If you are currently renting a home, you are fully aware that you are not only paying someone else’s mortgage, but you are maintaining someone else’s property. How do you know when it is the right time to buy your own home? Most people transition from renting to owning because they are tired of renting. This blog will help guide you through the transition using 4 tips:
Knowing YOUR Long-Term
Getting out of a lease tends to be an easy task or even just simply waiting until the lease is up. Selling a home is not as simple. That being said, it is important to think long-term when you are purchasing a home. Ask yourself, is it a home you can sell down the road? Is it in a good location? During the beginning steps of the home buying process, it is important to complete a home inspection to outline any issues that currently exists with the property or even any issues that could come up in the future.
If you have children, it is important to think about school districts. Even if your child(ren) are small and not in school yet, most people do not buy a home with intentions of immediately moving, so you have to expect yourself to be there many years, even after your child(ren) start school.
Do you plan on getting a pool down the road? If so, you also want to look at zoning information so you know if you are able to put a pool in at a later time.
Budget
When you purchase a home, your monthly mortgage is not the only thing you need to consider when you are trying to complete a budget. Along with your monthly mortgage payment, you have years of property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, maintenance, and repairs.
Long term maintenance needs to be factored into your budget. Your house has a lot of moving parts: roof, windows, kitchen cabinets, water heater, garage door, air-conditioning unit, etc.
In addition to long term maintenance, you will also have ongoing maintenance. This would include the house’s gutters, yard care, pool care, pest control, etc.
On top of maintenance, you’ll need to cover your monthly bills such as trash, sewer, water, H.O.A. fees, etc.
Get a Handyman
One perk to renting is that when something breaks, you do not have to worry about repairing it. When you are a homeowner, the problems are now your responsibility. Regardless of the condition of the home you are buying, you have to expect things to need repairs. Even if it is as simple as changing a light bulb, buffing a scratched floor or fixing a leaky faucet, the time and cost is on you.
Be friendly
With being a homeowner comes neighbors who are generally there to stay. When you buy a home, you are also buying into the neighborhood. The chances are high that your new neighbors will stay there for many years. There will be times they turn to you and there will be time you turn to them, so you do not want to burn any bridges, so do your best to be nice, even if you get the irritating neighbors. A reliable neighbor is a great resource to have in case you lock yourself out of your house, your lawnmower breaks, or you just need to borrow something they have that you do not.
Owning a home is a great feeling, however, you do not want to make yourself go “house broke.” You want to make sure you can afford the bills and everything else that comes with owning a home. Along the way you’ll not only build equity in that home, but you’ll build a lifetime of memories and friendships as you are committing to one spot for the long-haul.