs of buying a home, you may end up losing money if you sell too soon, even in a rising market.

When you are buying to rent out the property, ask your agent for how much you can lease your rental every month. Your expenses (e.g. property tax, maintenance and mortgage costs) have to be lower than your monthly rent income in order to make profit.

Appreciation

Homes gain on value over time, some years more and some less, depending on the market. The home appreciation rate varies from region and neighborhood. Therefore you should figure out what neighborhood has which appreciation rate before you start house hunting.

Do you want more information? Then check this out and learn more about buying a home.