What You Need to Know While Buying a Home

December 1st

Home perhaps for most people is one of the biggest financial investments of their lifetime. Typical homeowners usually have 40 percent of their wealth locked up in paying for homes. Here are some essentials if you are contemplating making the big decision.

• Buying for Long-Term – Take it for granted that you will stay in this house for at least 10 years, if not more. Most people who are found selling live in their homes for at least a decade. Others stay for the long haul. That is why buy a home you want to live in. A home that is ready to be equipped with space & features you need in the long run.
• Buy for Improvement of Quality of Life – Your new home should be able to improve your life. You should not be speculating with your money. Buying a home is not just financial investment, but it is also a place where you would eat, sleep, host friends & raise children. Your life happens here. Regardless of how the value of your property appreciates, you will be living in this home for many years to come. Therefore, your first priority should be to find a home that meets all your requirements & helps in building the type of life you want.
• Focus on What Matters Most – Never get distracted by features you do not require. Just focus on what is essential to you. Find a home that you can afford & which fulfills your needs. Shiny features can be distracting & break your budget. Normally nice features drive up the price, but if it fits in your budget, nothing like it. Make a list of your desired neighborhoods & basic needs. Stick to that & find a home that meets these requirements.
• Work on a Budget – Determine a budget & do not look for homes that do not fit in it. Setting a budget early is important, even before you start looking for homes. It is quite easy to go over the budget in today’s market since they are so competitive. Location is the most common culprit for urban buyers & there is nothing wrong with that. Be realistic & see what you are willing to compromise upon, home repairs, less square footage or a different neighborhood.
• Down Payment – 20% down payment is normal, but if you cannot afford this, you could either lower the budget or consider a smaller down payment. However, high down payment, in fact, reduces your financial risk. Nobody wants to owe more money than the house is worth.
• Create a Strategic Reserve – Following down payment, it is ideal to keep a six-month strategic reserve. Though down payment is a significant expense, keeping a strategic reserve separate from the normal bank account is also important. It should cover 6 months of living expenses in case you fall ill. Strategic reserve saves you from financial hardships in an emergency & provides peace of mind.
• Avail Pre-Approved Loans – Get a pre-approved loan in case you want to avoid uncertainty down the road. A 30- or 15- year fixed-rate mortgage would be a good idea. Pre-approval loan procedure requires organizing all paperwork including documenting income & understanding loan options which are available. Even if it is a bit painful now, it will save time later. Your pre-approved loan will also send a signal to sellers that you are a reliable buyer with sound financial footing. Moreover, it is worth knowing what you can afford.

Buying a home consumes time. Though it is stressful, it is a rewarding endeavor. But make sure that you end up closing on a home that meets your requirements. You should also be able to manage your expectations just in case you are unable to immediately find a home that you can afford with the features you have in mind. Stick to what you can afford & hold fast to the list of essentials, but don’t overreach or settle for less.

Most Common Challenges Experienced by Home Buyers

Buying a home is however no easy task. While searching & getting the right kind of property is imperative, finding a safe home to invest is another problem. Some of the most common challenges buyers have to face are enumerated below.

• Is the Property Approved by Bank – Make sure that the property which you have shortlisted is approved by the bank, just in case you are applying for a loan to own the house. There are quite a few instances when financer has disapproved of the home buyers choose. Age & quality of construction, condition of title of the property is the cited reasons. This can positively be taken as a red flag. Due diligence by the bankers, in fact, indicate about the legal standing of the home you have chosen to buy.
• Are Property Titles Clear – This is not just important for obtaining loans but also essential when you would like to sell the property in future, especially if you were an investor, you would like to free your money in the next four or five years. Reselling would be a challenge even in cases with no legal backlogs for disputed property titles. Even if you wanted to keep the property to yourself, disputed titles would remain a problem. It would, therefore, be wiser to avoid such properties than remain in doubt for the rest of your stay.
• How is the Location – Not that some disaster may befall, but it would be sensible to check out if the location of the property is within any high-risk area. Geography is important, so find out if it is in close proximity to factories, polluting industries, chemical plants or a dumping ground. This should, in fact, be seriously considered before you buy the property. Sewerage & water-logging problems are some of the other issues for which you should seek clarity from the seller.
• Estimate the Rate of Appreciation – This would be essential in case you are buying the property as an investment. Even otherwise you should have an idea about what the property would be worth if you planned to exit after a certain period of time. Factor in the numerous growth drivers which can push up the price of the property including renovation or infrastructural development. Also, consider if your property is located prime destinations of the city.

Good News for Home Buyers

While you should carefully evaluate prospects while buying a house, there is some good news from the government. The union cabinet has approved amendments to the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC). This will eventually allow home buyers to be treated as financial creditors. Homebuyers will now be put at par with institutional creditors & banks in priority for recovery of dues from insolvent or bankrupt realty firms. Homebuyers can now avail benefits similar to banks in case the developer undergoes insolvency proceedings.  Homebuyers will no more be in flux & can promptly recover dues like any financial institution.