It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed with all the decisions that go into purchasing a new home. A home is a huge purchase, and you want to have it for a longer period of time.
Step 1: Buy a House with a Trusted REALTOR® Who Serves, Not Sells.
You need to find a trusted REALTOR® who will look out for your need. As a buyer, you don’t pay the commission to the REALTOR®
Step 2: List Your Expenses
It’s important to have a budget in place. Everyone’s budget is going to be different. I do a zero-sum budget, where I learned from Dave Ramsey.
Step 3: Calculate Homeownership Costs
It’s safe to calculate and limit your housing payment to no more than 25% of your monthly take-home pay. The 25% should include principal, interest, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and if your down payment is lower than 20%, you will have to include the private mortgage insurance into your calculation.
Step 4: Give your Budget Room to Grow
As life happens, you need to have emergency savings and build a cushion for yourself.
Step 5: Make Adjustments
Once you purchase your home, you can then adjust your budget and tailor it to what is reasonable.
With these 5 steps, you can then feel confident buying a home that won’t break your budget. Don’t borrow so much that you can’t breathe if life changes down the road. It’s then time to go out and get the home for you. All you need is a trusted Realtor® by your side. A buyer’s agent brings your best interests to the table so you can get the best deal on a home that’s right for you and your budget.
You can download my zero-sum budget spreadsheet here to get started.
We will take it one step at a time. Feel free to contact me anytime if you have any questions or need guidance at (778) 388-1436 or heather@heatherchua.com.
Keep Smiling!
-Heather Chua
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