You’ve dreamed of owning a home for as long as you can remember. But lately, your dream’s been more like a driving force than a twinkling in the eye.
Perhaps your friends are all buying homes and pressuring you to do the same. Or maybe your rent just went up again. Whatever the case, you just can’t wait another year to buy.
There’s just one thing: You aren’t quite sure you can afford it.
1. You’re Debt-Free With a Healthy Emergency Fund.
Use the debt snowball to knock debts out one by one, working your way up from smallest to largest to build momentum. There’s no better way to free up income for more worthwhile pursuits—like home ownership!
Once debt’s a distant memory, get busy stockpiling money in an emergency fund. Three to six months of expenses should do the trick.
2. You Have a Good Down Payment.
The best way to buy a home is to put 100% down. If paying cash for your home isn’t in the cards this year, set a goal of saving at least 10%. Of course, 20% will put you in an even better position because you’ll avoid paying private mortgage insurance (PMI).
If you do decide to go with a mortgage, stay conservative. We recommend keeping your payments at no more than 25% of your take-home pay on a 15-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage.
3. You Can Pay Your Own Closing Costs
Some home sellers cover closing costs to sweeten the deal—but don’t bank on it. On average, closing costs can range from 2% to 5% of your home’s purchase price, according to Zillow. For a $200,000 home, that’s anywhere between $4,000 and $10,000 to cover items like:
- Loan origination fee
- Home and pest inspection fees
- Appraisal
- Prepaid property taxes and mortgage insurance
- Title insurance
- Recording Fees
- Underwriting fees
You can put money aside for your closing costs, but you won’t have a clear idea of what those costs will be until you receive a loan estimate form from your lender after you apply for your mortgage. Just be aware that these can change before it’s time to close on your home.
4. You Can Cash Flow Moving Expenses
Whether you pay moving crew hundreds of dollars to pack up and move your belongings or you provide a pizza dinner to a handful of your best friends after they help you move, you’re going to have plenty of moving expenses. While you wait for your closing date, get reasonable estimates for what these costs will be—request quotes from moving companies, shop for appliances, etc.
A Helpful Tip If You’re Looking to Buy a Home
If you want to keep costs in check, work with a buyer’s agent. Having a buyer’s agent by your side brings two significant benefits:
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- Save money. In most cases, the home seller pays the commission for your agent—so you pay nothing to get expert help! Even better, a buyer’s agent can save you thousands of dollars on your dream home by fighting for your best interests at the negotiation table.
- Save time. Without a buyer’s agent, you’ll have piles of paperwork to wade through. Life’s too busy for that! Let an expert who knows all of the laws and regulations specific to your city take care of the red tape for you.
Call Us Today to Help you Find your Dream Home!
