Five Mistakes to Avoid when Buying a Property

Buying a property is one of the most expensive investments you’ll make but also one of the most challenging. Because of this, many people make mistakes, especially when buying their first property. Here are the most common ones so you can hopefully avoid them.

1. Lack of Preparation

Wrong buying decisions are often made because people don’t plan and prepare. Before starting to look for a property, decide what you really need, select some suitable neighbourhoods and get finance pre-approved so you’re in a good position to negotiate. Only then start to look at properties in neighbourhoods you’ve chosen.

Some people buy a house in Cairns based only on their view of the house itself. They forget they’re likely to be living there for a number of years and so, if the location’s wrong, they’ll almost certainly regret their decision for a long time. Check the transport links, local schools and amenities, that you’re not moving into a high crime neighbourhood and that there are no plans for the area that will alter its character.

2. Exceeding the Budget

Many people are so keen to buy a particular house they pay more than they can afford. That stretches their finances and they can suffer for many years as a result.

Before you start to look for new build homes or anything else, work out how much you can afford to pay. Take everything into account and then, once you’ve established a figure, resist all temptations to go above it. Just because a finance company offers you a particular level of mortgage doesn’t mean you have to take it.

3. Underestimating Costs

If they bother to set a budget, many people don’t take account of everything they have to spend. In addition to moving costs, allow for stamp duty, conveyancing and legal fees, bank charges and building and pest inspections. For ongoing costs in addition to the mortgage, allow for insurance, rates and maintenance costs that are extra to those incurred when renting.

4. Getting Too Emotional

Some people buy a house because they fall in love with it and forget about practicalities. At the other extreme, frustrated buyers who have failed to buy a suitable property despite several attempts often buy one because they’re fed up with looking and just want to end the process.

The rule when buying a house, whether from a 3 bedroom plan design, 4 bedroom house plans or whatever, is not to let your heart rule your head. Instead, look at the practical aspects of a property and only buy it if it truly suits your needs.

5. Getting the Wrong Loan

The situation with home loans can be extremely confusing, especially for first-time buyers. There are fixed and variable rate loans, split home loans, ones where you pay off only the interest or principal and interest repayment versions. If you’re not careful, you may end up paying more than you expect or have a residual amount to repay at the end of the loan period, which you need to finance separately. Use a professional home loan specialist to help you choose correctly.

At Cairns Quality Homes, we can help you avoid a lot of the basic mistakes because, as experienced Cairns builders, we know the problems. It isn’t as easy as just looking at 2 bedroom house plans in QLD and then making a choice. We have display homes in Cairns plus plenty of plans and ideas as well as a wealth of experience to guide and support you.