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Are you in the market for your first home purchase? If so, congratulations! This is an amazingly exciting stage of life, and we know you must be excited.
Many first-time buyers run into issues that can turn their new home into a source of stress. Here are three common pitfalls you should watch out for as you purchase your first home.
Far and away the most common pitfall that first-time home buyers run into is with setting realistic expectations. It’s a tough market for first-time buyers, and many are tempted to jump in deeper than they can manage. Just because you can get a mortgage without a full down payment doesn’t necessarily mean that you should, for example.
Your mortgage payment is going to be a reasonable percentage of your take-home pay, but don’t let it get too high. Many experts recommend 25 to 30%. And consider what your financial situation will look like if in a few years you add a child or two to the mix.
Everyone’s situation is different, but none of us have infinite money. Take the time to calculate what you can truly afford, and then stick to those figures. You may well tour your dream home as you look at available properties, but living there won’t be dreamy at all if it puts you in financial distress.
If you’ve been renting all of your adult life, you need to be prepared for some non-mortgage costs that you probably haven’t had to pay yet.
First, understand that all repairs to your new home and property are your responsibility. If you have a $2,000 sewer repair crop up in the first 2 months of living there, do you have a way to pay for it? When you’re budgeting for your home purchase, make sure there’s enough left over to cover unexpected issues like these.
Second, if you’re bringing a full down payment to the table, there’s one more non-mortgage cost that could catch you by surprise: property tax. Make sure you know before you buy what property taxes are like on similar homes, and save 1/12th of that amount each month.
A third pitfall for first-time homebuyers is rushing the purchase decision. Don’t get us wrong, we want you to buy a house! But your house is a long-lasting investment. Get to know various parts of your city, and take your time surveying what properties are available in your price tier.
Most first-time homebuyers won’t be in a position to sell and move up in house for at least five years. So don’t rush the purchase decision. Be sure before you commit.
“I sell your home like it's mine”
A licensed real estate salesperson since 2016, Rob is affiliated with the Briarcliff Manor office of Corcoran Legends Realty. He serves buyers, sellers, renters, in Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties. Rob, a native of New York and Westchester County for most of his life, brings an extensive local knowledge of both residential and commercial properties to the table. His experience includes a wide range of property types – single-family, multi-family, condos and mixed use. “Hard to sell” properties is where Rob really excels. “There’s no problem that cannot be solved.”
Rob is certified for many different disciplines in real estate. Cartus Relocation Network Agent, AARP Agent, National Tenants Network (NTN) Agent, Green certified and Pricing Strategies Master. In addition, Rob has completed the Leader’s Edge Advanced training to better serve his clients. Rob has been both associate of the month and top closed dollar agent.
When you work with Rob, you get the feeling you’re his only client. Numbers don’t count, you do. Clients always come first. Each transaction is handled as if it were his own home. Rob strives to make the process as seamless as possible and takes care of all the details, no matter how small. His clients rave about his above-and-beyond service and prompt informative communication. Rob is easy going, friendly, and patient. However he can be a determined and aggressive negotiator when the need arises.
When not out actively working on behalf of his clients, Rob spends time with his wife and two teenage daughters. A devoted supporter of community he sits on several local boards and volunteers for numerous locale nonprofit organizations. He enjoys cycling, hiking, kayaking and winter skiing.
“May your price be right, and your sale be swift!”