6 Mortgage Tips You Should Know as a First-Time Homebuyer

Buying your first home is an exciting but daunting undertaking. In this new experience, there are numerous variables to consider so that the first time you buy a home it is a happy experience instead of a devastating one. To avoid the latter, there are 6 mortgage tips you should know as a first-time homebuyer.

Be Familiar with the Housing Market

When you get ready to buy that first home, there are going to be plenty of things that you need to know, which means that you need to do your research and be diligent about it. The main thing is you want to know what the market is like. There are mortgage rates, construction, locations, and supply and demand to just name a few of buying influences you want to look at.

Such influences change year to year with the climate of the housing market. This means your research needs to stay current while you plan for the long term. Currently, as a result of the pandemic and new homebuyers wanting more space, demand outdoes supply, leaving housing prices high.

Pushed-up prices in a high-demand housing market is not a great climate for new homebuyers, but there are things that you can do even in this buying climate to secure your first home such as working with a lender, setting realistic goals, and considering less expensive areas.

Work with a Lender or Consultant

As a first-time homebuyer, the home buying process is going to be a completely new experience. You are going to want to utilize outside resources and experts to steer you in the right direction and situate you in the right position to buy your first home.

For this reason, it is recommended to speak with a lender or consultant (mortgage consultant) to address as the biggest concern when it comes to buying a new home is financing. Some new homebuyers are entirely unaware of whether they qualify for a mortgage, how much they can afford, or what they can be pre-approved for.

The lender or consultant will answer all of the big financial questions and let you know if you are ready to go or need to check off a few items to get your finances in order before buying.

Lean into Advantages of Being a First-Time Homebuyer

First-time home buyers may have a lot to do, but fortunately, there are outside resources that you can turn to for assistance. In addition to referring to a lender or mortgage consultant, you can research what financial assistance programs you qualify for so everything does not have to come out of pocket and you can also save.

If you meet the first-time homebuyer definition according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, you can qualify for aid from state programs, tax breaks, and federally back loans. Generally, if you cannot meet the usual 20% minimum down payment or identify as a member of a specific group you can qualify for such government assistance and programs.

Weigh Your Financial Potential

Buying a home is a big purchase. You want to effectively compare your goals for getting a new home with your financial potential. It would not be fiscally responsible to buy a home that is way outside your means, financially crippling you.

Do not compare yourself to friends, families, or anyone else when it comes to buying a home. Not only is it a big purchase, but it is also a big commitment. On the surface, it may look easy in retellings or on the home network, but there’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes leading up to that final sale and easy signature.

Before buying, you must ask yourself the hard questions. Can I really afford this? Do I need to budget differently? Do I need to downsize to save? Should I wait another year or two? Sometimes buying a home requires sacrificing in the short-term for meeting a long-term goal and the most fiscally devastating thing to do would be to rush into it.

Assess where your finances are and where they need to be to buy and maintain your lifestyle following. Consider all of your buying options. Figure out the numbers and if you need help, get it! Buying a home, for most, does not take a day but years.

Consider All Location Options

Yes, you may want to move into the best new subdivision built or snag a place in the most affluent area of the city with a great school district, but you may want to keep an open mind.

Home buying is a big market, so there won’t be space in one area for everybody. That is why people move all across the country and outside their home cities. This is a prime example of keeping your options and mind open. It may seem extreme or odd to consider moving away from all that you know for a home, but sometimes it may just be the best avenue.

There are various reasons you may want to look outside of your area of interest for a home. Your current location (or hometown) may be super expensive or just not have any available listings that suit your needs. Other locations have the possibility of less competition and lower prices.

It’s important to remember, as well, that when it comes to buying a home, you are not only responsible for the listing price but future costs like property tax, income tax, cost of living, transportation, and miscellaneous.

Line-Up How You Will Find a Home

It would be nice if you could just walk up to the home of your dreams and say, “This is what I want,” and get it, but unfortunately, that’s not the case. You have to get out and look. This can be done virtually or by pounding the payment. Search listings online, consult your local real estate agent or drive around neighborhoods that you like.

In the searching phase (house-hunting), you can be as casual as you like, but once you’ve examined your finances, consulted with professionals, and planned accordingly, you want to link up with a real estate agent when you are ready to buy.

Buying a home is a big project and it will require time. Do not be impatient as a first-time homebuyer. Take your time and properly set your goals, assess your finances, determine the feasibility of buying a home at the current time, keep your mind open, and figure out how you will find your first home.