\n
![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/First-time-home-buyers3.jpg\")
<\/a>3. Get a feel for the market<\/h4>\n
Real estate values fluctuate all the time. As first time home buyer you should spend a few months researching the local market to get a better idea of what you should be paying. Look at a variety of properties, including ones you\u2019re not actually considering.<\/p>\n
4. Consider old and new properties<\/h4>\n
New properties can be tempting to a first time home buyer. They come with fewer surprises. They tend to be cheaper to maintain. But an older property that might be in need of some renovation can be a better buy and have more potential as a long-term investment.<\/p>\n
5. First time home buyer should be flexible<\/h4>\n
Try to look beyond your first impression of a property. Recognize the potential of properties you might not normally consider. Not having any luck in your desired location? Consider widening your search area a bit.<\/p>\n
6. Know what you can afford<\/h4>\n
Getting a mortgage means you\u2019re committing yourself to monthly payments for up to 25 years. If you\u2019re getting a condo, you\u2019ll also have to budget for maintenance fees. Make sure your bank account can handle those stresses, as well as plenty of extra cash for repairs and furniture. You\u2019re not just buying a home, you\u2019re buying into a community. Get a feel for the area by spending time there, checking out amenities like shopping, schools, parks, entertainment options, even places to work. Get pre-approved for a mortgage. That way you\u2019ll have a good idea of how much you can spend and you\u2019ll be able to make an offer on a property with confidence.<\/p>\n Home inspectors work with the buyer to ensure they\u2019re making a wise purchase decision. They\u2019ll thoroughly survey a property for maintenance issues, possible repairs, health and safety hazards.<\/p>\n There\u2019s more to buying a home than just the final price of the property. There\u2019s also legal fees, insurance as well as the cost of any repairs or renovations the property needs. You’re a first time home buyer. You’ve\u00a0been saving and scrimping for your down payment. You’ve been following the local market. Buying your first home is a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[891],"tags":[273],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":891,"label":"Buyers"}],"post_tag":[{"value":273,"label":"Featured"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"James Garbutt","author_link":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/author\/james\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":891,"name":"Buyers","slug":"buyers","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":891,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":156,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":891,"category_count":156,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Buyers","category_nicename":"buyers","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":273,"name":"Featured","slug":"featured","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":273,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":99,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15021"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15021"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15021\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/a>7. Check the surroundings<\/h4>\n
\n<\/a>
\n <\/p>\n8. Secure financing<\/h4>\n
9. Hire a home inspector<\/h4>\n
10. Factor in additional costs<\/h4>\n
\nA first time home buyer should never rush into buying a home. Account for every cost. Take the time to ensure your finances are in order and they can sustain your purchase and your lifestyle. If you\u2019re comfortable with how everything aligns, then you\u2019ll be able to proceed with the biggest investment of your life with confidence.
\nMore helpful tips: 10 due diligence steps when buying a home in BC<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"