We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
This is a sponsored guest post by Alex Berger, but all opinions are her own!
Buying a new home is full of different emotions. There is stress involved, happiness involved,
worry involved, and love involved. If you have never purchased a home before,
you usually have no idea what you are doing, so you have to rely on those around you to guide you.
This can be a bit nerve-wracking, but if you have people you trust, it is also a lot of fun!
The best part about shopping for a home is having an open book – you get to decide where
you are going and what your house is going to look like. There are so many possibilities
when it comes to purchasing a new home and that is what makes it so fun!
When my husband and I purchased our home a little over a year ago, we ended up in a location
that we never thought we would end up, but we love it! Now, I feel like I am somewhat experienced
when it comes to buying a home and I would love to share my tips with you, so I want to give
all of you future new homeowners a few helpful tips to try and make your experience less stressful
and more fun. You’ve got this!
worry involved, and love involved. If you have never purchased a home before,
you usually have no idea what you are doing, so you have to rely on those around you to guide you.
This can be a bit nerve-wracking, but if you have people you trust, it is also a lot of fun!
The best part about shopping for a home is having an open book – you get to decide where
you are going and what your house is going to look like. There are so many possibilities
when it comes to purchasing a new home and that is what makes it so fun!
When my husband and I purchased our home a little over a year ago, we ended up in a location
that we never thought we would end up, but we love it! Now, I feel like I am somewhat experienced
when it comes to buying a home and I would love to share my tips with you, so I want to give
all of you future new homeowners a few helpful tips to try and make your experience less stressful
and more fun. You’ve got this!
7 Helpful Tips For New Home Buyers
Trust your team
The people that you choose to rely on when you are buying a home are your team.
These people include your realtor(s), your mortgage broker, the person/people you are
buying a home with, and anyone else helping you. These are the people that you need
to be open and honest with about everything. They know what they are doing, so keep
your ears open and really hear them out, but at the same time, make sure you are
getting what you want. It is your home, after all.
Don’t skimp on location, but stay flexible
Like I mentioned above, my husband and I did not expect to live where we do now.
We expected to live much further east (and maybe a bit more south) than we do now
and honestly, I thought that I would hate the area that we are in. But, when we were
looking at homes, we drove around this area quite a bit and I really ended up liking it.
There is a college nearby, so they are really working on improving the area and new
spots and restaurants are popping up everywhere. We are also really close to four
difference city lines/downtown areas, so it is nice being in the middle of it all, but
still in the suburbs! With all of that being said, make sure you know what areas you want,
but if an area pops up that you don’t expect, don’t hesitate to at least check it out – you
may be pleasantly surprised like we were!
We expected to live much further east (and maybe a bit more south) than we do now
and honestly, I thought that I would hate the area that we are in. But, when we were
looking at homes, we drove around this area quite a bit and I really ended up liking it.
There is a college nearby, so they are really working on improving the area and new
spots and restaurants are popping up everywhere. We are also really close to four
difference city lines/downtown areas, so it is nice being in the middle of it all, but
still in the suburbs! With all of that being said, make sure you know what areas you want,
but if an area pops up that you don’t expect, don’t hesitate to at least check it out – you
may be pleasantly surprised like we were!
Consider a new build or renovations
A new build would give you a home that you are able to completely customize,
while home renovations take an older house and update it into a home that you
have customized. Either way, you cannot go wrong as long as you choose the right
contractor! Located in Barnegat, NJ, co-owners Kurt Henn and Anthony Nardini specialize
in home renovations, home restorations, additions, bathroom & kitchen remodeling,
finished custom basements, and custom bars & mantels. Kurt Henn has been working
in the industry since 2002, starting in the flooring business and then going into carpentry.
Anthony Nardini started construction work in 2003, working in the demolition and restoration
field. They both came together with their many skills and talents to create
Henn & Nardini Contracting. They are committed to excellence and their clients
complete satisfaction, they have amazing reviews and their design process seems
extremely easy. You can even get a 3D design of your project so that you can really
visualize what is being done. If you are in the New Jersey area, you should definitely
check out their website or social media channels.
while home renovations take an older house and update it into a home that you
have customized. Either way, you cannot go wrong as long as you choose the right
contractor! Located in Barnegat, NJ, co-owners Kurt Henn and Anthony Nardini specialize
in home renovations, home restorations, additions, bathroom & kitchen remodeling,
finished custom basements, and custom bars & mantels. Kurt Henn has been working
in the industry since 2002, starting in the flooring business and then going into carpentry.
Anthony Nardini started construction work in 2003, working in the demolition and restoration
field. They both came together with their many skills and talents to create
Henn & Nardini Contracting. They are committed to excellence and their clients
complete satisfaction, they have amazing reviews and their design process seems
extremely easy. You can even get a 3D design of your project so that you can really
visualize what is being done. If you are in the New Jersey area, you should definitely
check out their website or social media channels.
Remember to take care of yourself and breathe
This is one of the things that I struggled with most during the entire process – I got so
stressed out that my entire mind was consumed with home buying lists. Learn from my
mistake and take care of yourself – go on date nights, go out with your friends, take baths,
watch your favorite TV shows and movies. Thinking about the process obsessively isn’t
going to help it move along any easier or faster. Take care of yourself first!
stressed out that my entire mind was consumed with home buying lists. Learn from my
mistake and take care of yourself – go on date nights, go out with your friends, take baths,
watch your favorite TV shows and movies. Thinking about the process obsessively isn’t
going to help it move along any easier or faster. Take care of yourself first!
Follow the steps
Follow the steps that are laid out for you. Investopedia has a great step checklist on their
website that you can check out. My biggest tip is to get pre-approved before looking at any
houses and then once you do get pre-approved, do not shop for a home that is at the top of
your budget. We were qualified for a home that was well over what we actually shelled out
and I am so thankful that we did not go to the top of our budget. Things will come up and you
will be so glad that you are not ‘house broke.’
website that you can check out. My biggest tip is to get pre-approved before looking at any
houses and then once you do get pre-approved, do not shop for a home that is at the top of
your budget. We were qualified for a home that was well over what we actually shelled out
and I am so thankful that we did not go to the top of our budget. Things will come up and you
will be so glad that you are not ‘house broke.’
Do NOT rack up your credit cards once you have been pre-approved
My amazing mortgage broker gave us this advice and we were so glad that we had it.
Apparently, the person that was supposed to close before us couldn’t because of their credit –
it changed due to them purchasing new appliances on their credit cards. Wait to purchase
your appliances after you actually close on your new home – this ensures that your credit
will not change.
Apparently, the person that was supposed to close before us couldn’t because of their credit –
it changed due to them purchasing new appliances on their credit cards. Wait to purchase
your appliances after you actually close on your new home – this ensures that your credit
will not change.
Save more money than you think you need
Things always come up in a new home, so you need a good cushion. In our first year,
we had so many problems arise. We had to get our home sealed off from the outside
because we found a rat in the attic (eeek!), we had three leaks that came down from our
garage ceiling and one leak that came down our garage wall, we had to replace three toilets,
and we had kitchen sink plumbing issues. You never know what issues you will run into, so
make sure you have enough to cover all of your bases. Owning a home is expensive, but it is
so worth it in the end!
