10 Things to Consider Before Buying Your First Home

This is definitely an intriguing posting I found this evening. I don't completely concur using theauthor, yet I located it being a good read. If you've any second you ought to check it out.

Things to Consider Before Buying Your First Home

You've landed your dream job and dreamier spouse/partner/whatever. Suddenly, you find yourselfthinking about putting down roots, moving out of your noisy apartment and buying a house. Slowdown just a bit. It's a huge step. Taking on a house usually means an increase in your monthly outlayfor mortgage, utilities and maintenance, plus a time commitment for keeping the yard in shape.

Still, it's the American dream -- to go along with the job and spouse. Before you find yourself miredin a nightmare, read through our list of things to keep in mind to help make the dream that muchsweeter.

10

The Market

Since the advent of the Great Recession in 2008, the real estate market has bounced back and forthbetween a buyer's and a seller's market in many areas. Have you ever wondered what those termsreally mean?

A buyer's market is when there are more houses for sale than there are buyers for them. Thathappened early in the recession when, after the boom in new home sales, suddenly there were morenew homes than builders could sell. The buyer's market continued as the recession lingered, peoplelost their jobs, foreclosures peaked and housing prices tanked.

The opposite, a seller's market, occurs when fewer houses are on the market than there are buyers.The run up to the recession was a booming seller's market in most areas of the U.S. With severalbuyers often bidding for the same house, home prices kept reaching new heights.

Talk to a real estate agent in your area who can help you understand the market and how it'scurrently impacting buyers.

9

The Process

Buying a house is not like buying groceries -- or even a car. It can be a complicated process involvinga lot of paperwork that often makes little sense. Here are some of the general steps (specifics varyby state) that you will need to take as you prepare to sign on the dotted line.

Before you look:

Save your money. You'll need it for a down payment, a home inspection, closing costs, some repairsor upgrades to your new home and monthly mortgage payments.Get prequalified for a loan to learnhow much house you can afford. This keeps you from looking at houses that are out of your price

range and also lets sellers know you're serious and can afford their home.

Once you're under contract:

Apply for a loan. Just because you're preapproved for a specific amount doesn't mean you'reapproved for a loan. Your lender can help you understand the loan process, including the documentsyou'll have to provide and the loan costs involved.Have the house inspected. A professional inspectorcan uncover problems that you may not find otherwise.Gather your funds for closing. You may haveto have certified funds (a bank check -- not a personal one) for the down payment and closing costs.

Buying a home can be a stressful undertaking. The best plan is to work with a real estate agent whounderstands the market in your area and will help you find the affordable home of your dreams.

8

Type of House

Do you have visions of living in a traditional home in the suburbs, one with a big yard and a housefulof kids and pets? Maybe your spouse likes the idea of in-town living, a condo within walking distanceof shops and restaurants. What about two or more stories vs. a single-level home? Do you envision abasement or garage where you could have a workshop or space for a home office?

You may not be able to afford everything on your wish list, but it's important to talk with both yourpartner and your real estate agent about the things that might be deal breakers for you.

7

Affordability

Just because you've been preapproved for a certain amount doesn't mean you have to max out thatloan with your first home. In fact, you may not want to spend every penny on your home loan everymonth. When considering how much house you can afford, here are some other costs to be aware of:

Mortgage payments are the monthly payments you make to the bank to pay back your loan. Oftenthese payments include not just the principal and interest on the loan, but also property taxes andhomeowners insurance. If your lender does not collect and pay out your taxes and insurance, you'llbe responsible for them yourself.Closing costs, which are paid at the loan closing, might includelender and attorney fees, flood or title insurance, and any up-front interest on your loan -- calledpoints.Your new neighborhood may have a homeowners association with required monthly or annualdues.

Keep all of these expenses in mind as you're shopping for a new home, and talk to your real estateagent and lender about any other unexpected expenses to expect.

6

Credit Score

Before you begin shopping for a house, get a copy of your credit report. Your credit score will play alarge part in determining the interest rate you are able to get on your loan. The FICO credit score isthe most widely used and ranges from 300 to 850 [source: Bankrate Credit].

Credit scores are affected by such things as the number of credit cards you have, outstandingbalances, student and car loans and whether you pay your bills on time. The higher your creditscore, the more likely you'll be able to get a loan to buy a house at a lower interest rate.

