METCALF MOVING BLOG
6 Tips for Buying a Home on a Tight Budget
Buying a home can be challenging whether you’re a first-time buyer or just operating on a tight budget. Knowing how to prioritize your spending and how to avoid going over budget is essential. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Know What You Can Afford
Establish a home-buying budget to decide how much you can afford. The 28% rule says you shouldn’t spend more than 28% of your gross income on your mortgage each month, while some experts recommend that home buyers can safely plan to spend as much as 31%.
Your debt-to-income ratio will determine how much mortgage you can be approved to borrow. However, just because you can borrow a certain amount doesn’t mean you should. Know how much you can afford and play it safe, even if lenders will loan you more.
2. Focus On Your Priorities
What features are you looking for in a home? Knowing your priorities will help you choose a home you can love for a long time. You may need a home in a certain location, or your home must have four bedrooms. Knowing the critical features to look for is essential.
3. Be Willing to Compromise
Be willing to give in on nice-to-have features to purchase a home with must-have features. You may want a fireplace, but it’s not critical for your happiness. Be flexible about the nice-to-have features and maintain an open mind, even if the house you’re looking at doesn’t have everything you’d ideally want.
4. Anticipate All the Costs
Buying a house can be expensive. The down payment alone can be 7% of the cost of the house (or greater) while closing costs can vary between 2% and 6% of the cost of the house.
If you’re working with a real estate professional, your Realtor can help you negotiate, sharing the closing costs with the buyer. Talk to your Realtor about this before starting the home-buying process. Remember to anticipate costs associated with relocation and fixing up the house once you’ve moved in. Get a sense of how much your moving expenses will cost by getting a quote from a moving professional as you’re making your budget.
5. Communicate Your Budget
Hopefully, you know how much you’re willing to spend. Communicate this with your real estate professional before you start looking at homes. Keeping everyone on the same page is vital for ensuring that your home search will be efficient and successful.
6. Hold Firm
You may be tempted to look at homes that exceed your budget. Buying a house you can’t afford can lead to many challenges. It’s essential to know your limits and not to go beyond them.
Hire a Moving Company You Can Trust
Buying a house is a lot of work. While it’s happening, you’ll need to focus on the home-buying process. Hiring a trustworthy moving company can relieve the stress of buying a home. Contact us to make an appointment and get started with your upcoming relocation.
