First Home Buyers Checklist

Buying your first home is an exciting time, but it can also be intimidating. The best way to turn the dream into a reality is to approach things step by step. Here’s your easy guide to becoming a property owner.

Step 1. Research the market

Researching real estate market trends is a crucial first step. Write a shortlist of property must-haves and would-likes – from location, to the number of bedrooms, aspect, parking, and the type of property. Then look online and attend open homes to talk to local real estate agents. Try to find out:

• Recent sold prices in the areas where you hope to buy.
• Factors that are causing properties to sell for higher and lower than average prices.
• Overall market trends – are prices increasing or decreasing?

Step 2. Find out how much you can borrow

 Now that you have a clear picture of the market, it’s time to find out how much you can afford in a home loan. An online-calculator is a great starting point, but you should also make time to discuss your borrowing potential with our Astute Financial Port Macquarie Mortgage Brokers.

Step 3. Calculate your repayments

Part of deciding how much to borrow is factoring in monthly or fortnightly repayments. Again, it’s worth having this discussion with your lender directly and taking the time to budget not just for your repayments but all the other regular costs you’ll need to cover, from groceries to bills and long-term savings goals.

Step 4. Factor in other upfront costs

Plenty of first home buyers make the mistake of focusing solely on their deposit, only to find out about the other upfront costs involved in buying a home at the last minute. Don’t forget to factor in:

• Stamp duty – Use a stamp duty calculator to find the total for your property. (Note that recent changes in Victoria and NSW mean you could be exempt from stamp duty.)
• Other government fees and changes
• Legal/conveyancing fees.
• Pest and building inspections.
• Lenders mortgage insurance.
• Money for any essential repairs.
• Moving costs.

Step 5. Check whether you can access the first home owner grant

The good news is that the Australian government still offers grants to people buying property for the first time through the first home owner grant (FHOG). The challenge is that the amount available to first home buyers and the rules for things like maximum purchase price and type of property are different across states and tend to change each year.

The best way to find out whether you’re eligible is through a discussion with your Astute Financial Port Macquarie Mortgage broker, who can help you fill out and lodge your application. You can also find key details for each state and territory at firsthome.gov.au

Step 6. Prepare for auctions and private sales

Auctions have become the norm in many locations across Australia, so it’s worth taking the time to attend at least a few auctions and watch how the process works before you start bidding. Many people will offer advice on auction tactics, but the most important factor is knowing your own budget limit and sticking to it.

Private sales, also known as private treaty sales, can also involve negotiation with the seller. Again, it’s important to know your market well so you don’t offer a lowball bid or end up paying more that the property is really worth.

finally…

Regardless of your budget or the type of property you’re looking for, being prepared is one of the key steps to finding your dream home.

contact us...

Astute Financial Port Macquarie 0410442936 or [email protected] and www.astutefinancial.com.au/portmacquarie

The information contained in this article is intended to be of a general nature only. It has been prepared without taking into account any person’s objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this information, Astute Financial Port Macquarie recommends that you consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances. Astute Financial Port Macquarie recommends that you seek independent legal, financial, and taxation advice before acting on any information in this article.