It is not unusual for there to be mistakes on a credit report -- often mistakes that bring your creditscore down. Review it carefully and correct any mistakes you find before you apply for a home loan.

5

Down Payment

The down payment, which is the money you pay up front for your home, can vary from 0 to 20percent or more depending on the loan type and your credit rating. Do your research and talk tolenders in your area about how much you will have to put down.

Credit unions and several government-backed programs -- including the Veterans Administration(VA) and the Federal Housing Administration (FAH) -- offer low-down-payment loans. Mostconventional loans -- not government sponsored -- require more down.

Many first-time homebuyers have trouble saving enough for the down payment. The lucky ones havefamily who will give them money to help with it. Before you get too excited, talk the gift over withyour lender, who will want to be sure the money is in fact an outright gift and not a loan dressed uplike a gift.

Lenders check your bank statements, credit history, pay stubs and income tax returns before theydecide to loan you money. If you have a large sum suddenly appear in an account, they are going towant to know where you got it. If it is a gift with no strings attached, you may be asked to provide agift letter from the giver, with the name, date of gift and statement that it is a gift with no repaymentexpected [source: Brackel].

4

Job

There are a couple of things related to your job that are important when you're thinking of buying ahouse. First, how stable is it? Have you had your job for at least a year? Do you see yourself stayingwith the job for the next few years? These are things a lender will look at and talk to you aboutbefore making a loan.

The second thing to consider is your commute. Does it matter to you how long it is? Does it matter toyour partner? If you choose a house close to work and then either lose your job or take a job in adifferent area, is that still a place you'd be happy to live? Maybe you work from home. If so, do youneed dedicated space for equipment, computers or a phone? There are no right or wrong answers tothese kinds of questions. Just think seriously about them, and talk to your housemate about them aswell, to find the right answers for your situation.

3

Home Repairs and Maintenance

Some of the hidden costs of home ownership are in repairs and maintenance. When thinking about

how much house you can afford, consider these costs before you commit to a monthly payment thatwill take your entire budget. What happens if the air conditioning needs to be replaced, the roofleaks or the refrigerator dies? Consider putting money aside every month to cover those homeemergencies, which will crop up more often than you think.

If you're handy, you might consider buying a house that needs some work. You can probably get itfor much less than a perfect home, and then you can put in what's commonly called "sweat equity."Later, when you have the home of your dreams, it may be worth much more than you paid for it. Talkto your real estate agent about whether or not home values are rising in your area. You don't want tobuy a fixer-upper that's in a neighborhood on the decline.

2

Children

Do you have or are you planning to have children? If so, you'll want to consider the school districtand neighborhood before buying. In fact, even if you don't have children, it's smart to consider theschool district.

According to a survey, 20 percent of buyers said they would pay 6 to 10 percent over their budgetfor a home in the right school district [source: DeBord]. Of course, this means as a buyer that youmay have to pay more for a home in a good school district. On the other hand, when you go to sellthat home, you're likely to make more on the sale than if it were in a less desirable district.

Even if a school district is a major consideration when buying a home, don't forget about otherfactors that can be important if you have or plan to have children. Take a look at the neighborhood.Is it family friendly? Does the street have a lot of traffic? Is there a playground? A swimming pool?Are there sidewalks? What about other kids? Keep all of this in mind if you're planning to raise afamily in your new home.

1

Roots

Are you up for a promotion that would send you halfway across the country? Have always wanted tolive in a grass hut on the beach halfway around the world? If either of these is the case in your life,now may not be the time to buy.

You'll want to examine things like the market in your area. Are home values rising, and how quickly?You may pay closing costs when you buy the house, and perhaps be asked to pay them again whenyou sell it. And the thing about home mortgages: Most of your monthly payments for the first fewyears cover the interest. You don't make much headway on the principal for a while, which meansyou aren't building up equity.

The bottom line is this: Even if you live in a buyer's market now, you may not be able to make muchmoney if you try to sell your house within the first few years. On the other hand, if everyone fromyour great-grandparents on down has lived in the same neighborhood and you aren't about to breakwith tradition, now may be a great time to buy a house. Look for a home that can grow with yourfamily - or at least accommodate all the family members in the neighborhood who will be droppingby.

