2. Do you have a strong saving and emergency fund?

A common mistake when buying a home is to think that you will only need the money for 20% of the down payment. Consider that you will also have closing costs, including more or fewer fees depending on the type of credit and the people you work with. Closing costs range from 2% to 5% of the home’s purchase price.
On the other hand, it is also possible that the house requires some maintenance that should be carried out before move on. These maintenances could be carried out later or wait for them to appear as problems although it is not the most advisable; however, you must have emergency funds to meet those expenses. Once the property becomes yours, you will have all responsibility to carry out the arrangements. It will no longer be like when you rented that the owner covered those arrangements.
Keep this in mind when deciding how much money to spend on your down payment.

3. Do you have a good credit score?

Having a low score does not make it impossible to buy your first home. There are a wide variety of loans and programs available to first-time buyers. What is true is that a higher score will help you qualify for a lower mortgage rate, saving you money in the long run.

So you wonder, what score do I have to have to buy a house? Well, there is no exact number. You most likely need a minimum score of 600. But as we mentioned earlier, if you strive to improve your score to 700, you may qualify for more beneficial rates.

4. Do you have debt?

Don’t worry, it is normal. The reality is that today it is not a condition to be free of debt to buy a home. Mortgage companies are aware that people tend to have some debt from student loans, vehicle payments, etc. They will take into account that in addition to being able to solve their previous debt, you can also cover what they will loan you for the purchase of your house. The debt-to-income ratio must be less than 43% to qualify for a credit.

5. Did you make the numbers?

It is crucial to know that you will be able to pay the expenses before taking out a loan. There are online mortgage calculators to do this, but the mortgage payment will not be the only thing you will have to pay. It should also cover:

Property taxes and insurance
Homeowners Association (HOA) fees, if applicable.
Household expenses (sewer, garbage, internet, etc.)
Utilities (water, electricity, etc.)
Expenses related to housing mentioned above, such as vehicle fees, student loans, etc.
So get the numbers right before you dive into buying a home.

6. Do you have a stable money inflow?

It is vital to demonstrate to the lenders that you can pay for the house you want to buy, and for this, it is crucial to have a job or a stable income over time. So while you can demonstrate that stability in your roles to the lenders, be honest with yourself and see if your income will really remain stable in the future. The worst thing that could happen to you is buying your home and losing your job or income source because you were unstable.

7. Do you feel like you lack space?

In addition to money, other factors go into deciding to buy a home. One of the most repeated in people is the need for more space.

The current situation made people have to spend more time in their homes, which made them realize they needed more space. An extra room either for an office or a gym, a larger backyard to spend more time outdoors, or the fact that a new member of the family will soon arrive or those who already need their own space. If any of these situations sound familiar, chances are it is time to buy your largest home.

8. Do you plan to stay for a while?

It is not that you cannot move shortly after buying a home, but it is known that staying longer in a property allows you to accumulate capital. During the time you are in the house, the more value you will accumulate. This means that when the sale will be worth more and you will get more money.

Buying a home is a decision that must be made after analyzing all possible factors. If you answered in the affirmative while reading these questions, the answer might be obvious. But if you are unsure or have specific related questions, it is best to seek professional advice.