Buying a home can be nervewracking, especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. Not only is it probably the biggest purchase of your life, but the process is complicated and fraught with unfamiliar lingo and surprise expenses.
To make the first-time home buying journey a little less stressful, We’ve compiled these tips to help you navigate the process more smoothly and save money:
Determine how much home you can afford
Before you start looking for your dream home, you need to know what’s actually within your price range. Use a home affordability calculator to determine how much you can safely afford to spend.
Start Saving for a Down Payment Early
It’s common to put 20% down, but many lenders now permit much less, and first time home buyers programs allow as little as 3% down. But putting down less than 20% may mean higher costs and pay for private mortgages insurance, and even a small down payment can still be hefty. For example, a 5% down payment (the minimum down-payment in Canada for homes under half a million) on a $200,000 home is $10,000.
Check Your Credit and Pause Any New Credit Activity
When you’re taking out a mortgage loan, your credit will be one of the key factors in whether you’re approved, and it will help determine your interest rate and possibly the loan terms. So check your credit before you begin the home buying process. Dispute any errors that could be dragging down your credit score and look for opportunities to improve your credit, such as making a dent in any outstanding debts. Also, any time you open a new credit account, whether to take out an auto loan or get a new credit card, the lender runs a hard inquiry, which can temporarily ding your credit score. If you’re applying for a mortgage soon, avoid opening new credit accounts to keep your score from dipping.
Stay Under Your Pre-Approval Limit
As your agent shows you homes, look for properties that cost a little less than the amount you were approved for. While you can technically afford that amount, it’s the ceiling — and it doesn’t account for a broken washer or dryer or any other expenses that arise during homeownership, especially right after you buy. Rather than maxing out that amount, set a lower purchase budget to leave yourself wiggle room for unexpected costs.
Get a preapproval letter.
You can get prequalified, which gives you an estimate of how much a lender may be willing to lend based on your income and debts. But as you get closer to buying a home, it’s smart to get a preapproval, where the lender thoroughly examines your finances and confirms in writing how much it’s willing to lend you and at what terms. Having a preapproval letter in hand makes you look much more serious to a seller and can give you an upper hand over buyers who haven’t taken this step.
Research Mortgage Options
Is a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage a given, or is another loan type right for you? If you can afford larger monthly payments, you can get a lower interest rate with a 20-year or 15-year fixed loan. Use our calculator to determine if a 15-year or 30-year fixed mortgage is a better fit for you. Or you may prefer an adjustable-rate mortgage, which is riskier but guarantees a low-interest rate for the first few years of your mortgage. Don’t also forget to compare mortgage rates, comparing mortgage rates from at least three lenders can save you lots of money, so get at least three quotes and compare both rates and fees.
Decide If Paying Discount Points Makes Sense
Lenders often allow you to buy discount points, which means prepaying interest upfront to secure a lower interest rate. There may also be an option for negative points, in which the lender pays some of your closing costs in exchange for a higher interest rate. How long you plan to stay in the house is one of the key factors in whether buying points makes sense. You’ll need to do some calculations or speak to a mortgage broker in Toronto or loan officer to help you decide if buying points is worth it for you.
Make the Most of an Open House
Use this as another opportunity to scope out the neighbourhood and your potential neighbours. During the open house, pay close attention to the home’s overall condition and look for any smells, stains or items in disrepair. Ask many questions about the home, such as when it was built, when items were last replaced and how old key systems like the air conditioning and the heating are. If several other potential buyers view the home at the same time as you, don’t hesitate to schedule a second or third visit to get a closer look and ask more questions.
- Buy a home for tomorrow.
It’s easy to look at properties that meet your current needs. But if you plan to start or expand your family, it may be preferable to buy a larger home you can grow into. Consider your future needs and wants and whether this home will suit them. - Let little things go.
When you’re looking at a home, it’s easy to get caught up on superficial details like paint colour, fixtures and carpets. These features are easy to change once the home is yours, so don’t let those little details get in the way. - Be prepared to compromise.
It’s rare to find a house that’s perfect in every way, so think carefully about what you’re willing to compromise on and what you’re not. Perhaps no walk-in closet in the master bedroom is a deal-breaker, but an outdated guest bathroom will be tolerable until you can renovate it.
These tips should help you get started on saving for your first home.
