How To Buy a House in Texas
One of the biggest milestones in anyone’s life is purchasing your first home, especially when it comes to finances. In fact, a home could end up becoming one of the largest purchases that you’ve made to date.
Here are three of the best tips to consider making note of in order to ensure that you’re able to successfully purchase your first home.
*First and foremost, perhaps one of the best tips to consider to help with purchasing your first home is to begin shopping for a loan. While it’s no secret that many people will need a loan in order to be able to purchase a home, it will always be a good idea to get preapproved for a mortgage prior to starting to look for a home. By getting preapproved, you will be able to get a much better idea of how much you will be able to afford. If you’re looking for additional options, it may be a good idea to consider utilizing the services of a mortgage broker, as they will be able to give you access to several different loan programs and companies. Furthermore, while this can provide you with the best possible rates, it’s also important to think about how your local credit union or bank may also have alternative options that could end up saving you money.
*Another great tip to consider to help with purchasing your first home is to make sure that you have a down payment prepared. This payment will be able to not only decrease the amount that you owe, but it can also decrease your overall costs as well. It’s important, however, to remember that in the event that you end up putting down less than 20% of the total cost of the home, you will more than likely end up paying PMI, or private mortgage insurance, as a result. Even though you don’t actually need 20% down in order to successfully purchase a home, considering the cost of PMI is useful when it comes to purchasing.
*One other useful idea to consider in order to help with purchasing your first home is to always request a home inspection. This is something that you yourself should pay for instead of asking the seller to cover the costs, and the inspector will take the time to search for any and all hidden issues inside the home prior to you purchasing it. As a result of the inspection itself, you will be able to become aware of issues that could end p preventing you from purchasing the home, such as mold, termites, foundation issues, or a roof that may need to be replaced. Essentially, the home inspection is something that can end up saving you upwards of thousands of dollars in home repairs further down the road. Additionally, in the event that the inspection reveals that the home needs repairs, you could end up potentially negotiating a lower purchase price for the home. It may also be a good idea to consider an independent home inspection, which is separate from one that the homeowners themselves may have had completed. In many instances, the results of a home inspection can end up being grounds for pulling out of a deal without actually losing your earnest money as a result.
If you are in the market for buying or selling a home, reach out to the Barton Harris group at Weichert Realtors.
