How do you know you’re ready to own a Home? | #CP

In an ideal world, everyone who dreams of owning a home would own one. However, this is not how things work in reality. Before deciding to pursue the dream of owning a home, you have to ensure you’re ready; both financially and mentally. Homeownership comes with a lot of responsibilities that you need to get prepared for.

If you have been renting and you feel that money would be better off paying your mortgage, you should understand that mortgages are much more expensive than rent. Unlike rental houses where the landlord takes care of repairs, you’ll be responsible for maintaining your home.

Factor in additional expenses like utility costs, garbage pickup, repaint jobs and so forth. This way, you have a clear picture of how much you’ll need to spend. Remember that you also have to take care of insurance covers and taxes related to your home.

Taking up a home ownership project without financially preparing for it can have you backed up against a corner in just a few months. Ensure you have an emergency fund so that you can take care of expenses that crop up without needing to ask for more loans. If you have a credit card debt, pay it off first before you purchase the house.

Make sure you don’t purchase a home because you feel pressured by friends and family. Peer pressure is a bad wave to ride on, especially when it involves such a huge investment.



How much of a project do you want?

When it comes to house buying, you need to consider whether you’d welcome spending time and money upgrading a home. If you don’t think this is for you, then you’ll want to opt for a new / nearly new home. However, if you aren’t afraid of an adventure, buying an older home could be an ideal option. Something you generally find from buying an older home is that you typically get a larger garden and frontage, a definitive benefit. With that said, you’ll likely want to invest in some beautiful and durable sustainable building materials of which will not only make the home look modern and refreshed, this can also increase the value of the home. Be sure to get your thinking caps on when viewing an older home as you dream about the protentional alterations available to make. Which route will you take? New or old?
Begin Your Home Buying Process
Armed with ideas, you’ll have an easy time determining which homes to consider. Find a realtor you can trust so that you can expedite the process. Your realtor will help you negotiate terms and ensure you get a good deal on your dream home. When you find the home you’re looking for, request for a home inspection before you sign anything.
Conclusion
Homeownership is a huge step because purchasing a home is such a significant investment. Ensure you are ready for the responsibilities that come with owning a home.

Karl Young

Part-time daddy and lifestyle blogger. Father of 2 boys under 2. Golfer, scare-fan, tea-lover, traveller, squash and poker player. I write on the @HuffPostUK http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/karl-young/

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