How To Determine How Much House You Can Afford
Home-ownership is the dream of many people. However, most don't know what they can afford. There are some things you can do before you start your home search which can help you determine what you're looking for in a new house and whether or not you can afford it.
1. Get pre-approved for a mortgage.
A pre-approval will tell you how much you can borrow to purchase your home. YOu lender will help you through this process and based on various factors can give you the maximum amount you can borrow.
2. Ask yourself what you need and want in a home.
You want to start with your "needs" list. These are things you must have when you move into your home. If you have children this may include extra bedrooms. If you have a number of people living in your home, it may be extra bathrooms. You may also need to be in a certain location because of commuting times.
Your "wants" list will contain things that would be nice to have, but are not necessities. These may include a pool or a gourmet kitchen. While these things would be great to have, they are for the most part, optional.
3. Research your target neighborhoods.
You may have already looked at neighborhoods you'd like to live in. Look at the prices of homes in that area. Are they higher or lower than you're amount? Do they have the things you need?
If the houses in your chosen neighborhood are not within your budget, start looking at nearby communities. There are many sites that list the various statistics on neighborhoods. You may find that a nearby area may have everything you want and need, in your price range.
4. Research the cost of upgrading
Sometimes the best home may not have everything you need and want. However, if you can get it at the right price you may be able to upgrade and still stay within your budget. This is something to consider if you know you can't afford the home you want on your budget.
5. Find a good real estate agent
A good real estate agent can find you the home you want, as well as give you advice on getting the best price. Make sure you explain your wants and needs to your agent. Also let them know if you're willing to upgrade at a later time or if you're willing to consider neighborhoods that are comparable to the one you really want.
By doing these things you'll have a good idea of what you can afford and how you can make this work for you. By looking at all of the options and alternatives you may find that you can afford more of a house than you think.
It may take some time to find the perfect home for you and your family, however it is possible. Think of the time spent as an investment which will pay off when you and your family move into your dream home.
