Things Every First-Time Home Buyer Needs to Know

March 9, 2019 | first time home owner tips, New Home Tips

You’ve been dreaming about making one of the LifeStyle homes in Quinton VA your very own. Now is the time to stop dreaming and make it a reality. However, that reality comes with a few reality checks that every first-time home buyer needs to know. With planning and awareness of the home buying path, you can be well on your way to making your dream come true.

First and foremost, you need to know how much home you can realistically afford. Hopefully, you’ve been saving, because the bigger the downpayment, the smaller the mortgage loan you’ll need. Fortunately, there are plenty of online mortgage calculators available to help you get a better understanding of what you can afford. It’s generally recommended that the mortgage, maintenance, and taxes on your home not exceed more than 28% of your gross monthly income. Keep in mind any other expenses or financial plans you have and adjust the percentage accordingly if necessary.

The online calculator is just a rough idea, though, and your next serious step should be contacting various lenders for a mortgage pre-approval. Talk to different lenders to see the different rates available and find the one that’s right for you. By getting pre-approval, sellers are more confident in negotiating with you, because they know you have been cleared to make this kind of big purchase. It’s better to have pre-approval so you truly know how much you can afford.

One of the many benefits of buying a brand new home is the fact that you don’t need to use a real estate agent, as you deal directly with the home builder. The builder’s staff with walk you through the whole process, plus you have the benefit of a warranty, and a home that will require fewer repairs for a number of years. They’re also built to higher standards than older homes, making the homes more efficient. You also have the benefit of finding a great home in a great community, as many communities are carefully placed to offer a variety of conveniences for commutes, shopping, entertainment, and more.

Once you find your home, whether it’s new or older, you do need to ask for an inspection to make sure all major aspect of the home are up to code and there are no areas likely to cause problems in the near future. You may also want to consider a financing contingency, protecting you should the bank not approve your loan, as well as an appraisal contingency should your lender value the home at a lower rate than you offered.

Finally, although the first-time home buyer tax credit is no longer an option, there are various tax credit options to look into, such as mortgage interest deductions. You should check with your local government to see if there are any beneficial options for you.

With pre-planning and understanding just what you can afford, you will soon be on your way to owning one of the homes in Quinton VA. By working with LifeStyle Home Builders, you have a great opportunity to truly find the home of your dreams.