Most homeowners have to move house sometime during their life as a homeowner. The priorities when buying a new house come in fast batches. It is an exciting project and sometimes challenging. Here are some great tips to help you gets started with our list of what to do first.

Want to move home? Here are the priorities when buying a new house?

The coronavirus pandemic has significantly impacted the global economy, but the residential real estate market has weathered the storm successfully. The national association of realtors indicates that approximately 56% of all the homes sold in April stayed on the market for less than a month.

This is largely attributed to the increasing buyer demand, tight housing inventories, and reducing mortgage rates. The residential real estate market is a highly competitive environment, especially now that a majority of the buyers are coming off the side lines. Because of this, you need to prepare well and move quickly once you find the ideal property. 

Buying a house is not an easy decision, as it is one of the most significant investments you will make in your life. It requires a lot of time and effort. You also need to do several things before buying a house to ensure that you find the right property where you can raise a family and entertain your guests. This article will find details on what you need to do first before buying a new house to ensure that you make the right decision.

1. Save for your down payment 

Depending on what loan provider you chose, the down payment on your loan can be anywhere between 2.25% to 20% of the total amount. Save money regularly so you have this amount ready when the time to get your loan draws near. This will only make it easier for you as a first time home-buyer.

Try setting up regular deposits to your savings accounts, or drawing up budgets to make sure you’ll have the right amount ready in time. There are also services that can help you get a loan for your home, even if you’re only able to manage a small down payment. You could consider a SoFi loan to help you get to that final viable stage with your down payment.

2. Check Your Credit Score

Do not start looking for a new home in the real estate market unless you have checked your credit score. This is one of the main priorities when buying a new house. You know property is a good investment, and you may need a significant amount of money to buy. Because of the large sums involved, many people often buy residential property through a mortgage. Mortgage lenders have to find a way to determine whether you are a credit or a client, and they do this by looking at your credit score. Your credit score also determines how much the lender charges in terms of mortgage rates.

If you have a higher credit score, you will pay a lower interest rate, which everyone should strive for. If you have a low credit score, you may want to wait a bit longer and work on improving your credit score before you enter the market to buy a home through a mortgage plan.

3. Determine How Much You Can Afford

As we mentioned before, buying a home is a significant financial investment. Before you commit to making a purchase, you need to know exactly how much you can afford to pay for a property. You can use various online tools to determine the monthly mortgage payments while considering how much you pay for your down payment, the kind of mortgage you qualify for, and the interest rates of the present time.

How much you can afford to pay for a property influences the size, amenities, and location. When you are buying a new house consider the square footage, usable space and type of property. Also think about layout, preferred location, number of bathrooms and bedrooms, and features and finishes.

4. Hire a Realtor

Many homeowners looking to move home find it beneficial to work with a professional Trading estate agent that can help them throughout the process. Many different advantages come with working with a real estate agent. First, they understand the local market and have insider tips regarding the community, and its surroundings. Say you are looking to move to Toronto, even though you have not lived there before.

Finding a local realtor can help you learn more about the Toronto real estate market. They can even narrow down the available options when it comes to the right properties.

They also offer market insights such as identifying any trends in home values. You can also watch for any new developments in the real estate market. They can also offer updates regarding the buyer demand and general state of the market. Additionally, a real estate agent can help you determine the value of your property and recommend a suitable initial offer amount. Experience and professional recommendations are other reasons you need to work with a real estate agent when buying a new home.

5. Start Looking for a Home

You can start house hunting by looking for available properties on the internet. We definitely consider this one of the priorities when buying a new house. it is an exciting time of discovery and a convenient way to get started. You can also get listings from your real estate agent, who can also schedule showings. When looking for a new home, maintain flexibility, since you may adjust your preferences during the search. When viewing different properties, make sure you consider the overall health of the house, so you know some of the challenges you will potentially face once you decide to make an offer. 

Always be on the lookout for any structural defects such as cracks. There are lots of things to consider. Make a list and check the:

• water pressure
• electrical issues
• data retention
• functionality of installed doors
• condition of the windows
• the quality of the roof and exterior
• level of noise from neighbours and traffic.

You can learn more about the property’s condition by inspecting it through personal visits once you make an offer.

A final note on the priorities when buying a new house

Buying a home is not a decision you can take lightly. You need to make the right decision since it can be quite costly. Your home will also raise your family and host your guests, so you need to find the right environment. Before buying a home, make sure you check your credit score. It is important to determine how much you can afford with a mortgage. Also, get pre-approved for a mortgage and then start looking for the right property.

Further reading if you’re moving to a new home: