Buying a home is a major decision and one that doesn’t come with
experience since home buying doesn’t happen often. Many home buyers, whether
they are first time buyers or veteran buyers, will make mistakes. Knowing those
mistakes up front can help to avoid some of them.
1. Assuming you
will be taken advantage of if you don’t act like you know what you’re doing
Many buyers and especially first-time buyers believe they will be
taken advantage of if they profess to not knowing the process or understanding
the terms or forms in real estate.
Yes, you can be scammed by dishonest vendors but overall, most real estate professionals are honest.
Chose a professional through referrals if possible. Knowing someone who worked with a
professional and had a positive experience can dispel many misgivings you may
have.
Once you have found a professional to work with through a referral, be
honest and explain what you do know and let the professional guide you through
the process.
2. Not knowing
how much house you can afford
Get pre-approved for a
mortgage loan. First, this will give you a limit on how much house you can
afford. Having the bank turn you down after putting an offer on a house and
then finding out you don’t qualify is embarrassing and a waste of everyone’s
time.
Second, it lets the sellers and the real estate professionals know you
are serious about buying a home. Many
sellers won’t accept offers unless the buyer has already been pre-approved.
Third, if you are turned down after making an offer, you can lose your
deposit and other expenses which can cost you thousands of dollars.
3. Looking for the perfect home
There are no perfect homes unless you build it from the ground
up. Most homes for sell need some repairs
or renovations. Knowing what is needed
and how much you can afford is very important.
Look closely at homes that need a lot of repairs. Are they minor or
major? If you don’t have a trusted
contractor on your team, ask around and get one through a referral. Have the contractor look at what is needed to
make the home move in ready and consider the costs along with your
mortgage payment. Can you afford it?
Also remember that wallpaper, paint, molding, cabinets, flooring, or
anything that is not structurally needed, can be replaced or removed. So if the
shocking pink walls in the living room are not to your liking, remember you can
paint or wallpaper over them.
Don’t waive the inspection contingency in your offer. It’s important
to have the house inspected so there are no surprises later. You can lose your
deposit money if you find out later that the house needs extensive repairs and you
want to back out of the offer.
4. Failing to
factor in all the costs of owning a house
Owning a house can be more expensive than most people realize. This is a long term commitment and costs will
increase as the house ages. When
considering buying, factor in all costs. Not only do you need to include the
mortgage payment and initial move-in costs (repairs/renovations) but you need
to consider long term costs and unexpected costs.
One cost to consider is utility costs. How much will you need to pay
for electricity, water, sewer, trash pickup, etc.? If you’ve been renting then
expect higher utility costs with home ownership.
Also, don’t forget maintenance or unexpected costs. The house and the items inside wear down over
time. Roofs may need to be replaced,
pipes may burst, appliances will get old and stop working. Many advise saving a certain percentage of
your mortgage to cover future maintenance costs. If possible, start by saving 5 or 10 percent with
your first mortgage payment.
You will also have home insurance to consider. Most insurance
companies will have this added to your mortgage payment so you don’t forget to
pay.
Don't forget to consider natural disasters that may occur in the area. Do you need to add flood, earthquake or fire insurance to your policy?
Another cost is annual property taxes which can be in the thousands
depending on where you live.
5. Not knowing
the neighborhood well
If you are not familiar with the area, talk to people in the
neighborhood about the area. Talk to the neighbors, the mailman, shop owners,
anyone you see around. Ask about
traffic, crime, schools, parks, shopping, future development plans, anything
that may be of concern to you.
Do an internet search for more demographic info or crime statistics.
Also, visit the neighborhood at various times of day. Consider the
traffic flow. Will you be able to get to work and get your children to school
without too much hassle? Is there enough lighting on the street for you to walk after work?
6. Delaying in
submitting an offer
Once you’ve found the home you want and you’re considering making an
offer, don’t delay. In today’s market, sellers are receiving multiple offers
right away. It’s common for a seller to
receive 10 or more offers in the first open house or even the first day of
posting on the MLS. So if you’re serious about a house, don’t delay on making
an offer.
7. Submitting an
offer that is the exact amount of your pre-approval or that is too low
If you submit an offer with the exact amount of your pre-approval
loan, you have no room to negotiate which is very important in today’s
market. You may also lose out if the
interest rates rise before you lock in a rate.
Give yourself some wiggle room when making an offer.
Submitting an offer that is too low and is not backed with comparable
market data is disrespectful to the sellers and real estate professionals. The seller will dismiss your offer and you
will lose out.
8. Not presenting
yourself well
In today’s competitive market, sellers and listing agents want to work
with buyers that will make the process easier. If you come across as complaining and whining,
the seller can pass you by and go with another offer. Being respectful to all people involved will
go a long way to getting you the home you want.