Lots More Information

In the midst of the 2008 housing crisis, the U.S. government introduced a program to encourageconsumers to buy houses by offering a tax credit. It was expanded in 2009 and 2010. But did itultimately help or hurt homebuyers and sellers? Read more

Lots More InformationAuthor's Note: 10 Things to Consider Before Buying Your First Home

As a former real-estate agent, I've seen lots of first-time home buyers make plenty of mistakes, frombuying more house than they could afford to taking on a more decrepit house than they couldrealistically make habitable. Despite their best intentions, agents can only do so much with theiradvice. The first-time buyers I saw who stayed happiest in their homes were the ones who had donetheir research, planned their purchases, communicated with their partners and agents and did notstep too far outside of their comfort zones. I'm all about taking risks in life -- I went from selling realestate to writing about it, after all. But, a home is often the biggest purchase you make in life, andit's a purchase that follows you around for years. Do your homework before you buy. And happyhouse hunting!

Related ArticlesSourcesBankrate. "What is a Credit Score?" April 22, 2010. (Oct. 19, 2014)http://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/what-is-a-credit-score.aspxBrackel, Christine. "UsingGift Money for Your Down Payment: What You Need to Know." Quicken. May 22, 2014. (Oct. 19,2014) http://www.quickenloans.com/blog/gift-money-down-paymentDeBord, Sam. "The Right SchoolDistrict: How Much Do Schools Affect Real Estate Prices?" Realtor.com. (Nov. 12, 2014)http://www.realtor.com/advice/the-right-school-district-how-much-do-schools-affect-real-estate-prices/Dratch, Dana. "6 Must-Do's Before Buying a New Home." Bankrate. (Oct. 19, 2014)http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/6-must-dos-before-buying-a-home-1.aspxHGTVFrontdoor. "10 Things Every New Homebuyer Needs to Know." (Oct. 19, 2014)http://www.frontdoor.com/real-estate/10-things-every-new-homebuyer-needs-to-knowHolden, Lewis."4 Mortgages That Require Little Money Down." Bankrate. (Oct. 19, 2014)http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/4-mortgages-that-require-little-money-down-1.aspxWilliams, Geoff and Annalisa Burgos. "What to Know Before Buying Your First Home. HGTV FrontDoor.(Oct. 19, 2014)http://www.frontdoor.com/real-estate/what-to-know-before-buying-your-first-homeZykor Homes."Difference Between Seller's Market and Buyer's Market." June 11, 2014. (Oct. 19, 2014)http://www.zykorhomes.com/difference-between-sellers-market-and-buyers-market/

');

else

$('#UpNext').after('');

$('#inject5-'+num).addClass('injectAdLastPage');

$('.injectAdLastPage').css('margin-top', '20px');

$('#inject5-'+num).css('margin-left', '-18px');

if ($('#AuthorsNote').length 0 )

$('#inject5-'+num).css('margin-top', '20px');

//$('#SlideInner .bd .caption').css('margin-left', '-10px');

//$('#SlideInner .bd .credit').css('margin-left', '-10px');

if(num == 0

function retrieveAd(pageNum)

var outAd;

for (var i = 1; i 0 )

outAd = $('#inject'+i+'-'+pageNum).html();

return outAd;

function hashUI()

$('.pagelink a, .prevControl, .nextControl:not(.upNextLink)').each(function()

$(this).attr('href',$(this).attr('data-hash'));

);

function adRefreshPageView()

if (HSW.ads)

HSW.ads.refresh();

else if (DDM.adManager)

DDM.adManager.refresh();

(self.COMSCORE COMSCORE.beacon(c1: "2", c2: "19985763"));

$.ajax('/shared/comscore/ajax.xml');

function getCurrentPageUrl()

var currentPage = parseHash();

var pageName = [

window.location.hostname,

window.location.pathname,

].join('').replace('.htm', '');

pageName += (currentPage + '.htm');

return pageName;

function sendPrevNextOmniture(e, buttonType, position)

var pageNum = parseHash();

var pageType;

if (pageNum == 0)

pageType = 'Page Zero';

else

pageType = 'Interior Page';

sendTags(pageTitle + ' : ' + buttonType + ' : ' + position + ' : Page ' + pageNum, null, , e, null,pageNum);

$(window).hashchange(function()

moveSlide(parseHash());

);

$(document).ready(function()

var botMode = false;

if(!botMode)

//console.log(ich.listFull());

//ich.refresh();

var injAd;

injAd = retrieveAd(pageNum);

$('#SlideInner').html(ich.listFull());

//last page stuff, hack up that content!

if ($('#Sources').length 0)

$('#Sources').next('ul').addClass('sourcesList');

$('#Sources').text('View Sources');

$('#Sources').before('

+');

$('.sourcesBullet').before('');

$('.sourcesList').after('');

else

$('#UpNext').after('');

if ($('#AuthorsNote').length 0)

$('#AuthorsNote').before('');

$('#SourcesDivider1').css('margin-top', '20px');

if ($('#OtherArticles').length 0)

var otherArticles = $('#OtherArticles')[0].outerHTML;

$('#OtherArticles').next('ul').addClass('otherArticlesList');

if ($('.otherArticlesList').length 0)

otherArticles += $('.otherArticlesList')[0].outerHTML;

$('.otherArticlesList').remove();

$('#OtherArticles').remove();

$('#SourcesDivider2').after('

' + otherArticles + '

');

if ($('#MoreLinks').length 0)

var moreLinks = $('#MoreLinks')[0].outerHTML;

$('#MoreLinks').next('ul').addClass('moreLinksList');

if ($('.moreLinksList').length 0)

moreLinks += $('.moreLinksList')[0].outerHTML;

$('.moreLinksList').remove();

$('#MoreLinks').remove();

$('#OtherArticles0').after('

' + moreLinks + '

');

$('#Sources, .sourcesBullet').click(function()

$('.sourcesList').toggle('slow', function()

);

if ($('.sourcesBullet').hasClass('sourcesBulletClosed'))

$('.sourcesBullet').removeClass('sourcesBulletClosed').addClass('sourcesBulletOpen');

$('.sourcesBullet').html('-');

else

$('.sourcesBullet').removeClass('sourcesBulletOpen').addClass('sourcesBulletClosed');

$('.sourcesBullet').html('+');

//remove height on #SlidesContainer so it can expand

$('#SlidesContainer').css('height', 'auto');

);

$('.paginationIcons li').hover(function()

var page =$('.paginationIcons li').index(this);

$('#pageOverlay'+page).css('display','block');

$('#overlayText'+page).vAlign($('#overlayText'+page).height());

,

function()

var page =$('.paginationIcons li').index(this);

$('#pageOverlay'+page).css('display','none');

);

//prev/next onClick omniture

$(".prevControl").click(function(e)

$('.sourcesList').css('display', 'none');

$('.sourcesBullet').removeClass('sourcesBulletOpen').addClass('sourcesBulletClosed');

$('.sourcesBullet').html('+');

sendPrevNextOmniture(e, 'Prev', 'Top');

);

//prev/next onClick omniture

$(".prevControlBottom").click(function(e)

$('.sourcesList').css('display', 'none');

$('.sourcesBullet').removeClass('sourcesBulletOpen').addClass('sourcesBulletClosed');

$('.sourcesBullet').html('+');

sendPrevNextOmniture(e, 'Prev', 'Bottom');

);

$('.deepLink').click(function(e)

sendPrevNextOmniture(e, 'Deep Link', 'Bottom');

);

hashNum = parseHash();

pageNum = (!hashNum) ? pageNum : hashNum;

if (injAd != null) injectAd(pageNum, injAd);

setSlide(pageNum);

hashUI();

);

10

Things to Consider Before Buying Your First Home

You've landed your dream job and dreamier spouse/partner/whatever. Suddenly, you find yourselfthinking about putting down roots, moving out of your noisy apartment and buying a house. Slowdown just a bit. It's a huge step. Taking on a house usually means an increase in your monthly outlayfor mortgage, utilities and maintenance, plus a time commitment for keeping the yard in shape.

Still, it's the American dream -- to go along with the job and spouse. Before you find yourself miredin a nightmare, read through our list of things to keep in mind to help make the dream that muchsweeter.

http://home.howstuffworks.com/real-estate/first-time-home-buying/10-things-before-buying-your-first-home.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1